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Cats in our backyard

Mar 20th, 2007 by Lillian

These cute little kittens have been coming to us for a couple of weeks now. When they first came they were totally malnourished, their fur looked awful and they were very shy. My kids started feeding them and they look so much healthier. I can’t get too close to them yet, and they don’t let us touch them but we are working on taming them. I’ve always wanted cats in the back yard to scare the mice and snakes away. So we will continue feeding Snowy and Spotty.

Posted in Everyday Life in Thailand, Chiang Mai, Family | 8 Comments

8 Responses to “Cats in our backyard”

on 20 Mar 2007 at 6:48 am1Sandra

They’re beautiful! A friend of mine here in Korea did the same thing–started feeding a feral mother cat and her kittens and she also saw an amazing improvement in their appearance and health. She was so sad to leave them behind when she moved to Thailand. I would like to have backyard cats since my daughter is allergic to them, but we live in a highrise, so now backyard for us. Enjoy your kitties.
on 20 Mar 2007 at 7:17 am2Max

I like cats but never been keen on getting one. We adopted a stray dog once, many years ago. Lovely thing. Feed it, got it fit and healthy but then had to leave. Very sad.
on 20 Mar 2007 at 11:02 am3Lyle

Hi Lillian,
First, you and your family are very sweet to start caring for those little kittens. I assure you from experience that they will pay you back in spades for your kindness by, as you hope, lowering the mouse and snake population in your area!

Second, if you have any experience with or knowledge about Visakha Bucha celebrations in Chiang Mai, or if you don’t have any but know someone who does, could you please let me know by email? My friend is writing a travel story for the New York Times about Thai festivals but he has no sources yet in Chiang Mai. If you can help him, he might quote you in the story — cool, yeah?

Many thanks, Lillian — and good luck fighting that horrible pollution. I hope your son’s hands are feeling better ever day, poor guy! –Lyle
on 20 Mar 2007 at 6:36 pm4Lillian

Matt, I’d personally say no its not safe.. the pollution level is so high that everyone is recommended to stay indoors. Alot of people have irritated eyes, coughs etc.
Lyle.. thanx for your comment. Will get back to u by email..
Max and Sandra, I don’t really like cats but I like them more than rats and snakes.. haha
on 21 Mar 2007 at 11:19 am5Korbua

cute cats… but im more like a dog person. i guess having pets is always a good thing.
on 22 Mar 2007 at 9:36 am6oakley

Kitties! How CUUUUUTE are they!?!? Aww.

We had some strays circling our neighborhood back in Bangkok. The maids were feeding them but my mom was horrified of cats so they stopped. But then the maids in the condo next door started feeding them instead. So we still have the cat population patrolling the parameter.

Massive decrease in the white geckos (jingjok) population. Yeees! (I’d rather get eaten alive by mosquitoes than ducking under a door covered in jingjoks!)
on 11 Apr 2007 at 12:20 pm7Sarah

We came back from our holiday and there is “something” in the house digging through the floorboards at night - it sounds ominously big. Also a huge owl has moved into the roof and is pooping on our outside table. So we are investing in a cat too. Although the owl might not be too impressed to begin with. In fact it might eat her. If we can both benefit each other that is so much better than being just a pet.
on 11 Apr 2007 at 12:23 pm8Sarah

PS I love geckos. My husband bought one for his flat in Chicago to help control beasts (I know - one would hardly make any dent at all in the insect population) but it got squished flat when a door got opened (the dent was made in him). So he was put to rest in the freezer.