Hoosier cabinet? I feel a sense of deja vu about forgetting what it is. Ah yes. We don't really see them here much now but they were popular in the 1970s into the 1990s. Some called them a dresser and others a hutch.
It is an antique. It is from the late 1800s, and was bought by a local funeral director. The furniture went with the property when it changed hands. All these years later, the daughter was getting rid of some of the things. We took the hoosier and a curved glass fronted curio cabinet.
Same idea, except Hoosiers were more designed with baking and cooking in mind. THere is a flour sifter behine the tall door and the bottom is designed to hold cookware, the cupboards on top the ingredients. There is a pie safe in one of the drawers, a tin top that closes to keep the mice out of your desserts.
Good luck with the cat. I hope he gets acclimated quickly to his new environment and realize that he has got a pretty good gig if he plays his cards right.
Debby - the mystery of the duplicate pendants is solved. Several months ago daughter and I joined forced for a booth at a community garage sale. We combined our stuff on tables. When the day ended in blistering heat and no sales we disgustedly gathered up all our things and threw them into bags and boxes. Turns out daughter had an identical pendent I didn't even know she owned. She, however, was not as fond of hers as I was of mine and tried to sell it. Somehow it ended up coming home with me. I don't remember putting into MY jewelry box but obviously I did. So noTwilight Zone, no witchery. And no, I no longer fear nursing homes and locked wheels on the wheelchair. Incidentally, I love the idea of the little feral kitten. Did Mangey bring him home to you for tender loving care?
Ana, the mystery of the extra hair dryer is solved as well. I am embarrassed to tell you. No twilight zone, not witchery here either. Mangey did not bring the little fellow home. He was trapped from a litter. One of the kittens died. He is about 5 months old and he is a true feral. He has not yet come out from under the cupboard. I gave him several hours to 'aclimate' and then I went out and gave him a good petting for quite some time. He seemed to love that. He purred. He keeps his head down and does not make eye contact. I did pull him out and held him for a few minutes. He did not like that, but he remained quiet. He will take some taming.
Tim is not happy, but he accepts the situation. We don't know how it will go. Mangey's reaction. I have seen him twice since I decided to bring him inside. I haven't seen him for two weeks. That was part of it, I guess. William was so excited about 'Ash'. And then the little stinker up and left. William has been trying to find him. I felt bad for him. And along came a cat who was trapped, neutered, vetted. I just felt bad for him too. There's one born every minute, as P.T. Barnum said (and he was not talking about kittens).
A cat from a feral litter. One died. One was adopted by a tenant. This one was trapped, neutered and vetted but had no place to go. My grandson had fallen lin love with Ash who disappeared as soon as he was brought in and got the chance to escape. So...the ending was as predictable as a Hallmark movie.
I also predict that now that I've adopted a kitten, Mangey AKA 'Ash', will return and let us know that he has changed his mind and wants to be an indoor cat.
My very first kitten, many years ago, was almost certainly feral. I got her from a rescue society, but in my innocence didn't ask anything about her previous life! She was a nightmare. Ran up my legs, up the curtains, would turn and bite and scratch when being stroked. We had her for many years, and she moved 3 times with us and is the only cat that I buried in the garden here!
Sounds like she got over the feral bit. How long did that take? This fella does not bite. He just hides. He came out long enough to eat and use his litter. He heard me walking and stuck his head under a rug. I cleaned his litter box and gave him some gentle words and some gentle pets. He stayed stock still with his eyes tightly shut.
When I got two feral kittens from a farm in south central PA, I kept them in my bedroom for a couple of months. Prior to putting them in the room, the mattress and box spring went on the floor and pillows were stuffed under dressers. Blankets were laid across the bottom of the closet doors so they could not hide in there. I did all this so they only saw me coming in and out of the room and in a prone position. Did this for about a month. They softened up and were allowed in a couple of rooms of the house. After about a year they knew I would not hurt them and enjoyed attention, but when strangers came over they hid.
So I hope some of that is helpful... Keep them contained and don't give them a place to totally hide...
It actually IS very helpful, Cappy. My husband came in the bedroom this morning, and said, "Get up. Your cat is gone. I knew he wasn't gone. Tim was looking on top of everything. I knew that he wasn't. We have a small moveable 'counter' between the stove and the fridge. He was hiding in the back of that. I didn't want to, but I think we're going to have to bring up the dog crate, and keep him in that for a few weeks, until he settles down a bit. I think that he'd be more comfortable if I put a box in the crate for him to hide in.
I'm actually from MD. But I know where Williamsport is! I have lots of family from both ends of PA! :-) A friend of a friend was involved in a cat rescue in/near Shrewsbury. They were doing TNR on a farm that was totally overrun with feral cats, homing kittens that they thought would tame down. I got two - Polly Dactyl (four months) and Mona Manytoes (7 months). :-)
Many years ago, my mom rescued a crazy feral kitten and brought her into our old farm house. In the beginning, she would disappear for a day or two at a time and come back covered in cobwebs. We weren't certain where she had been. Finally it was discovered that she was exploring the several tunnels for piping and such that branched out from our tiny cellar towards the various extremities of the house. I'm pretty sure those days coincided with a diminished population of mice. That cat ended up living nearly 20 years.
Just the fact that this cat is not aggressive, but obviously terrified gives me a certain amount of confidence that he'll be a good cat. It is just going to take a while.
I am terrified of him getting into the basement right now. There's all kinds of hidey holes down there, and a coal room. We've had chipmunks get in before, and I'm afraid that if there is a way in, there is a way out. We haven't found it, but obviously, it is there.
Two of Mum's last cats were tamed and adopted ferals - but they wanted to be adopted. How long was he feral before being trapped? There is a chance, when they are young, to really take to domestication. Mum's mother swore by buttering their feet when they first are in a new house to know where home was - not sure how useful that is.
Guess what? We have a Hoosier cabinet too. We brought it to Hawaii with us from Illinois. Art uses it for a desk though and it's stuffed FULL of his... important things (it looks like junk though).
Hoosier cabinet? I feel a sense of deja vu about forgetting what it is. Ah yes. We don't really see them here much now but they were popular in the 1970s into the 1990s. Some called them a dresser and others a hutch.
ReplyDeleteIt is an antique. It is from the late 1800s, and was bought by a local funeral director. The furniture went with the property when it changed hands. All these years later, the daughter was getting rid of some of the things. We took the hoosier and a curved glass fronted curio cabinet.
DeleteWelsh Dressers use to be in most kitchens over here.
ReplyDeleteSame idea, except Hoosiers were more designed with baking and cooking in mind. THere is a flour sifter behine the tall door and the bottom is designed to hold cookware, the cupboards on top the ingredients. There is a pie safe in one of the drawers, a tin top that closes to keep the mice out of your desserts.
DeleteGood luck with the cat. I hope he gets acclimated quickly to his new environment and realize that he has got a pretty good gig if he plays his cards right.
ReplyDeleteWe shall see. If anyone has any kitten taming tricks. feel free to jump in and offer advice.
DeleteDebby - the mystery of the duplicate pendants is solved. Several months ago daughter and I joined forced for a booth at a community garage sale. We combined our stuff on tables. When the day ended in blistering heat and no sales we disgustedly gathered up all our things and threw them into bags and boxes. Turns out daughter had an identical pendent I didn't even know she owned. She, however, was not as fond of hers as I was of mine and tried to sell it. Somehow it ended up coming home with me. I don't remember putting into MY jewelry box but obviously I did. So noTwilight Zone, no witchery. And no, I no longer fear nursing homes and locked wheels on the wheelchair. Incidentally, I love the idea of the little feral kitten. Did Mangey bring him home to you for tender loving care?
ReplyDeleteAna, the mystery of the extra hair dryer is solved as well. I am embarrassed to tell you. No twilight zone, not witchery here either. Mangey did not bring the little fellow home. He was trapped from a litter. One of the kittens died. He is about 5 months old and he is a true feral. He has not yet come out from under the cupboard. I gave him several hours to 'aclimate' and then I went out and gave him a good petting for quite some time. He seemed to love that. He purred. He keeps his head down and does not make eye contact. I did pull him out and held him for a few minutes. He did not like that, but he remained quiet. He will take some taming.
DeleteI need to know more about this feral kitten. And Tim's reaction. And Mangey's reaction. Has Mangey been to the vet yet to have his little op?
ReplyDeleteTim is not happy, but he accepts the situation. We don't know how it will go. Mangey's reaction. I have seen him twice since I decided to bring him inside. I haven't seen him for two weeks. That was part of it, I guess. William was so excited about 'Ash'. And then the little stinker up and left. William has been trying to find him. I felt bad for him. And along came a cat who was trapped, neutered, vetted. I just felt bad for him too. There's one born every minute, as P.T. Barnum said (and he was not talking about kittens).
DeleteInquiring minds want to know... about the kitten.
ReplyDeleteA cat from a feral litter. One died. One was adopted by a tenant. This one was trapped, neutered and vetted but had no place to go. My grandson had fallen lin love with Ash who disappeared as soon as he was brought in and got the chance to escape. So...the ending was as predictable as a Hallmark movie.
ReplyDeleteI also predict that now that I've adopted a kitten, Mangey AKA 'Ash', will return and let us know that he has changed his mind and wants to be an indoor cat.
My very first kitten, many years ago, was almost certainly feral. I got her from a rescue society, but in my innocence didn't ask anything about her previous life! She was a nightmare. Ran up my legs, up the curtains, would turn and bite and scratch when being stroked. We had her for many years, and she moved 3 times with us and is the only cat that I buried in the garden here!
ReplyDeleteSounds like she got over the feral bit. How long did that take? This fella does not bite. He just hides. He came out long enough to eat and use his litter. He heard me walking and stuck his head under a rug. I cleaned his litter box and gave him some gentle words and some gentle pets. He stayed stock still with his eyes tightly shut.
DeleteI could never trust her not to show her wild streak and bite!
DeleteDid someone mention Crazy Cat Lady?
ReplyDelete😜
DeleteWell, I trust that it will work out.
ReplyDeleteI think it will take an awful lot of patience.
DeleteWhen I got two feral kittens from a farm in south central PA, I kept them in my bedroom for a couple of months. Prior to putting them in the room, the mattress and box spring went on the floor and pillows were stuffed under dressers. Blankets were laid across the bottom of the closet doors so they could not hide in there. I did all this so they only saw me coming in and out of the room and in a prone position. Did this for about a month. They softened up and were allowed in a couple of rooms of the house. After about a year they knew I would not hurt them and enjoyed attention, but when strangers came over they hid.
ReplyDeleteSo I hope some of that is helpful... Keep them contained and don't give them a place to totally hide...
It actually IS very helpful, Cappy. My husband came in the bedroom this morning, and said, "Get up. Your cat is gone. I knew he wasn't gone. Tim was looking on top of everything. I knew that he wasn't. We have a small moveable 'counter' between the stove and the fridge. He was hiding in the back of that. I didn't want to, but I think we're going to have to bring up the dog crate, and keep him in that for a few weeks, until he settles down a bit. I think that he'd be more comfortable if I put a box in the crate for him to hide in.
DeletePS: I didn't know you were from central PA! Our boys went to Penn Tech in Williamsport.
DeleteI'm actually from MD. But I know where Williamsport is! I have lots of family from both ends of PA! :-) A friend of a friend was involved in a cat rescue in/near Shrewsbury. They were doing TNR on a farm that was totally overrun with feral cats, homing kittens that they thought would tame down. I got two - Polly Dactyl (four months) and Mona Manytoes (7 months). :-)
DeleteMany years ago, my mom rescued a crazy feral kitten and brought her into our old farm house. In the beginning, she would disappear for a day or two at a time and come back covered in cobwebs. We weren't certain where she had been. Finally it was discovered that she was exploring the several tunnels for piping and such that branched out from our tiny cellar towards the various extremities of the house. I'm pretty sure those days coincided with a diminished population of mice. That cat ended up living nearly 20 years.
ReplyDeleteJust the fact that this cat is not aggressive, but obviously terrified gives me a certain amount of confidence that he'll be a good cat. It is just going to take a while.
DeleteI am terrified of him getting into the basement right now. There's all kinds of hidey holes down there, and a coal room. We've had chipmunks get in before, and I'm afraid that if there is a way in, there is a way out. We haven't found it, but obviously, it is there.
Two of Mum's last cats were tamed and adopted ferals - but they wanted to be adopted. How long was he feral before being trapped? There is a chance, when they are young, to really take to domestication. Mum's mother swore by buttering their feet when they first are in a new house to know where home was - not sure how useful that is.
ReplyDeleteHe is approximately 5 months old, no older than 6.
DeleteGuess what? We have a Hoosier cabinet too. We brought it to Hawaii with us from Illinois. Art uses it for a desk though and it's stuffed FULL of his... important things (it looks like junk though).
ReplyDeleteYour husband hides his junk? You are so lucky.
ReplyDelete