Silly Cat

It's cold here.  Very cold.  Yesterday with the wind chill factored in it was around -43 F (or -42).  In other words, blooming cold.  Last night I fed the horses an entire, very rich square bale.  That was their evening feed.  This morning, I fed more.  It did warm up to a balmy - 32C (-26F) today though.

Moxie Cat lives in my little barn.  She keeps my hay free of mice.  This morning she was in the rafters (on styrofoam type insulation).  Giving her the stink eye, I figured she made her way up there (not sure how) so she can make her way down.  Tonight, ten hours after I did my morning chores, I found her still in the rafters, calling me with all the desperation only a cat can muster.  Sighing I called her.  She trotted towards me above my head.  Looking around for something tall enough I braced my ladder against the wall and called her over.  Would the cat use the ladder to descend?  Of course not.

Trying to get it stable enough I began to climb my way up.  She excitedly danced around my head.  Grabbing her with one leather clad mitten I tried to drag her off the roof onto my shoulder.  Like all contrary cats she dug in her claws and refused to leave her refuge of the roof.  Taking more steps up the ladder, I reached a hand up and behind, all the while calling her over.  Tentatively testing me with a paw she began to walk onto my arm.  Encouraging her, I shifted a shoulder up.  Once I felt her claws dig into my thick Carhart coat I began to carefully make my way back down to the safety of the floor.

Dumping her off, I glared at her.  She happily wove around my legs purring and meowing.

Nutty cat.  Tonight I hope she decides to sleep in the insulated house I provide her.  (The barn is insulated but still...)

Moxie Moves In And Assorted Acreage Announcements

With my hay in my barn I was worrying about mice and had begun the process of investigating cats.  After much thought I made the decision to move the kitties here.  A couple of weeks ago my parents noticed that Oscar went missing.  He hasn't returned which in farm cat world is an ominous sign.  This weekend I moved Moxie into my barn.  I set her up with a heated water bucket, food, litter tray, and a styrofoam cat house.  My little barn is insulated with south facing windows so it doesn't get crazy cold.  

She's a bit uncertain with and chatty, but seems to be settling in well.  I'm just happy to have a star mouser in charge of keeping my barn vermin free.  

Guinness is growing like a weed.  He's maintaining a nice going into winter weight.  I was thinking he was around 14 hh, until I was at a friend's looking at their stick.  He's probably closer to 14.2 or 14.3 and bum high right now!

Teaser Alert!
More horse news coming soon!

Oscar The Farm Cat

Play Pal

This morning, after deworming the sheep, I moved Oscar and by default Moxie, out into the shed that houses the hay. I stayed out to watch them for a while. Moxie, who historically has tormented the dogs by engaging them in play, was playing with Oscar. It was a heartwarming moment and immediately removed any worries I had had about bringing another cat onto the place. It seems I was right and Moxie was lonely and needing a friend.

Wordless Wednesday

Ooops! I did it AGAIN...

I'm pretty sure I have a problem. Is there an Animals Anonymous out there somewhere? Tonight, I merrily *well, not merrily, it's been a rotten, rotten week and all I wanted to do was turtle at home* went to the stable for my jumping lesson. Once there I stumbled upon the horrid news that someone had dropped a mama cat and her three babies. It took the owner and staff an hour and a half to get them caught and safe in the furnace room.

It's pretty much safe to say that I'm not real fond of dumpers. I think it's irresponsible and cruel. The mom is a gorgeous tortoise marked kitty with a bib and white toes. The three babies, all male, all have tortie markings, and two are dark, with one grey. They were darling little creatures.

And I should not have been exposed to their sweetness. Because I folded like a lawn chair. On the weekend I'll be getting the place ready for "George" to come home. He's a doll. He snuggled up and purred, and purred, and purred for me.

Here's a picture of George - taken with my BlackBerry. Expect better pictures soon...

Cat or Dog??

Up until the time Tessa came into my life I had always been a cat person.  When I moved away from home it was with tears at leaving behind my beloved farm kitties Tigger and Squawk.  Serious discussion and contemplation had gone into bringing them with me to my new home on the prairie.  It was only the knowledge that my farm cats who were used to the run of the farm would not be content in my new 900 square foot house.  And I couldn't do that to them.  So they stayed behind and I contented myself with visits home where I would sit in the easy chair and read while Squawk relaxed on my lap.

Tessa was my first house pet - ever.  My mom had firm beliefs about having pets in the house so there were none.  Squawk an orphan was allowed in part time for cuddles, as he had been a temporary resident until he was big enough to fend for himself outside.  With Tessa I discovered the joy of having a dog companion with me.  I was able to see, grow, learn and love with her in the house.  I was never lonely with my furry friend so close and we often spent the evenings sitting together with her sprawled on her back between my legs on the couch while I read, worked or watched TV.   With no one to watch Tessa when I was gone I quickly learned to adapt my lifestyle to meet the needs of the dog.  Tessa went everywhere with me.  She has been to rodeos, roping's, bars, big cities and small towns.  (I lived 2-3 hours from anywhere with any facilities - meaning I had no choice, I would be gone too long to leave her in the house.)  Now I can't imagine life without having a dog with me.  Often when I'm not at work you can find a dog riding shotgun as I complete my errands.

I do have a cat.  Moxie was a dumped cat.  She quickly wormed her way into my heart.  She's not snugly but she has such a zest for life and is so spunky you can't help but smile.  She also thinks she's a dog.  She plays with the dogs, comes out into the field to help us herd sheep, rides the horse, and is an all around PITA.  (Pain In The Ass)  She has also taken a keen interest in Reba's puppies.  On Friday, the puppies and I were basking in the sun out in the yard.  I could see Moxie checking out these strange and wonderful creatures.  She stalks off.  Then reappears.  With a dead creature in her mouth.  She looks intently at the puppies, walks towards us, and drops her prize.  Giggling, I shook my head at her antics.  

Yesterday, I left the puppies in the yard unattended (Reba was out with them).  When it began to cloud over I went to retrieve them.  By the Rubbermaid tub I used to transport them I discovered another surprise.  A dead mouse.  Neatly delivered to the box, beside the pups.  It appears Moxie has struck again.  Apparently she thinks they need some extra vittles and wants to helps.  

Best of both worlds, a cat who thinks she's a dog?

Queen of the Barnyard

Moxie is the undisputed Queen of the Barnyard.  She has taken to riding Whiskey - to the water trough, around the corral - all with a look of undisputed glee on her furry face.  You would think Whiskey would have some objections to the fur ball on her back when she is sans blanket but it doesn't seem to faze her.  

My favorite part is when the cat looks down at the dog with a clearly superior and mocking expression.  The cat seems to be saying "Don't mess with me, I've got horsepower!".  The dog meanwhile does the head tilt.  You can just see Joey wondering why the world seems so topsy turvy.  

One night I tried to pull the cat off the horse to switch blankets only to have the cat grab on.  Tonight while treating Whiskey, the cat scaled the panel beside us and leaped onto the back.  I received a classic cat dirty look when I tried to remove her.  As I rubbed the lotion into Whiskey's skin the cat sat and watched with intense tail twitching interest.  I half wondered what the horse would do if the cat pounced onto my hand.  A wreck in the making?

The cat and the horse seem to be fast friends.  The horse even watches her step when the cat is running between her legs.  Tonight trying to lead Whiskey from point A to point B was an exercise in patience as she wouldn't move until she saw the cat.  Yes, she actually moved her head, looked in the direction of the cat before taking a step.  Is the horse aware enough to "watch before she steps"?  Something to ponder on a winter's evening.

Huntress

Moxie has been on a hunting spree.  While Bella was out of commission and in jail by the house, Moxie would deliver her buddy special "treats".  I like to think the cat was trying to cheer up the dog much the way you bring treats to someone in a hospital.  (Bella was spayed 12 days ago.)  

I've learned to watch where I step as more than once I've done the foot jerk as I realize there is a dead bird/mouse/creature on the sidewalk.  Last night I went to put Bella to bed.  Bella decided she wanted to sleep in the shed in her straw nest, as I went to shut the gate I discovered another of Moxie's treasures.  To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what it is.  It's big, kinda looks like a mouse but isn't.  Perhaps it's a mole or muskrat.  (Alberta is supposedly rat free.)  Whatever it was it gave me the heebie jeebies! *shudder*  As I was looking for and adding the links to pictures I realized the thing was clearly not a mole but could be a gopher, only the tail seemed, well, rat like.  If I was a gruesome person I would post a picture of the dead thing and ask for suggestions.  *Heh*

Each day I stumble across some new, dead creature.  I must admit I appreciate Moxie's diligence in keeping the place vermin free, I just wish she'd cease and desist in bringing her prizes to the high traffic areas.  

Friends

Moxie arrived about a month before Bella. As there is a crazy cat who lives near the house, we made Moxie an insulated cat house, filled it with straw and put it in with the square bales. When Bella arrived she had been living outside and in an uninsulated shelter with her mom and siblings (with sheep). Being the paranoid person I am, I of course worried Bella would be too cold (it was bloody cold when I got her). So she was moved into the hay shed with Moxie. Bella is no longer the small fluff ball puppy, rather she's a 70 pound barking, coyote chasing machine. Bella is anticipated to mature at around 100 pounds. (She's adolescent lean.)

While Bella no longer lives in the hay shed, Moxie's house remained behind. Last night doing my night check I discovered Moxie had also moved out of the hay shed. She was sitting with Bella in her straw pile. Not wanting her to freeze her ears I moved her house out to Bella's space. Now I have no idea if Moxie actually used it last night. I have my doubts. This afternoon I noticed Bella curled up beside the barn. Moxie sitting on top of Bella's back, also curled up. I wish I had had a camera.

An animal's capacity to love is a beautiful thing to behold.

Darn Cat!

Moxie is somewhat of an adventurous soul. She is playful and spunky but also has a fairly high pain in the ass quotient. Moxie considers all open doors as an invitation to snoop. Tonight, post garage parking I saw her running up the driveway, headed straight for the garage. Wearing winter boots I ducked and dived attempting to get in the way of her mad dash. Being a cat she is a wee bit more agile than I am. Into the garage she goes. The garage is a supposedly cat free area. This is to prevent those annoying foot prints all over the hood and windshield. Giving up, I leave the big door open, gather my bags and head to the house and warmth.

Later, out doing dog chores, I see Moxie streaking past headed to the barnyard. As I move through my chore routine, Moxie follows. Going into the feed shed I nearly squash her with my feet. You would think this would faze her. No such luck, she just moves onto the hay stack and waits for another opportunity to ambush. As I give the horses their grain, she shares her good spirits with the horses by brushing against their legs. This always makes me distinctly nervous, envisioning what a 1400 pound horse could do to a 10 pound cat. (She's a pretty small cat, probably smaller than that.)

At the round bales, she stays on mouse patrol while I fork off layers of hay for the sheep and horses. Happy as could be in the snow. With each fork laden trip, Moxie follows faithfully in my shadow, sometimes running ahead scouting the way.

She detours when the dogs thunder by. Stopping to pounce out at them and start a game of chase, easily climbing the nearest fence. I once came out in the morning to find her curled up with Bella the 70 pound Maremma pup. She is fearless when I feed the dogs. Fully expecting them to allow her a tidbit or two from their dishes. Bella will sit and wait patiently but Reba gets anxious and stomps her with her front paws. Yet, each day, Moxie's in there like a dirty shirt, attempting to eat Reba's food.

The funniest Moxie story would be when Tessa was being reluctant to get into the car. I had the door open, walked away to grab Tessa's collar when the cat hopped into the car and sat down. Tessa moved like streaked lightning, leaping into the car to glare at the cat. The look on her face clearly said, "This is my car, beat it furball!" Moxie, being Moxie, didn't bat an eyelash and just moved to the drivers side, where I scooped her up and sent her on her way.

She may be a pain, but she's a cool pain. Who wouldn't want a neat cat like that? Oh yeah, the person who dumped her on the side of the road.