Jerry vs. Deer

I love my barn cat Jerry. 

He lived here before we moved here.  He let us move into the house, but he still owns the property.  He lets us use the property when he's not around.

He will not let us pet him, he keeps his distance from us.  He does allow us to feed him, though. 

He's not stupid!

Jerry eating canned food last night

Shadow kitty used to live outside with Jerry.  Jerry thought she was annoying.  She wanted to rub against him and be loved by him all the time.  She is the friendliest, most-cat-loving cat that ever was born.  She loves all cats, even when she was feral and hated humans.  She's slowly getting used to humans now.  Jerry had more important things to do than hang with Shadow, like hunt.  Shadow always gave away her hunting position when he talked her into hunting with him.  And then, after a long unbearably cold winter, Shadow moved into the humans' house and left Jerry.  She took up with that other cat who lived inside named Jack.  Jerry was ok with Shadow moving inside.  Now there was more time for hunting and prowling by himself, and doing other boy-cat things. 

Jerry has no plans on ever moving inside, although he's invited in all the time.  

Funny thing, Shadow has no plans on ever going back outside, although it was offered to her. 

Funny how everyone's different.   

Jerry had many choices.  He ate most of them 

Usually once a day Jerry comes to the back door for his food.  He gets dry food and canned food and warm milk on cold winter days.  He's the most spoiled feral cat I know.  When we're not home Jerry sits on a chair on the back porch and waits for his food to arrive.  He has gotten used to the guineas, he didn't like them when they first invaded his space.  Now he ignores them and eventually they get bored with him and leave.  They don't even squawk at him anymore.

What's that out in the gate?

Recently, after eating Jerry goes out and sits in the back yard in the gate entry to the back yard.  We assume there's a mouse or something that he's hunting out there.  He always waits till he eats, then sits out there until it gets dark.  He often lays down while he patiently hunts for hours.  That critter better watch out. 

Jerry is on duty!

Jerry, guardcat, protector of farm

Friday night Jerry was doing his hunting duty in the gate when I noticed a deer was in the backyard.  It wanted to walk through the gate and go into the woods, but Jerry was sitting there and wouldn't move.  The deer walked up near Jerry, then it finally noticed him.  It jumped straight up in the air, threw it's white tail straight up, and bounced all over the back yard.  After stomping his feet several times, the deer started walking back towards Jerry.  I held my breath!  Jerry stood his ground in the gateway.  The deer was not going to pass.  The deer got about 10 feet from Jerry, then gave in and bounced away back into the backyard.  Jerry won the deer fight.  The deer waited a distance away until Jerry left for the night, then he was allowed to leave.

 

Jerry 1, Deer 0

Today we saw a woodchuck for the first time this year!  He was in the backyard.  Goodmorning, Chucky!  We have lots of Chucky's.  Jerry loves playing with the woodchucks, at least he did the past couple years.  He hunts them for hours and tackles them.  They absolutely ignore him.  Even when he tackles them.  Hopefully Jerry will stop playing with the deer and will start playing with the Chucky's now that they have woken up from their hibernation this year.  They are more his size.  

Happy Sunday!