Archive for the ‘Greta’ Category

We are having a hot/cold spring. Sunny and beautiful one day, and snowing the next. When the sun is out, we all gravitate to it like the barely-blooming flowers. The pets love a good sunbath, too.

This is as close to snuggling as almost-19-year-old Greta and young Mr Barnie get.

Greta, doing what she does best. But at almost 18, she deserves a good nap.

Barnie loooves Sophie.

Sophie likes Barnie well enough.

Barnie really, really missed Sophie when we were at the coast this summer. Here he is “snuggling” with his favorite canine upon her return. (This pose was not set up!)

Barnie tolerates his senior cat companions. He is respectful to the “old ladies,” his housemates, Greta (17) and Ruby (15 or 16). Most of the time.

Here he is sharing a cat space bubble with Greta. Is it just me, or does he look giganourmous?!

Here is a long-overdue update on my barn-find-rescue kitty. I found him back in May. Or maybe he found me. Whatever the case, he was a matted mess. He seemed pretty wild at first, but quickly assimilated into his life as an indoor-only cat, after a check up and shave down. Here are some updated photos of my really hairy kitty.

Look at that face! Perfect innocence every time, even when he is feeling naughty.

Sadly, the name  “Mr Stinky” has stuck. This is sad because 1) I prefer  human names for my pets, and 2) he isn’t stinky. Not at all. He is quite the fastidious groomer. And, thankfully so far, not a hairball thrower-upper. Yet.

I suppose “Barnie” is his official name, but we slip back in to Mr. Stinky mode fairly often. He answers to any and all names. He is loving life as a house cat! Even though he shares it with two old lady cats – Greta (17) and Ruby (15 – 16).

Here are some updated photos of his new life. Read the rest of this entry »

August 22, 2009 - Barn cat story update

This is part one of the story of my newest addition, a completely matted long-haired cat I found living out in our barn. He has many names… Barnie, Stinky Boy, Baby Kitty Boy, all of them not what I envision as the perfect cat name. (Got an idea?  We obviously need help here.)

He is brimming with personality and cracks us up on a daily basis. But those stories will be saved for part two. For now, here is how he came to be a member of our family.

Life on the farm…

My geese, Giselle and Harold
Son and father (yeah, don’t ask)

They are big bossy noisemakers
Here they are pestering my new found stray kitty.

My Barnie – in his natural habitat

I actually saw him crawl out from between the floorboards. He can’t meow, and made odd hissing/barking sounds. I wasn’t sure of what to make of him when I first encountered him. It was at night, pitch black out, and I was doing the before-bed-chicken-check. He came hissing out of nowhere and scared me.

I tamed him over a few days. What a love! He purrs, drools, kneads all of the time and followed me around on chores like a dog. I almost stepped on him several times.

Then came the big day to get cleaned up…

Let’s remove these pesky things

I neutered him and shaved off all of those mats. The mats covered his entired body, except for his legs and tail.  He was tested for FELV/FIV (both negative – whew!) and vaccinated him for Rabies and FVRCP.

He then began his new life as a house cat.

Lemur cat!

The standoff

Sophie the dog insterted herself as referee.
Greta is 18 years old, and… not so happy ’bout this new guy.

On my desk. Note the extended paw. Always kneading! So cute.
Even when he is grooming himself… kneading and kneading.

Yes. Quite comfy.
Please try not to type so loud.

Could this blankie be fluffed a little, please?

Barnie’s story continues…