Dramatis Purrsonae - Big John

Big John is the largest and, I believe, the oldest of this colony. He's about two (as of summer 2009) and weighs about 9 pounds. He has some facial scarring and both ears are cauliflowered from much fighting. The ears don't stand up, they kind of slump sideways like he's trying to pass for a Scottish Fold. His coat has lovely classic-tabby markings (the bullseye kind as opposed to the tiger-stripe kind); I'm told the classic type are more common in the UK and the tiger-stripe coat is more common in the US).

Got a better picture of his markings a few days later:

"I haz a handsom!"

The world of the shadow cats

This video pretty much says it all.

Feral cats live among us, in the shadow world between "wildlife" and "pets". Properly managed, a feral cat colony is an asset to any location, in terms of pest control (and therefore disease control) , public education, and the sheer elegance of a fed and vetted feline gracing a sunny spot on the lawn.

Herewith the tale of one such managed colony, located in Houston TX... perhaps, not so very far from you...