Neptune and Oaksley's 1st day of freedom -- dialup warning!
A few days after they arrived here, I was headed out of the barn and a dark gray tiger cat sped by. 
I raced back into the barn -- Neptune was hunkered, as usual, at the back of the dog crate, staring at me. So apparently the mystery cat who left me 2 mutilated mice (including one decapitated!) is a dark gray tiger. Hmmmm....
Anywho, I was going to keep them in for 2 weeks, but Oaksley was getting increasingly impatient. For several days, I let him out to roam around...he follows me everywhere. And Neptune stayed put, stuck in the back of the crate. He only let me see him eat when I put tuna on his paw. He got up once and I was able to lure him a couple steps by leaving cat treats just out of reach. But it pissed him off when he realized I'd "won," and he took to hissing and growling at me when I brought food. Then he started hissing and growling at Oaksley, and I started to get worried. So I decided it was time. I fed them dinner the night before last and left the crate door open. The barn doors were sealed, but an ambitious, brave and athletic cat can escape under the open eaves.
When I came down yesterday morning, Oaksley was wandering in the aisle with the horses, all waiting for breakfast. Neptune was gone. The shelter had warned me that he probably wouldn't stick around.
At noontime or so, I headed down to feed the horses and there was a dark grey tiger leaving the brush and crossing the pasture. He turned and stared at me. No question it was Neptune; his black-lined emerald eyes are unmistakeable. I was happy to see he's sticking around somewhat, at least so far. Last night I walked around the outside of the barn shaking a bag of food and calling. That is how they bring the cats indoors from their outside run at the shelter. Oaksley was following me around the whole time, of course. I put out dinner for 2 cats and left the barn door opened a crack so a cat could slip in.
I figured I'd either find leftover food or no leftover food this morning. If no leftover food, either Oaksley would be stuffed to the gills or not. There was no leftover food and Oaksley was hongry! this morning. So I'm pretty sure that Neptune slipped in and ate.
No pix of Neptune -- I didn't have my camera with me that one time I saw him. But I did get great pix of Oaksley playing. Just noticed, too, that in the last pic he's caught one of the grasshoppers he was chasing!
Oh, and these pics are accurate for color!
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I love that big bushy tail and his amber eyes! 
