Maya Girl (former Swimming Pool Gang) with her friend, Shiro-kun

Maya Girl is the cat in the picture. She now spends a lot of time hanging out with Shiro-kun, the mixed Japanese dog (with a lot of Shiba breed in him). He is a very gentle dog and so MG has really taken to him. Since she misses her brother so much (Tiger Boy, killed by a car), it's good that she has a new 'guardian friend' like Shiro. MG has really adjusted well to life as a former campus feral turned house cat.

Sebastien makes progress

Sebastien is a lot healthier after the anti-biotics and anti-parasite medicine. He is eating heartily every day. The challenge for him is to find a safe and dry spot to get out of the nasty weather. And that weather has already started here in Fukui. If Sheba, Gus and Buddy--the Swimming Pool Gang--allow him into their circle, he should be all right this winter. The other day he and Buddy ate together. It had its tense moments, but no one tried to fight. So gradually Sebastien is becoming a full-time campus cat.

For the Swimming Pool Gang, it's a BLACK AND WHITE WORLD

And if Sebastien joins them, it will be even more so. In this collage are Sheba, Gus, and Buddy. Buddy is the all-black cat, and Sheba is the long-furred black-and-white. Sheba and Gus are sister-brother, and Buddy is a close cousin or half-brother (different litter, same mother quite likely).

Gracie knew immediately she wanted the window seat

Unfortunately, in the basement, Gracie seemed to like all the places Biddie had liked. So rather than contest use rights, Biddie moved upstairs. Thanks Biddie.

The progress of Gracie

I had my doubts that Gracie would survive her first winter as a feral because, like Gwen, she was born late in the year (summer of 2008). Then she got a really bad cold, and then her right eye got sick and/or injured. I finally rescued her and got her in out of the cold. When I moved office for the second time in a year, I put her outside where Pushkin had been, living in upside-down stacked canoes. But then I brought her inside for good, and I'm so glad I did. For being born feral, Gracie proved as tame as it gets. I took this photo near the end of my trip to the US last year, when I took Gracie and her pal Elvis to Erie, PA. Now they live with my brother and his wife (and their son Evan, and the cat Biddie).

You can see from this photo how much better her eye had got by that time, after living inside, out of the cold and getting an eye operation to reduce the damage. She actually has some sight restored now. That is the sort of progress in the right direction that we all need sometimes.

Like Elvis Gracie has the distinction of successfully living in both the Dining Hall Troop and the Swimming Pool Gang (only in the reverse order of Elvis).

Pongo Portrait

I rescued Pongo last year on a very hot late July day. Strangely enough, the day I found Pongo I also found a stray dog (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who was about ready to drop from the heat and/or dehydration). Well, Pongo was in bad shape too when I found him. He was severely dehydrated, but a week in the hospital and he was soon one energetic little guy. If a kitten could be a puppy, that would be Pongo. Pongo got along well with every cat and he also was very affectionate with people, once he got to know them. Babe, whom I rescued in late September last year, became Pongo's 'little brother'. Both Babe and I really miss having Pongo here, but Babe has become more friendly to me, which is a good thing if Babe is going to be adopted. Pongo lives with a family very near the campus, and most likely the place is near where he was abandoned, since I found him on the east side of campus and his new home is near the east gate. I'm putting Pongo in the category of 'former Swimming Pool Gang' because he has a similar color to Sheba and Gus and was found in their territory.

 

One of the last photos I took of Maya Girl when she lived by the pool

At that time she very strictly shared territory with Elvis, and Elvis kept her separated from Sheba, Gus and Buddy. Now Elvis is in America, Maya Girl is living indoors, and Sheba, Gus and Buddy rule the pool.

Maya Girl continues to rest and recuperate

Maya Girl was found around a mile from her home. We wonder if she had gone farther and was making her way back or if that was the farthest she got. At any rate, when she was found she was in ragged condition. She had nearly starved to death, and if that hadn't got her, she might have died from the cold. This year March was merely a continuation of winter, so she got no luck there. She was outside for the final week of February and most of March. She is back to normal weight and passed her physical. So we are so thankful and relieved.

 

Maya Girl continues her recovery

Maya Girl comes home

I trapped Maya Girl in January in the midst of a blizzard. She was taking refuge in the crawl space under the gym on campus. She was suffering from the cold. I had found a home for her and hoped she could adapt to life indoors. She lived with her new family for about a month, but accidentally escaped. For almost 6 weeks she didn't return. We searched all over her town trying to find her. And we were very worried because it was cold and rainy all during March. She must have found refuge somewhere, but it's obvious she didn't eat that well. Here she is back home, thank goodness.

Maya Girl is a tough little character and I'm glad she got back o.k.

Gracie looks after the aquarium

Gracie thinks the fish tank is a neat combination--it's warm, has 'running' water, and it contains fish!

She and Elvis continue to enjoy their new life in Erie, PA. Thanks to Joe, Angie and Evan for hosting them--oh, and Biddy too (one of the cats who has been in the same home for a lot longer than Elvis and Gracie).