Actual pets don't live outside. The outside critters are ones who have settled into the neighborhood (and in some cases, the back porch) by their own choice or consequence. I don't mind too much as they seem to be keeping the roof rat population down.

Gray Kitty has lived under the outdoor furniture on the back porch for a while. She's bullied by just about every other predator in the neighborhood, so she's very feral and skittish, but will allow petting and give rubbies if bribed fed.


The raccoons started coming by to help clean up Gray Kitty's leftovers. I've had up to five of them visit at a time. They are trashpandae non gratae to my neighbor, who had his chickens decimated by the bandits, but I haven't had problems (yet). They are genuine wildlife, so I maintain a friendly yet indirect relationship with them, although one has no problem coming to within a few feet of me while I'm wrenching.




Now with their prehensile forepaws if I could just get them to hold stuff for me like cantilever shoes or front derailleurs while I'm adjusting them...