Bunny the Cat

A small, skinny cat began appearing in my backyard in 2023. The tip of her left ear had been clipped off and she was very afraid of me, so I knew she must be feral.
 
I began putting water and cat food out every day for her. Slowly, she would come and eat even if I was outside. Eventually, she began rubbing against me and purring when I fed her. Now a year later, while she doesn’t like me to pick her up or sit on my lap, I am grateful she at least lets me pet her. I'm happy to provide her with food and a home on my back patio.
 
Before Bunny entered my life, I had to put my 16-year-old male cat to sleep, so I was focused on male cats. And this new kitty was not going to let me check to see if it was a male or female. I hadn't given this cat a name before I had to leave on a trip. While I was away, a neighbor named my new cat Buddy. Curious about its gender, I contacted the Animal Birth Control Clinic and learned that "he" was actually a "she." I renamed her Bunny to avoid confusion. Interestingly, after the name change, Bunny seemed to bond with me more.
 
In January 2024, when the temperature dipped below 20 degrees, she wouldn’t sleep in the igloo I made her, so I brought her inside for two nights. She howled all night and tried to get out of the house. I realized the best I could do was leave a heating pad out for her. Even though this was a traumatizing experience for both of us, she will occasionally slip into the house and within minutes, be back at the door to go outside.
 
Bunny enjoys catching reptiles and bugs to use them as toys or a snack. I have developed a routine of relocating would-be victims for their own good. Before I had Bunny, I loved watching the birds and squirrels in my backyard. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I could no longer set out food for them because I was just setting them up to be killed by my little hunter.