TV Cat and Friends

Post dinner nap time, it's TV Cat and some friends, relaxing for a bit while they have full bellies. It isn't always terrible to be a feral cat, at least if you have someone feeding you and looking after your basic needs. It isn't quite as good as being a pet, of course, but then again we should note that not all pets have that great of a life. Some are neglected.

Sometimes pets are loved but taken for granted. You spend time griping about the annoying things they do.  Then one day, they are gone.

Don't do that.

-------

Sad news to report. Bob's cat Widget died suddenly about 5 AM this morning, of an apparent heart attack. Widgets was well-loved and spoiled. He was smart and affectionate and quite the talker. He had a good life...but much too short.

Bob is very very sad.  Widget will be greatly missed.

Portrait of Widget the Cat

Keeping an eye on the situation, Widget the Cat is a senior kitty with the personality of a kitten. Well, I guess I should say he doesn't play as much as he used to; he doesn't have a kitten's energy. But he still has that bright curiosity of kittenhood.

...Maybe he's gotten a little flabby in his old age....

---
Be a part of this project
The Feral Life 2014 | Fine Art Prints | T-Shirts, Prints, Cards

Widget Cat on Truck Roof

Yep, it is that same old farm truck that belongs to my sister, and the same old tabby tux that belongs to Bob. It's a great platform to keep an eye on things.

Widget is a cute little guy. He had a rather hard time recently when his owner Bob had to go to New York City to do an art show. He was inconsolable and didn't eat for days, poor guy. Bob is back now, though, and Widget is all better again.

I haven't been taking pictures as often, lately; the weather hasn't been great - and that's been on top of my add and my heart condition acting up. It just hasn't been a good week. There's no point in complaining, though - after all, we all have things that get in the way of doing what we want. That's just how life is. Hopefully there will be better times ahead, though. We always hope. :)

The Ever-Curious Widget

Widget is not a feral cat although he is a former feral kitten. He has his own home, but he loves to come visit the feral cats and pretend he's one of them for a while. I guess it's fun to be just one of the boys, especially when you get tired or hungry and you can leave them and go back to your real home.

Cat And Wheelbarrow

Posing majestically on the handle of a wheelbarrow, it's Widget the tabby cat - all curious about what I'm up to.

Widget was rescued as a tiny feral kitten by my daughter, and later adopted by Bob. He was an indoor cat most of his life but learned to open the door and escape so now he visits his feral friends regularly. I know I'm rehashing for those who've read about Widget before, but we have new readers, too!

Well, we're starting to get near the end of February already - and February is Feral Cat Rescue Project month for the artists of Etsy for Animals. They've already helped us with some extra vet care, so we're very happy. And frankly, a handmade, original work of art beats some mass-produced corporate stuff any day ...so take advatange! Go see... Etsy for Animals' special items.

Widget Thinks About The Great Outdoors

Contemplating, imagining what is going on outdoors... I was clearing out my phone photos and found this Hipstamatic photo of Widget Cat, taken on a visit to Bob's motor home.

Widget is in the enviable position of being the one and only cat in that household. So as you can imagine, he's rather spoiled. He gets fussed over and loved and cared-for.  And do you think Widget appreciates this? Is he grateful for having a life many other cats can only dream of? Well, he certainly soaks up the attention! He expects (and receives) prompt catering to his needs. Yet he spends much of his time thinking about getting out into the world, as you can see in this photo.

Tabby cat Widget was an indoor cat for most of his life, since he was captured as a 7 week old feral kitten. And for most of  his life he was happy with that. But he was bored sometimes, too, and at some point he began scheming and pondering the world outdoors.  Through some cat genius, he managed to figure out how to open that door and the rest is history.

I understand, really, because I have that same feeling from time to time. It's a wishful thinking about things that could be, instead of things that are. Wherever I'm at, like Widget, I sometimes find myself wishing I was someplace else. I guess it's the "grass is always greening on the other side of the fence" syndrome.

For Widget and I, the world we long for is a world of our imagination. Widget does not think about being cold or wet while imagining the outdoors and I don't think about the time-consuming drudgery of city life. In his tiny little head, Widget thinks about all the interesting things that could be happening, about adventures and games and exploration. Me too.

Like Widget, our little imaginary worlds-out-there are full of adventure and new discoveries. It is truly the land of hopes and dreams. Missing, though, are all the real life problems and negatives that are an inconvenient part of reality. It's no wonder that something out there always looks better.

Soon Widget will go out into the world, to explore and discover.... then he will be back meowing at the door to be let-in. Perhaps I will do the same.

Just a Stripey Cat

It's a pocket-camera picture of Widget the Cat, on one of his outings. Widget  is the kind of success story I wish for but don't get often enough: he started life as a feral kitten, now he has a home of his own where he is a special kitty treated like royalty.

Widget is Bob's cat, not mine, and he lives in a motor home with Bob. He was exclusively an indoor cat most of his life but a while back he learned to open the door. Very clever little guy. Now he goes out regularly but Bob tries to keep him in at night at least.

We keep hoping for more success stories: Adoptable kittens and cats can be found via the Adoptable tag. You could be part of a dream.

Widget the Cat Questions My Intentions

Widget the Cat seems to be wondering what I'm up to, perhaps curious or is that a look of disdain? We'll never know, I guess.

Widget, Coppertop on Van Roof

Well we've finally had a break in the dreary weather in this part of the world. It's a brief break, for sure, as it will be back to raining tomorrow. In the meantime, though, Coppertop and Widget take advantage; sunning themselves on the van roof.

I also took advantage of the brief reappearance of sun by taking a few pictures. So we're all getting something out of it.

Widget The Cat At Rest

Well it looks like Bob's cat, Widget, has been having another outdoor adventure and he's been so busy that he managed to wear himself out. I remember when Widget was a cat that never went outside but once he learned how to open the door that all changed.

Of course, I also remember Widget as a tiny runny-eyed feral kitten my daughter scooped up one day because he couldn't see well enough to run away. And that all started his new life...

Sky Widget

A classic Widget sky-shot. - the former feral cat is on top of my van again, where he loves to look down upon the world. I enjoy the look of Ektar film, shot with my Canon QL-17 GIII rangefinder camera. It's like a time traveling cat from the 60's ...which is probably where I belong anyway.

 I like using old film cameras. I'm not sure why, I just do. As I suggested, maybe there is something about me that belongs to a different time; shooting along side Robert Frank or Diane Arbus.

Anyway, I think Widget looks beautiful on film.