Well that was different.

[2naSalit]

A few minutes ago I looked outside to see what the weather looked like, it's just getting daylight, and I noticed that there was a horse grazing in the front yard. After a second I realized it wasn't one of my landlady's horses, it was the neighbor's horse. Then I saw the landlady's cat race out and chase the horse down to the road toward its own yard.

I went out to see where the horse went and the cat came up looking for praise over the good job he did chasing off the neighbor's horse. The horse was just standing out on the road between properties looking over here. I guess he's hungry, we still have green grass even though it's snowed several time over the past ten days. Doesn't look like the horse is well fed and lives on a small lot with five other horses... they've been eating the leaves fallen from the trees. Landlady said she's planning to talk to the neighbors and see if they need hay or something.

aAst time I looked out in the early morning to see a big animal out front, at a different residence, it was a bison... and one of the cats wanted to chase it off!

[democratisphere]

1. Sounds like the neighborhood might need to take up a collection to feed

the domestic and wild creatures in your area. This situation should not be ignored. Let US know how things progress. Tough times are affecting everyone and it will be a long winter. Thanks for this post.

[2naSalit]

3. It will be addressed.

The landlady is truly generous and she will organize other neighbors to do something about it. She's had horses all her life and won't let any animal starve no matter what. I think this has pushed the issued past just wondering about them to becoming active in making sure they are taken care of.

[hlthe2b]

2. Cats are unbelievably territorial. In the mountains I've heard or seen video of housecats

chasing off bears, coyotes and even a mountain lion. Of course these cats are the exception as the scores of "missing cats" signs tell the story of how often they end up the prey.

Badasses fighting well beyond their weight.

I surely hope you can band with your neighbor to get those horses help. It is wrenching to think of them not being fed adequately.

[2naSalit]

4. I have seen cats chase off all kinds of wildlife

and it's pretty crazy to watch. The last kitty I lived with patrolled the fence line of our yard every night before bed and early every morning before I got up. She was very territorial.

I think the issue with the horses next door will be resolved pretty quickly... we have a good neighborhood for the most part. I just moved into the place recently but it has a good feel to it and many here have horses on their 1-2 acre lots. I am sure the horses will get the attention they need.

[Bayard]

5. Horse standing in the road....

Recipe for disaster. Definitely sounds like an intervention is called for.

[2naSalit]

6. It's a one laner, hardly any traffic

especially before 7:30am. Speed limit is 15mph. I could see him from 100 ft away. That was less an issue, really. Only the people who live back here drive back here. After talking to the landlady, she said once in a while her girls get out and the either just go eat in the front yard or wander over to a friend's house and visit the horse that goes out trail riding with them. Half the residences around here have at least one horse. We're outside the city limit so livestock is allowed. Sometimes it's deer feeding outside. What I like about this place, not surrounded by close quarters leaving wide open spaces all around with a view. They'd have to go a ways to actually get into real trouble.

We were more concerned about the horse being hungry than anything else.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. when I was living on a few acres out West... my kid said one night at dinner,

"Mom, there's a cow looking at us", in an amazing calm matter of fact voice.

Turned around to see a cow with her nose against the patio door, and 6-7 more cows behind her, anxious to step up on the porch. Opened the door a crack and made shooing noises.
They meandered off into the woods, I called the local feed store down the road, reported it, couple hours later the owners drove in, they disappeared into the woods, calling the cows.

Watched them later heading out of the woods and down our drive to the road.
Never saw them again, so I figured they had fixed the obvious fencing problem when they got them home.

[Bayard]

8. When I was living in the mountains in CA,

I came around a nearly blind curve coming down Hwy 180, and almost plowed into a couple horses standing in the middle of the road. This is a busy highway, speed limit 55. One had a halter on, luckily, so I caught him and the other followed. Huffed and puffed up the nearest loooong driveway. Yes, their horses, no, not surprised. Not even a thank you.