Monday, October 19, 2009

Feline "Helpers"

Meet Shasta (grey) and Bree (black/brown), my new barn cats. I say barn loosely - although if you saw the state of my house at the moment, it'd be quite accurate! I got these girls from friends of mine a couple months ago. My new place didn't have any resident cats, so I figured I needed a couple mousers. They're still kittens, albeit BIG kittens, but they've each caught a couple of mice. In the house, no less. But, that means they get to spend time in the house, which they love. Especially Bree. She's a bit of a wussy pussy. I've been making a roving-loop blanket for Sarah, my five year old Golden Retriever, because she insists on sleeping on the cold hard ground outside as much as possible. Well, the kittens have discovered it's softness and boy is it fun to chase my fingers as I work on it! And chew on the little hook I use. We had a time last night, let me tell ya. They finally got locked in the porch.
I don't consider myself a "cat person", but I sure have enjoyed these two. They have totally different personalities. Shasta is part dog, I think. She loves to go for walks outside with me and the dogs and she is so brave. She races around and chases anything that moves. She is determined to catch a chicken, which is so funny to watch. She marches around the sheep or llama while I do chores - no fear. And she won't run from the dogs either - she just turns around and rubs against them and won't give in to their chasing desires. Bree, like I mentioned is more timid and she prefers to stay inside, preferably ON the lap of luxury. She is definitely a cuddle muffin. Which suits me fine, as she is SO soft. She has the funniest meow - it's more of a squeak - a really airy, faint squeak, like she had some damage to her vocal chords at one point. Currently they must be going through a growth spurt as all they do is eat, beg for more food and eat some more! Their combined weight is 3lbs and they eat more than my dogs - whose combined weight is about 130lbs. How does that work? Actually, I don't need to know.


4 comments:

Michelle said...

What lovely and useful additions to your farm! Bree looks just like our Ozzie, who was our barn cat for 18 years; never sick a day in his life and died in his sleep in one of the flower beds. May yours live as long and trouble-free!

Cary ~ My Wool Mitten at Serenity Farms said...

I'm so glad to catch up with your move, Heather! Congratulations and we will keep you in prayer - look forward to hearing more ;)

By the way, that photo of the rams is fabulous!!! You should enter it in a contest or something! My boys go in with the girls this week...hugs, Cary

Kelly said...

...sweet, sweet kitties! I bet you become a cat person pretty darn quick! We have a cat-dog too. He's the best...

Evelyn said...

Cats will grow on us, won't they? I never considered myself a cat person either........... but, perhaps I'll get a picture of them posted one day, I've inherited the kitten that my children rescued a couple of years ago, and I also have one of HER kittens. I can't imagine being without them!

I'm catching up on your posts.... what fun to see the children playing in the leaves, and then to see the snow! It's like a kaleidescope of the seasons!