The homeless hang out in my neighborhood.
Some are simply killing time out of the public eye until the Mission opens its doors at 4pm. Others find a quiet spot to hang out and drink.
Still others camp out here. At one of the empty buildings on our walk route, some homeless have set up camp.
Not all of the homeless are human. There are homeless cats in the area as well.
These three cats have all been seen hanging out in my yard. The dilute tortie on the roof has been around since I moved in. She has recently been TNR’d and has an ear tip. The ginger tom atop my car recently showed up and has been fighting the tuxie guy here for territorial rights. Those arguments get pretty heated, such as the one they got into on my neighbor’s roof on Thanksgiving Day.
There are at least two neighbors feeding and caring for these cats, and they are in good condition for the most part. Ginger there looks pretty rough, but that will probably change once he gets a few good meals in at Beth’s Diner.
I salute my neighbors’ efforts, but I do not assist them. I don’t feed the cats or the people. And while I don’t run the cats out of the yard, I don’t feel comfortable with them being there either. Rumpy is curious and tries to get close enough to sniff them; I’m afraid he’s going to end up with a scratched eye or infected nose. And I certainly don’t want him to do anything to one of the cats.
As for the homeless people, Rumpy hasn’t shown interest in befriending any of them, but he has growled at a few when they tried to approach us. Not a good sign when a Mallie doesn’t like you.
Live and let live is my motto in dealing with these poor creatures. And for the most part, that’s also their motto in dealing with me.
Dogpaddling Through Life 
Steer clear, Rumpy! I don’t want you to catch anything from the kitties. Fleas ….or worse.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Me neither Cupcake!
If Rumpy says “No” rather than “Hi” he has his reasons. If wee little doggie said “Grrrr” that would be a definitive answer for me.
I hope the homeless kitties improve as they get more food. We have a “condo cat” at the complex who got left behind 5 years ago. He refuses to come in except for an hour or so in ice-storm weather. A number of people would adopt him if he would only stay inside. Many people feed him – to the point he looks like Jabba the Hutt. One gal crates him every year for a trip to the vet and everyone chips in for the bill. He never leaves the gated community and is, at the very least, safe with many places to curl up out of the weather. He’s so large one wonders if he is part Maine Coon.
I don’t know where you live, but I like your posts. Homeless near where you live can be dicey. I live in San Gabriel, down the hill from Pasadena. Most of my life stuff takes place in Pasadena, a tale of two cities: one poor, the other wealthy. There are a lot of activists in this city, and a good library system which is a friend to the poor.
I taught a class for 3 years on the Courage to Write, and an outfit named The Women’s Room sent people over. The library had just started paying me, and then the next year, I went to the Women’s Room. The place is for women in transition, i.e., homeless, in between lives, barely existing, and it is under the umbrella of Friends in Deed part of Ecumenical Council of Churches.
All Saints Church is particularly active. I have been teaching at WR for 5 years or so, and I get paid a modest sum for my two hours a week. This helps me immensely as my husband died, and a friend offered me a place in her house. I’ve been blessed. The women have been awesome and this center is fabulous. True devotion and love, no mission soup with the mission lecture.
I’d like to suggest if you don’t already do this that giving a donation to homeless shelters is a big help. But that’s your choice. I’m a Baha’i and try to be of service in my patch of land. Somehow I’ve always been grateful to have a roof over my head, and my twin was like that; I think we came into this world with some inherent gratitude.
Wishing you the best, Esther Bradley-DeTally, San Gabriel; talk to you around the bend later
There is a homeless shelter here that is religious-affiliated but I don’t support it because I feel homeless people have enough problems without dumping religion on top of it all. Also, truth be told, I’ve got caregiver overload and it’s important to me to leave some tasks for the rest of the community to do. So no feeding of people or cats.
Humanity is improved and prospers by acts of kindness. Not preaching just saying! Thanks for addressing a growing problem.
I agree. More people should try it. I am personally tapped out in the giving department.
I feel your frustration. It can leave you emotionally, physically, and financially drained. Thanks for all you do. Got to love all the animal advocates!