Making Seed Cakes

 My cats love to watch the birds, both from the cat yard and the front window.

So I hang feeders and we all watch them.

But seed cakes, which the birds love, are expensive.

So I make my own, using a pvc mold.   They only cost for the unflavored gelatin, since I already have seed, corn syrup and flour, the other ingredients.

Here's one 24 houring in my frig, to firm up.

The stick down the middle makes the hole for hanging or putting over the metal rod in my seed cake feeder.

They are very quick and easy to make.

I went trapping again yesterday.  Belatedly I recalled I had promised to help catch and transport leftovers from the old man's colony out on Scravel Hill.   His son got four spots for tomorrow.  He's the nicest old guy.

He was happy to see me and brought me coffee while I sat in my car with the drop trap trip string strung through the window.  I caught 13 here before.  The vet student (not the same vet student who traps in Harrisburg) fixed them in late December down at the clinic where she works.  She kept three of them to try to tame.   Lisa in Sweet Home and her daughter took the two boy kittens to tame and rehome after they were fixed.  So I only returned 8 of the 13, which pleased him.

I didn't know how many more were left unfixed.  I knew of two for sure and caught both of those yesterday.  Plus another unfixed black one.  But I also saw a Siamese wander across in front of the barn.  Ok.  A Siamese.  I consulted the old man who said the Siamese had been around a couple years and he didn't know the sex.  This old guy is unbelievably independent and amazing.

But this is a Chickens Eat First colony.

At least its not nutria.

The chickens intimidate the cats, run them off, the rooster tries to run ME off and no matter how much cat food I put out for the chickens near the fence they come through, they have to eat the exact same food under the drop trap.   Just because.

I finally figured out if I let them eat they soon lose interest in the game and wander off.

I saw seven of the eight cats who are already fixed and caught three more unfixed with at least the Siamese left to catch.  Going out again today.  By mutual agreement from two oldsters, him and me, I'm not arriving out there til 11.

Here are the three I caught so far.

And here are some of the already fixed ones, sporting their right ear tips with pride.

I like to take the time I'm trapping out in far flung places to catch up on my sleep.   Put the seat back, kick back, get my car pillow and blanket, set the phone alarm for half hour, nod off.   Little known secret in the cat trapping world, that some of us LOVE a chance to go off trapping so we can catch up on sleep and reading.  It's not that exciting an endeavor.  

Drop trapping requires attention though.   I have to keep an eye on who is coming and going, for ear tips or lack of ear tips.   Bummer.   No napping.