Welp. Woke up this morning to the sound of two strangers discussing aluminum siding about ten feet away. Had a panicky hunch that proved correct: two insurance inspectors on the property next door, the one Artie's been getting stuck in.

They told me the owner was on his way, so I lingered outside until he showed. He was a total asshole at first, went into the standard spiel about "how crazy it is to feed feral cats" before I could even explain that THEY'RE NEUTERED, DOMESTICATED, BOX-TRAINED, AND ARE PRACTICALLY HOUSECATS.

But I'm very proud of myself. I was STRESSED AS FUCK after that interaction but I took five minutes of deep breaths and grasped the nettle. I went up to him as polite and conciliatory as I could and offered "Hey, could we... maybe put down some cat repellent or something? We'll gladly pay. We don't want them in there any more than you do!"

He seemed to soften up a little after that. He said it wasn't necessary, and when it comes time to fix up the property, he'll come knock on our door and we'll figure out how to best keep the cats out of his business.

I'm nervous as hell still, he did NOT seem happy we'd been sneaking into his property and leaving the back door propped... but he not only did not threaten to call the cops or anything, he didn't even close up the back door!

So I think we might be okay in the long run. And I am still SHAKING, especially 'cause the LAST crisis (ear infection) hasn't even resolved and I was BRACED for the next one to start.

But I am SO PROUD of myself for totally taking the reins of my Big Evil Hateful Catbeast Temper and being conciliatory. I think I won my Diplomacy roll with the guy.

Wish us luck. 'Cause if ONE HAIR ON ONE CAT'S HEAD GETS HURT over this, there will be war and I might be fundraising for bail money someday. :)