I have never used an artificial sweetener

[marble falls]

18. I know that, but they don't. They love the dry I use, no cereal, meat is the number one component.

and low fats.

I'm putting out 40 - 50# a month. My house cat doesn't get canned. He drinks plenty of water but I still worry about fish oil and male cats regarding kidney disease.

Avoiding feeding the raccoons is the tough part. I put feed out in the morning as early as I can and still avoid the late ranging raccoons and as late as I can at night and still avoid the early ranging raccoons. In the winter I add a mid day feeding. No raccoons to worry about.

The ferals have done a great job getting rid of tree rats, mice, snakes, but still grab an occasional bird but there are a lot fewer feather piles than there used to be. The second floor patio is the bird feeding station and I've finally found the right feeders though trial and error that the squirrels can't rob. I have feeders out for the humming birds and the doves have to make due with whatever seed falls on the ground.

I have a nice sanctuary of our own in this town. A creek and some nice trees. Too bad Texas is too hot to get to enjoy it year around.