“The Feral Foursome” 1991

At one point I had at least fifteen feral alley cats in my backyard. They were mostly interested in my ability to provide food. Momma Cat (on the left) and Uncle (second from the right) were bold enough to set up shop in my apartment. I could never touch them, and they weaved through my pad at high speed late at night. Every time I came home, they would disband immediately and usually flee through the porthole I had cut into my back door. I was only able to domesticate one of them, and he died suddenly one morning. The rest never let me touch them, except when they were asleep. Then they would slowly open their eyes and when they realized, much to their horror, that “The Feeder” was petting them, they would make horrible sounds and acrobatic moves to escape my wanton hands. Their whole world revolved around survival and I guess they figured that the food I put out for them everyday was actually, bait…

All Photos © Matt Weber