Mickey, the cat from across the road seems to have moved in for real:
he has become a lap and bed cat.  He seems to have retired from
mousing to just lie around as a house cat.  It was beautiful outside
today - almost room temperature though there is still some ice around
- and he made no effort to go out.  I held the door open for him
several times and he just looked out, then turned and walked away.
His flea collar was getting tight - I think he put on some weight
since he moved in and became inactive, so I cut it off a couple of
days ago.  A week or so ago, he had a fight with Fleagor (neither has
ever shown any interest in fighting), and now Mickey seems to be the
alpha cat.

Mooch is the feral that prompted Sebastian to become a fighter (Sebo
had to be rehomed for his own protection).  He's inside now - I was
able to get between him and the cat flap last night, and blocked the
flap.  Now I'm a doorman for a dozen cats.  I haven't managed to get
him into the bathroom for isolation because he's hiding in one hard to
get to place after another and shows no interest in going down the
hall, which he would have to do to go into the bathroom.  I'm not
*about* to try to pick him up or even catch him.  He's pretty beat up,
so I imagine he would benefit from having a home (and being neutered
when he calms down and can be handled).  There is some hissing and
growling, mostly from Mickey and Fleagor, but no signs of fighting.

T.E.D. (tdavis@gearbox.maem.umr.edu - e-mail must contain "T.E.D." or my .sig in the body)