Sheri I live in Elkhart, KS and this cat was shot around 22 miles by highway from town. Closer as the crow flies. He was verified a cougar/cat and picked up by the wildlife dept. Said they plan to mount him in their office after all the necessary checks are performed. I do want to clarify a few things. The person who shot him tried to scare him away. He had killed at least one chicken I'm told and he wouldn't leave even when shot close to. He would just stare at him. The only thing that could make him move were the dogs. He didn't seem that scared of the people trying to scare him. I understand he would just growl. When they pulled the dogs back he would head to the chicken pen. So finally after all else failed they shot him. There have been reports of a few others around this spring. But this is the first confirmed. Which is a lot less than the two previous years. It seems once they get a taste of domestic animals it is hard to get them to stay away. The female that visited the Campo area two years ago with the cubs was the same way. I visited the NE NM area during the Memorial day weekend. My 88 y/o uncle talked about them. Understand they have saw an increase in that area also. A female and at least one baby was trapped in that area and relocated I believe two years ago. The one in the picture was a young male. Another problem now that maybe forcing some to look elsewhere along with an increase in numbers is outsiders are buying some of the ranches where populations have existed for years. The remote, rugged canyons on those big ranches were a perfect home for them. Now the new owners are concerned about trophy deer hunting so many are making efforts to eliminate the cats. They are either trapped or scared to the point where they start looking elsewhere. Whatever the reason there is an increase in confirmed sightings. The wildlife dept officials doubted this was a cat till they got there and seen them. What they forget is that many of the older men west of here and in NE NM like my uncle have seen more in their lives than they have. I understand it has basically removed the sense of security the lady had. Dawn knows all too well about that. I also know there have been some sightings that haven't been reported. And I don't blame them for not reporting. In NM and even CO to some extent if they relocate a cougar many times there isn't much ever said. Once the word gets out then the roads are filled with those hoping to see another. And those who criticize livestock owners for protecting their livestock. Jay

My cats enjoy the 'Catch Me if you Can' (Walmart has them). It's a battery operated toy that spins around under a tarp erratically. You have to change the batteries frequently but the toy seems to hold their interest. They sell tunnels that were a big hit for my cats for quite some time until the novelty wore off. They still run do them once and awhile, though. I hooked 2 together so they have a long tunnel to buzz through. They make a crinkly sound when they run through them similar to paper bags which are always a delight. I think that you have to keep experimenting with toys until you find what is a hit with your cat. I have a little box of toys accumulated, some they play with some they could care less about. Anything with real fur is preferred here opposed to synthetic. Only of three cats of mine like catnip toys. I have two Bengals that retrieve but they both have different interests. One loves the real fur mice and these plastic jaks I bought in the kids section at the dollar store. The other one loves balls, mainly those plastic colored balls with the slits. She spends a lot of time knocking them around the kitchen floor. (If you squeeze them, the annoying little bell inside comes out). A window seat or a place for kitty to sit and watch the birds and squirrels helps keeps them occupied, too.

The kitty will take care of those nasty centipedes...and you'll never have to deal with them again!! My first cat found me about 20 years ago, and I can't imagine not having one now. I was strictly a dog person at the time. I have four. The first one has been gone for several years now, but we have another that also showed up in the backyard. And the one we adopted to keep the first one company. Then the two my husband brought home from work as 3 week old kittens. They can be as loving as dogs - just on their terms. I've trained them to all sit up and beg for treats.

Thanks to you all, our boys do rule the roost! What Nita isn't telling you is that we have a colony on the patio as well. A few years ago a stray showed up, a gray tabby who has had a hard life. Someone was very mean to her, she fears hands, hoses and anything attached to a stick. We've been working on her and can only hope that we can capture her to have her spayed, so far she has avoided the live trap. She has had 3 litters, 3 of the now adults live on the porch (we had 2 neutered)one of which sometimes comes in, Baby Girl in the photo was born in April, and now 3 that were born in June (yep, she carried two litters). Baby is at the vet, we pick her up this afternoon, she was spayed. The boys are Maine Coons, Bob and Moose are 5 years old, biological brothers from Maine Coon Cattery outside Cleveland, Dude is 7 and hails from McKittycreek in Erie, PA. He was a great match for us because Sue also has exotic birds, but was an only child so he feels he is above all the other cats. I love Maine Coon cats...or any cat!! LOL!!!