It started innocently enough.
We began to suspect that a cat might be overnighting in the evergreen bush out front. Nothing dramatic — just the occasional rustle, a fleeting shadow, the sense that something was passing through after dark.
So we did what many people do: we put a little food out.
The food disappeared. Regularly. Consistently. With impressive punctuality.
Then came a cold snap, which prompted the construction of a "cat box" for shelter.
(Oddly, it remains unused to this day — a reminder that cats do not recognize human intentions, only cat logic.)
Curiosity followed compassion, and curiosity eventually led to what we now refer to as
educational surveillance: a Wyze camera aimed at the feeding area. That's when things became clear.
It wasn't a cat.
It was several.
Different sizes. Different patterns. Different schedules. Some bold, some cautious, some clearly running things behind the scenes. What looked like a single visitor was actually a small, loosely organized nighttime operation.
A few Facebook posts followed. A couple of food donations appeared. Conversations started. And before we knew it, there was enough activity — and enough genuine interest — to warrant something more organized.
Which brings us here.
Top Hat Ferals exists primarily as a public log: sightings, interactions, new arrivals, and small moments that reveal the quiet complexity of a neighborhood feral cat colony.
It's not a rescue organization, not a formal program, and not a grand plan — at least not yet.
Will it evolve? Almost certainly.
Could a small TNR effort develop down the road? Possibly. For now, the goal is simple: observe, document, care responsibly where appropriate, and let the situation inform the next steps rather than rushing ahead of it.
As with most things involving cats, they're still very much in charge.
Powered by GitHub Pages + LabBox
This site now uses LabBox as its backend instead of Google Sheets.
