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.

First hot day of the year

Last week it got very summery--very quickly, so we all got 'spring fever'. Orange Blossom spent the afternoon under the gas tank of a car just outside the College of Education's No. 2 building, as did cousin Shaun. 

Portrait of Orange Blossom

He is nicknamed 'OB-kun'. This is a really nice portrait of him on the stoop of the College of Education's No. 2 Building, an area he shares and cooperatively guards with Shaun (his cousin).

It's the first real 'summery' day of the year today, so OB-kun has gone to the west side of campus to bask in the sun. He is probably keeping his eyes open for any sign of Caramel, his brother.

We are still looking too, OB-kun. So don't give up.

Orange Blossom on pine needles

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.

SHAUN COLLAGE

SHAUN is such an endearing cat. He loves his cousin, Orange Blossom, like they were brothers. But OB already has a brother (Caramel), so sometimes he is reluctant to take on another one. Still, this winter Shaun and OB have huddled together and shared shelter space to stay warm. They usually eat lunch and dinner together as well. I think their spending time together makes it safer for them--they are less likely to wander off and get into trouble.

Orange Blossom contemplates his next move

Orange Blossom braves the winter weather. He is a lovely cat against the backdrop of the snow.

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:

Orange Blossom

Orange Blossom in front of the College of
Education No. 1 Building on a late summer afternoon.

I never met a fixed male cat with more muscle than Orange Blossom (O.B.). If he stuck around, he might be boss of the Dining Hall Troop. But since he likes to go away where it is quiet to sleep during the day, he isn't around enough to be boss. When push comes to shove in the Dining Hall area, no one is stronger than O.B. Caramel, his brother, is a more adept hunter and faster in his movements. Shaun, their cousin, is bigger than both O.B. and Caramel. Elvis, when he was here (he is now in the US with his new family), was the fiercest. But no one has more muscle and power than O.B. He climbs and descends very tall trees, but without the use of a tail (he lost this in an accident before he was one year old). Perhaps this need to compensate, especially when he comes down a tall tree, has given him more strength training. O.B. will climb trees and pursue young crows. He has at least two confirmed kills. Apparently O.B. hates crows because he remembers them getting some of his brothers and sisters when they were kittens. Only Caramel and O.B. survived. A bit later, another survivor, their cousin Shaun joined the Dining Hall Troop.

MISCELLANEOUS PORTRAITS OF SOME CAMPUS CATS

Below is Sheba, of the Swimming Pool Gang.





Next, it's Orange Blossom of the Dining Hall Troop. If you like orange tabbies, OB is your man!









Below is the 'boss' of the Swimming Pool Gang, Elvis. He is overall the friendliest cat on campus. There never was a set of arms on a human that Elvis feels wasn't meant to hold him. He is adorable.






This is the last photo I took of Bigwig, late last year. He was always willing to sit still for photos. Such an agreeable old fellow.

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.