We have a serious mouse issue. It's terrible in the hen house, and pretty bad in the barn. We're in the middle of a drought, and there's one bold little guy who waits until the water bucket is filled in the girl llamas' pen, and then leans over the edge and has a nice, long drink.
As you may recall, I related the story of Rambo, mouse-exterminator extraoridinaire, who tricked my parents into making him an indoor cat. He's now plump and happy and, well, retired from the rodent termination business. And as for our girls, they aren't outdoor cats, either.
So a few weeks ago I phoned our vet, who often has stray kittens in need of homes. (We adopted Morgan from him last year.) And yesterday I got a call.
A woman had brought in two little male kittens, threatening to shoot them if the vet didn't take them. (What is wrong with people? She couldn't just say she couldn't take care of them? She had to be a complete jerk about it?) I said I'd be there as soon as I could.
So today we picked up Gandalf the Grey and Strider. At 7 weeks of age, they can't be out and about just yet--they're in our basement for now so they can gain some weight and get some much-needed TLC. But they're just as friendly and playful as can be.
Having lost Grey Cat (he was 16) last fall, we were both pleased that this little guy is an all-grey, self-coloured cat.
Strider is pretty handsome, too, and already shows promising hunting skills.
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22 comments:
Awww - they are adorable! Poor little mites - they're obviously far better off with you and Mr O'Kitten. Hee hee - love that picture of Isis and the bowl that matches her eyes...
They are really very cute ! but how can you keep them in the basement, my heart would melt ! Is it too dangerous to let all your cats outside ? I could never keep Arthur or Kim inside they would go mad. Rosie I don't know yet. Anyway here in Europe (as you may know) all cats go usually outside and it doesn't happen very often that one has an inside cat. Maybe in some appartments but realy I don't know. I only hope for you that the little cats are not behaving as mine, since we have cats I have mice sometimes !!! They bring them inside, play and then forget !
omg i am SO JEALOUS... i have had the hankerin for a new kitten lately (i'd just love a cheddar cat to get big enough to beat tyson up and keep tyra warm ha ha). too bad that mr. purly insists that we'd have to get a puppy before another kitty (boooooo...).
i think i may just have to go visit the shelter this weekend anyways :D
i don't particularly want to have them in the basement, but the girls would have a fit if we brought them into the house. eventually they will be real farm cats, living in the barn and hen house (in the part that the chickens aren't in, it has a new roof and is very dry and fairly warm in winter. (i know! it sound awful doesn't it?) they're too small to be out there just yet.
our cats used to go outside a little bit, but the traffic really flies by on our road and Copernicus was killed by a car after we moved here. so no more indoor cats outside.
i just hope i can stick to the outdoor/barn cat/mouse extreminator plan, because of course i want them in here to cuddle and play with me!
Awww.. I'd call you a sucker but that's how ALL kittens ( I wrote "knittens") end up coming home, is those sweet little faces. People are so terrible about animals sometimes... when my dog was hit on a major road outside my parents house a man who stopped offered to shoot him for us. The dog was clearly fine except for a broken leg- and we were in the city.. not on a farm.
They are beautiful! I'm sure they will be great mousers. The carnage they will wreak!
Can we keep them for ourselves?
Mr. O'Kitten
You will really come to enjoy having kitty cat greetings out in the barn - you'll see!
We love our barn cats just as much as the indoor cats, and we keep them friendly and handleable. It doesn't keep them from doing their job, but sure makes it easier for us to do ours as responsible cat owners. (Who wants to have to trap a cat just so it can get its vaccinations?)
You'll have fun watching the llamas chase/investigate them, too!
They are far too cute to be shot - what is wrong with people! Gandalf the Grey and Strider have got themselves a wonderful new home!
and i gotta tell ya GANDALF... he's got me! the name, the grey the green... he's got me! and i'm allergic!!!!!!
hehehe
Well, that sounds like a logical plan but when it gets to be minus something degrees and the mice are hibernating I would take those sweet babies in and cuddle them! But then, I'm weak weak weak and could never live on a farm.
They are so sweet!
Now you have done it. Aunt Joan O'Kitten will be bugging me to get a friend for OTTO. Seriously, they look rather handsome and regal. I wish you much fun, happiness, and pleasant times with the newest O'Kittens.
Uncle Arthur O'Kitten
Congratulations...the kittens are so cute.
So they are going to be farm cats...SURE THEY ARE!!!! LOL
I am sure when winter sets in they will work their way into your warm home. Let you indoor babies get use to them now.
As far as the lady who brought the kittens to the vet, at least she didn't leave them in the street.
Enjoy your new family.
Your local feed store probably sells bed warmers, which are heavy plastic squares, about 18" on a side, with heating coils embedded inside. The warmers don't get very warm, maybe just 70° or less, but it's enough. You can make the barn cats a nice warm corner with one of these and an old blanket.
The same store will also sell thermostats that you can set so that the warmer only comes on when it gets about so cold.
My BIL, in north-east Iowa, uses these for his barn cats and they make it through the winter just fine. I think he also uses a heated water dish, so the cats' water won't freeze over solid.
SOOOO CUTE!!!! Congratulations on the new little darlings. They look like they will be great mousers. How can anyone shoot them? People can be so unimaginably horrible.
Thank you for you sweet comment about Ms. Fuzzy. We will miss her, but hopefully we will have our own little darling soon too.
Congratulations on your new O'Kittens! I bet they don't go out to the barn...lol! I reckon you're a lot like me and soon, those kitties will eventually be inside. Then you'll have to get some more for the barn and so on and so forth...heheh!
They are lovely looking boys though and they've got themselves a good home. Maybe that woman should be shot! (now,now!...slaps wrist)
What wonderful pictures, thank you for sharing!
Come and see Anastasia in the Groucho Marx glasses!
Karl
Welcome to your new arrivals! Awful about that lady :( and good your vet knew ahead of time you wanted some kittens!
At our weekly flea market it's free to come in and give away kittens or puppies - but if you plan on charging for them then its 6.00 still, not bad at all and they are always scooped up quickly (our Pogo is case and point ;)
They're so cute! Good luck on the barn/indoor cat plan.
That might be "no comment" or it might be the cat version of muttering 'what fresh hell is this? - kittens! kittens, I say!"
I'm so glad you took those kitties. They as adorable.
Ummm, we are having a mouse problem at my retail store - once the kittens have taken care of your problem, if they would like a nice road trip to Colorado for a week or so - where they would be treated oh, so well. Let me know, until then, I am the one standing on the chair....
Hey, where'd you go?
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