Photo retrospective of Caramel, one of the all-time favorite campus cats

Caramel, brother of Orange Blossom and son of Ragi-Mama, has been missing since late March this year. We have to assume the worst. We have searched much of Fukui City and found some cats that look a bit like Caramel, but no Caramel. It seems quite likely that Caramel left campus on the north side (he and Ragi-Mama did this frequently when there was a lot of noisy construction in their area) and was struck and killed by a car on a busy street, such as the Nishi-kanjo-sen street. He would have been especially vulnerable during the early morning hours, before rush hour, when people speed on the streets.

Here are some of our favorite photos of this wonderful cat. Looking at them you can see his character and why he was such a likable cat. Caramel always loved to pose for photos. We miss you guy! The last photo is of Orange Blossom (the orange tabby) with his brother in the summer of 2009.

Nice portrait of Caramel

I don't think I've ever displayed this one here. Caramel is always willing to sit, stand or lie down for a picture. I'm hoping by making Caramel the 'top' cat on the blog, our luck will turn and we will find him soon.

Portrait of Caramel

Caramel has been gone for over a month now. We just hope he is safe and well-fed. He didn't show up at any near-by colonies. We are still looking and will never give up--Caramel was just too much of a special cat. We want to make sure he is o.k.

Where is Caramel?

We are not having much luck here at WERCHIIKINEKO. Maya Girl has been found, but now one of the dearest of the campus cats, Caramel, has gone missing. We hope he is o.k. wherever he is.

The power of three!

The Dining Hall Troop (Ragi, her two sons, Orange Blossom, the orange tabby, and Caramel, the white and orange tabby) have the power of three to make food disappear. Another summer of 2009 photo. I am looking forward to spending time with the Dining Hall Troop once it gets warm and doesn't rain every day.

Caramel by tree last summer (summer 2009)

I hope by looking at these summer photos, winter will go away. Caramel is so handsome here.

Functions to Keep Separate

Even in winter, cats like to keep these basic functions totally separate: quiet, secure, dry and warm places to sleep, places to eat, places to go to the toilet. Therefore, it is best to have shelters where they can wait to get fed and even feed from, but it is necessary to keep them separate from where they sleep. Many cats are not going to feel secure sleeping too close to food, since food attracts other cats and other animals. In winter they won't typically stray too far from where they get fed, but trying to force them to sleep right where they eat is not a good idea at all.

Here is where Ragi and Caramel took a lot of their meals in December and January, when the weather was foul. I have since rebuilt this shelter area to include 4 boxes for them to sleep, rest and await food. And I have moved the feeding area to a different place. I have also made the extra roofs and wind blocks better at blocking out the driving rains and blowing snows. Ragi likes this shelter a lot because, if panicked, she can quickly run for cover under a temporary classroom trailer parked nearby. She and Caramel, her son, will share a box in order to stay warm when it gets below freezing. 

Cat Shelters to Help Them Survive the Cold, Wet Winter of Fukui

For the cats around the College of Education No. 1 Building, I have constructed 'cat shelters'--nekogoya in Japanese (cat huts?). The first ones I made for winter a year ago, I made from styrofoam boxes and duct tape. By adding roofs, which were extra pieces of styrofoam made from the lids of styrofoam boxes, I was able to make these fairly weathertight. But only if the shelter was well 'sheltered' itself, such as on the leeward side of a building (such as the east side) or up next to a wall. Also, last year in December one of these got crushed when someone plowing snow dumped a ton of snow on it--thankfully no cats were in it at the time!

So I since have constructed newer shelters from plastic tool storage boxes. These I line with styrofoam and/or all-weather carpet and/or foam carpet tiles. I have a group of four near the No. 1 building which Ragi, Caramel and Orange Blossom are using. Orange Blossom is also spending a lot of time out of the wet and cold of Fukui's winter with Shaun, by the No. 2 Building. This, by the way, is what is left of the 'Dining Hall Troop'. Gwen, the calico daughter of Ragi born 2 years ago, is living in styrofoam shelters set up in a bicycle shelter near the north side of campus. I'm trying to get her to move in with the Dining Hall Troop, but apparently she is afraid of Orange Blossom and Shaun. She lost her best home when they reconstructed the campus library; she used to live under the handicapped access ramp but the newly rebuilt one doesn't offer any 'inner recess'. The old one was like a cave in which she would hide.

The next issue to face is what to do for the Swimming Pool Gang, since their entire area is under re-construction. I'm guessing that Sheba, Gus and Buddy are sheltering under construction trailers as well as in the basement of the College of Science's No. 3 Building. But the No. 3 Building is also due for re-construction. So I'm going to have to move some of the more sturdier ones over to where they are. The problem is finding a place where they won't be disturbed and at which the cats will use them. 

Here is hoping for an early spring, too.


These are two boxes that went outside for the Dining Hall Troop. You can see that there is a styrofoam box inserted inside the storage chest. The entrance holes are fairly large, but that is because these boxes will be in a fairly sheltered space. If the box is going to out in the open, it needs to be anchored well and a 'box-within-a box' type construction works best. Also, it helps to make the entrance hole as small as possible and as high up the side of the box as possible. Finally, it is best to raise the chest up off the ground, such as with wooden boards or bricks.

When a cat gets inside this, they usually feel very warm and secure, so long as it is sheltered from the wind and snow.

I make boxes big enough for just one cat, and larger ones for two cats. Cats who don't spend that much time together in the summer will cuddle together in the winter in order to stay warm.

Dining Hall Troop in Summer

Now that it is the dead of winter, I thought it would nice to look back at some photos taken of the Dining Hall Troop in midsummer. From left top going clockwise, they are: Orange Blossom and Caramel taking a break in the shade of some trees, Ragi and Caramel near the old broken-down fountain (where they drink a lot of water), Ragi near the same fountain but with a different backdrop, and Orange Blossom posing in front of the Number 1 building of the College of Education (just west of the fountain). Click here or on graphic below to load and view the large, full image:

Dining Hall Troop All Together

The Dining Hall Troop is down to four adult cats (which is good because it means the kitten, Babe, has been rescued and Elvis and Gracie have found homes). They are Ragi, a calico, Caramel, Orange Blossom, and Shaun. Caramel and Shaun are both brown and white, while O.B. is a classic orange tabby (but without his tail). Here are some photos taken this year of them all. Ragi is the mother of Caramel and Orange Blossom and aunt to Shaun.

Here Orange Blossom stretches out and waits for dinner (with his brother Caramel behind him):

This is Shaun posing on the stoop of the College of Education #2 Building, where he spends much of his time:

Caramel is the hunter of the bunch. Here is doing that stalking thing amidst azaleas in mid-May:

I always think Ragi is such a beautiful cat:

Dining Hall Troops Enjoys Early Spring

This week I was able to take some up-close photos of Shaun, Ragi, Orange Blossom and Caramel.




Ragi gives it a sniff before devouring.




Orange Blossom and Caramel approach.



Orange Blossom (left) and Caramel (right)
enjoy a snack.





Shaun does his best to look cute.




Caramel puts on a very serious face.

Caramel says HELLO to his number one fan, Rayyan

Caramel is brother and close friend to Orange Blossom. He is also often seen with his mother, Ragi. Caramel is one of the nicest and friendliest cats on campus--and that is saying a lot because they are ALL nice. If you are near the College of Education, Caramel is most likely to greet you though. He is also the best one at catching mice and large insects.