Dept. of Obliviousness...

[beruscats]

I just got raided by a family of raccoons. The frickin' things were in my kitchen while I sat back here at the computer. I heard Cleo complain, but she wasn't doing her territorial death warble so I thought nothing of it. Then I heard more of a ruckus that sounded like she was tangled up between the cat flap in the screen door and the running

Comments

[shirebound]

Except for insects, my only "critters in the house" experience was the lizard last year: http://shirebound.livejournal.com/674051.html

Glad you thwarted the bandit! Next time we get together, remind me to tell you about my own racoon encounter from many years ago.

*hugs*

[beruscats]

Eek! I think I'll take raccoons over a foot-long lizard. I'm not sure what Cleo would do with that and I'm glad I'll never find out!

One more week! Can't wait to see you!

[shirebound]

You will be pounced upon with great grinning pouncings!

[claudia603]

oooh, racooons! At my parents' old house, we had an entire family, babies and all, living in the attic. We'd hear them scuttling around all the time, running and playing. It would drive the cats nuts!

Thank goodness Cleo was fine!

Eeee! I can't wait to meet Cleo!!!! *bounce bounce*

[beruscats]

I've worried for years about Cleo tangling with raccoons, ever since I saw her facing off with one just outside that very door. She's almost as big as a mama raccoon, but I know who would win that fight. Raccoons have big claws!

Cleo also hides under the bed when human visitors come, but she'll come out eventually. Just one more week till I see you! Eeee!

[msilverstar]

We had opossums eating our cat food once in a while, which was invisible and tolerable until the mom started bringing her kids in and banging around in the back hall at odd times of night. I once broke a toe trying to get there without actually stepping on any of them.

[beruscats]

Ouch! You're more tolerant than me. I made sure to give Cleo's empty dish a good washing, and tonight the cat flap gets locked (once I get it back on).

[beruscats]

I figure the monstrous ones must be the males. I've rarely seen one, and they wouldn't fit through the cat flap - but they could probably take out the whole screen door!

Cleo is 17 now and not all that inclined to go outside any more, so I'll be locking the flap closed. It's pretty flimsy, so we'll see if that's any deterrent to a hungry raccoon. I saw on the news that they're a lot more aggressive this year because our lousy spring has made food scarce.

[bunniewabbit]

Wow, that's... kind of freaky. I've heard that people with raccoon problems generally lock their cat flaps when it starts to get dark. Is that an option for you?

[beruscats]

Yep, that's what I'll do. Cleo is 17 and doesn't go out much anyway, plus I don't want her out there if the raccoons are around. Poor old girl isn't the fierce kitty she used to be. I finally had to drag her out from under the bed to check for any scratches and it looks like no contact was made.