Introducing the Herd

It is an unseasonably cool summer afternoon. A lovely breeze is coming through from both sides. I have The Tumbler that says, “It’s not really drinking alone if the cat is home” with a silhouette of a cat sitting next to it. The beverage of choice is a refreshing Chardonnay that fills the glass. Harvey is sleeping lazily by the bay window. Tanna is napping inside the pet stroller. I see O’Ryan licking herself a bath out in the catio shelf and Pops laying and eating grass just outside of the catio. The rest are out and about in the house or in the fenced yard. 

RIP

I have lost two cats recently. Their end was getting near. Regrettably, Ferra, the 22-year-old calico, passed away. Her remarkable resilience left me in awe, as she not only survived a stroke but also underwent the removal of a mass from her throat, all while possessing a petite frame. She lived a few more years. Her favorite napping spot was on the chaise lounge beside the fish pond.

The other cat that passed away was about 17. Sisal lived with us for two and half years after her previous owner could no longer care for him. When his ear had an aural hematoma, I scheduled an appointment with the vet to have it checked. The vet at that time suspected he had other issues. His heart rate was abnormal and his teeth were in a bad shape. There wasn’t much I could do. He lived nine more months until he stopped eating. RIP

Burying deceased cats on our property is out of the question. Our home is not on a farm or the countryside. I would have had a grave site if we had the acreage.  Ashes of a life well-lived will be scattered in a flower garden. The ashes will carry memories and be embraced by nature.

Our Home Base

Our home is in the burbs nestled on the edge of a small town in a valley next to Mount Jumbo. Out on the front of my house in the distance, the elk migrate on the steep slope of the mountain.

My neighborhood is characterized by close proximity between houses, with sidewalks and boulevards connecting them. is a trail head a few houses away. It begins with a strenuous hike on the steep slope. As you go along the sloped trail you can see the aerial view of the neighborhood and the Clark Fork river flowing through in the middle of the town. The beauty of the fall season, with its vibrant colors and crisp air, is a sight to behold.

After you pass two switchbacks, the hike gets easier. If you keep going, the trail will ensure your sights of motor vehicles and pedestrians the size of pebbles. As the trail progresses, the interstate highway, the persistent Clark Fork River, and the railroad run parallel below, and the larger town of Missoula gradually emerges into sight. trail continues to the other side of Mount Jumbo. 

Our home is next to a mountainside and the rest of the valley is surrounded by Marshall Mountain and Mount Sentinel, and more mountains beyond the town’s perimeter in the north and east. The two lane Highway 10 runs through the town. In the summer months, the highway becomes jam-packed with tourists and motor boats mounted on trailers, all headed to the lakes in the northern region. Sha-Ron fishing access nearby is popular with tubers, paddleboarders, and kayakers. Brutal winds from Hellgate Canyon from the south come through here often in the winter.

Wildlife is Around

Raccoons and deer are a frequent sight. We have occasional sightings of bears, foxes, and turkeys. Raccoons. I have seen them many times. I saw one climb on a high wood fence next door. A coon the size of my lab mix dog showed up one Sunday morning out of the blue and was nose to nose with the dog. Thanks to the fence separating them. Its aggressive behavior and potential hunger were evident. I turned on the hose set at jet power to shoo it off. A mama bear and a cub showed up on my front porch at 3 o’clock in the morning a couple weeks ago. That was unusual. Unintentionally, I left an empty, rolled-up dog food bag on the front porch the previous night. Oops! The bag remained untouched. They made a mess with a garbage can that was left out down the street.

Living in Dog Country

We live in a dog country. Missoula and its surrounding areas are dotted with numerous dog parks and scenic trails. We know our neighbors who walk their dogs, we hear dogs bark, we see dog poop left behind in our front yard. It’s easy for dog owners to strike a conversation with others or the dogs to interact with others. Unleashed dogs running alone happens.

Cat Country??

Cat Country?  The nearest Cat Cafe is 200 miles away in Bozeman. Bummer. I had pondered how many of us have a cat or two or six. It is an uncommon sight to see a neighbor walk a cat.  Contrary to popular belief, a cat remains silent even when a passerby on foot or on a bicycle goes by.  A cat buries his waste in someone else’s flowerbed. The ownership and status of the cat – domestic, stray, or feral – often remain a mystery to us. Cat people are a silent and unknown community.

It is a common occurrence for somebody’s cat to go missing. Approximately once a week, I encounter a missing cat notification on the Nextdoor.com online community platform. That’s not good. It confirms the fact that there is no amenity around here to provide free roaming natural sites for the cats to explore on their own. It happened to me years ago. Moliere disappeared one day and never came back. He lived with me for eleven years. No more unsupervised free roaming passes for the cats here. Ever.

My Herd

Some cats were content in their indoor environment, while others longed to explore the outdoors. To address this, I believed it would be ideal to provide them with access to both, creating a secure and balanced environment.

In my neighborhood, I often take my cat for secure, leash-guided walks. I also push a pet stroller, which typically accommodates one or two cats nestled comfortably inside. Occasionally, an additional cat enjoys the ride by perching atop the stroller. For the safety and comfort of my feline companions, I also carry one of them in a sling-style pet carrier. In my neighborhood, walks are confined to sidewalks that have been cleared and leveled, providing a safe and enjoyable experience for my furry companions. The majority of the town, with the exception of the upscale Canyon Creek golf course/residential neighborhood, is plagued with remnant winter gravel, potholes, or a lack of sidewalks, making it challenging to navigate.

After Moliere’s departure, I transformed nearly all of the outdoor space into a lush oasis. where Cat Paradise comes to life after many years in the making. The Safe Haven for feline friends.

Time for me to wine and dine with my fellow felines. Peace and love.