Our cats have a new pet.

[laughingwillow]

Our young tom managed to catch a starving baby chipmunk last month. I'm guessing another cat had nabbed the parents earlier and the baby must have gotten hungry enough to venture out of the nest. Anyway, I stepped in and carried the little guy around in my hand for awhile and then stuck it in a pocket and headed for the pet store. I put him in a little critter cage with a gourd for nesting. Dude started bulking up quick like. He likes all types of seeds, popcorn, catfood and some greens. But not green beans. hehe Pretty soon he started going bonkers in the little cage. So I got him a wheel. After about a week of watching him burn up the track I finally released him into mango canyon. The room is 4'x14' landscaped with a couple ton of flag/wall stone and full of cactus and succulents. I was lucky enough to cart a few substantial rocks off yegge peak before toostoned checked out. Speedy seems to be digging his new home. His favorite perch to catch rays and eat sunflower seeds is one of the rocks gifted by Lee. He still has his gourd and even the wheel, but I've yet to see him resort to that. (It felt a little cruel to watch the little guy run the treadmill for five minutes and then hop out and see he'd stayed in one place all that time.) And I'm working on litter box training him.

This morning Mrs lw was complaining that no cats were in the house to snuggle in bed with her, figuring I'd let them all outside. But the fact was the cats have taken to watching speedy through the glass door and windows. All the time squinny tv. At least while its light out.  

I'll try and get some pics before it gets so cold in mango canyon that speedy takes a little winter nap.

lw

[senorsalvia]

Very cool story!!  I've never actually been around one up close and personal;  must be alot of fun...  Give my regards to sir Speedy. :cool2

[kemp]

Cool, I bet the cats love watching speedy... heh
Please, post some pics.  :e_smile:

See "upload attachment" section when posting.

[jikuhchagi]

Cool, I have always like chipmunks. Much more amiable than squirrels! :mrgreen:

[laughingwillow]

I just killed speedy.  And it about makes me want to cry. I saw him foraging for food just now and decided to throw him some popcorn. He ran away as I opened the door, but then he dashed back toward the crack as I closed it. I heard a squeal and speedy bit my toe before I could back the door off him. I must have crushed his little chest. God, I feel terrible...

lw

[JRL]

I'n so sorry!

[dendro]

so sorry LW-what an unfortunate accident.

[laughingwillow]

Thanks for helping me keep the "accident" part in perspective, folks.

lw