Feral Cat Fridays: “Ten-Hut!”
Sarge was one of the first feral cats we found wandering the woods of Dry Creek Hill. A white cat and a black cat, who later became Ernie and Foreman, obviously ruled the territory. A young tabby tagged along and was appropriately deferential. That tabby became Sarge.
When we first saw the cats wandering at a distance, we referred to them as White Cat, Black Cat, and Young Cat. That was fine for a while, but eventually they took on personalities and needed names that fit more than their coats. We also needed a naming system to keep track of our TNR program.
Sarge earned his name for two reasons. He had definitive stripes on his neck and front legs that reminded us of Sergeant’s stripes. But he also behaved like a Sergeant: In charge of the territory when the officers (Ernie and Foreman) were absent, but taking orders when they were present.
Sarge became a friendly cat but he never hung around the house and deck for long. He would stop by and have a snack or take a break from his duties, but he was off to his next stop relatively soon. It’s a busy life when you have two bosses.
I think I read something about the complications of serving two masters. I especially like the stripes on Sarge’s legs and tail. They seem to be unusually distinct and tiger-like, but that could be my inexperience with cats speaking.
His appearance and habits are of a sort that might have inspired Blake’s “Tiger, tiger, burning bright, in the forests of the night…”
Sarge’s stripes were more distinct than seen on the average tabby and got our attention even from a distance. He didn’t allow us to get close until long after he was named.
And you can see that bright burning in the final photo – that’s the glow of the setting sun on Sarge as he relaxes after dinner.