With the move to Three Gables Farm in June 2003 I retired the Feline Future cats from being a controlled study group for 6 years. Some of the cats were re-homed prior to the move, and a core-group of 9 cats embraced the freedom of living on acreage with me as my pets and family. My observations of their behavior never stopped, however, and I am fascinated to witness a much more primal side in my cats as they go about their day without boundaries. Of course everyone meets back at the house for a hearty meal of Instincts cat food and settles in for the evening in front of the cozy woodstove. All the cats have proven themselves as excellent hunters, providing me with a plenty of mice and shrews during the summer and the occasional bird in winter. Many small animals are delivered to me live, and I cannot help but think my cats are trying to teach me how to hunt.
Our newly found freedom and adventure came at a price, however. In 3 years of living on the farm Feline Future lost 3 of its beloved cats. These losses are devastating not only emotionally, but also for my long-term study on how cats age when eating Instincts cat food. The debate of indoor cat vs. outdoor cat is a hot topic in our house right now, and plans are made to restrict the cats’ freedom to some degree in the near future.
Among those lost was my all time favorite boy “Cheops” whom I met 12 years earlier when working at the SPCA. He was one of those faces you just couldn’t leave behind. Feline Future also lost his gregarious picture boy “Corylus”. Most of you are very familiar with the image of this well-dressed tuxedo cat from our InstinctsTC packaging.
It is nature’s way that losses inspire new things, and in the summer of 2005 I added a new cat to the group, making a long time dream of mine come true. “Charlie”, the Siamese cat, joined us at 9 weeks old, but already knew everything better. Although raising him turned into a fulltime job, he is our golden boy.
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