It has been extremely cold here the last 24 hours (-40C with windchill and it's been a strong wind) and we have been trying to make things as easy as possible for the outside cats (12 of them) and the horses (2 of them).
Horses were blanketed, 6" inches of shavings thrown down in their shelter, extra feedings of hay cubes, black oil sunflower seeds and various "treats" were given in the mornings as well as their usual evening feed, extra hay was provided, and warm water topped up in their water tank.
Outside cats had strips of rigid insulation put into their wooden box, extra straw thrown in, as well; then extra feedings of soft cat food, kibble and leftovers given 3 times a day plus their heated water bowl was topped up, too.
This morning, a visitor has appeared: a big black-and-white tom who clearly is looking for a place to refuel - for sure on food and shelter, perhaps on love, as well. He's not intimidated by humans in the least. Usually visitors like this are, but this guy stood his ground and only moved a few inches away when I came towards him. He even cried at me when I tried to keep him away from the food the others were getting.
So I grabbed a small portion of kibble soaked in beef broth and put it in a separate bowl that I took over to him at the end of the porch. If he had behaved himself and eaten politely with the others, I would have allowed him to come into the group, but there was a lot of head-batting going on between him and some of the younger toms that were born last spring. Several were so intimidated by him and his willingness to fight them that they had scattered and weren't eating at all so I removed the culprit and let the rest eat together.
Towards the end of the meal (a few seconds later - they eat fast) the B&W tom came back into the group and made his way towards a pan of bacon grease we'd also brought out. He walked right up, parting cats in his way like Moses parted the Red Sea and stuck his face into the pan. Except he failed to realize the Great-Granny of them all, a little mousy-coloured female we've dubbed "Yoko" was eating at the other end. She pounded him one good swipe - right across the face, next to his left eye - and he jerked back in surprise. He lifted his paw to retaliate, saw who it was he was dealing with, deferentially backed away and jumped off the porch.
When the matriarch says you've had enough, you've had enough.
