Stubs...a CAT-tastrophe Waiting to Happen

I love my former barn kitty.  She is a nut and is my little shadow.  She sleeps on our bed every night, getting displaced by the hubby when he's home on weekends and meows are my in the bathroom when I first wake up.  

While relaxing watching TV on evening I watched her explore our mantel.  She knocked over a candle and holder....luckily not breakable, before she moved onto the top of the bookcases.  From there she was stuck.  There wasn't an easy way back to the mantle.  Instead she tried to co behind the curtain and blinds but missed a tiny window ledge and plummeted onto the helpless planter below.

Oh kitty-kins what have you done!  Silly little Mini Meow!

So I had to get a new pot and figure out how to make it impossible for her to get back to the top of the bookcases.  Then another night I found her scrambling up onto her cardboard cat scratcher.  Behind it she had lost her little black hair tie that she carries around the house and mews at.  I removed it for her and then proceeded to watch my TV show.  Only 5 minutes later little Purlithia (Stubs) decide the hair tie would be best placed into my freshly poured glass of cider!

On my desk I have kitty shelves for both cats to nap while I work on the computer.  Stubs recently discovered my mini plasma ball.  She wasn't sure what to do!

Oh the joys of having a silly little cat, doubly so since Armani can be just as crazy!  I love them!

Headed to North Carolina!

FINALLY!!!!!

Serene sunday

Stubs' Year Anniversary

About one year ago I took in a feral cat from Dani's barn.  This was a barn that had lots of comings and goings and not the most safe location for a kitty to live since they could easily end up in the garage or in a random horse trailer headed who knows!  One year ago I took in a feral cat not knowing what would happen and was greatly rewarded!

When I first moved Dani to the KCRC riding club boarding facility I noticed a cute little bobbed cat running around.  N, a boarder at the time told me about her releasing three kittens to live there and be barn cats.

They never became human friendly since I think the release was too sudden and they didn't really have human interaction.  Still we both left out dry cat food and the cat food would disappear

I often found the one cat I saw between the barn wall and my hay bales.  I nicknamed her Stubs though at the time I was thinking "boy".  I have mostly male animals, or had I guess I should say.  I tend to think of critters in the male sex but now that I have a mare and a female cat or course that perspective has changed.

The summer of 2013 Stubs had a litter of kittens in the lean to nearest Black Forest Road.  Those kittens were eventually adopted since that boarder took care of them.  Stubs was very skittish at the time.  That November Stubs started hanging around Dani's stall when I would feed her, so I started talking to her and began feeding her yummy wet food.

It became apparent that she wanted to have a human friend or some type of company so I talked with a co-worker who had trapped a feral cat and borrowed his trap to get this little girl captured and spayed at least.  Little did I know how much she would warm up to me and my household.....mainly my current house cat Armani.

It took several weeks in the guest bedroom to bond and earn her trust and then introduce her to Armani and then my two dogs.  Eventually my little kitty became a full blown member of the household with no thought about returning to the barn.  I was pretty happy since outdoor cats do live shorter lives.  

We had some bumps along the road when I was given bad advice of "forced love" from a vet tech, hence I have a permanent scar on my arm but I look at it fondly now.  Stubs has become such a sweet cat who follows me around, hangs out with me and loves on Armani.  He is infatuated with her!  Things couldn't be better.

Now my little baby hangs out on my messy desk....lounging like the spoiled house cat she has become.

She watches me where ever I am.  I can't put my contacts in my eyes each morning without her under my arms purring and walking about my "vanity area".  I can't put on my pants without her winding in and out of my legs.  I can't sit at my desk to surf the net or work without having her try to cuddle with my hands on the keyboard.

She is full of fun and she's curious as.....a cat.  Steve and I brought out the nail guns and air compressor for my dad to use since he wants to finish his and my mom's basement.  We took the guns out of the bag and in popped the little kitty.  "What?  This bag isn't my new bed?!!!!"

She's my little bundle of complete love and joy.  Armani is a love bug too, don't get me wrong....but Stubs has bonded to me and claimed ME as her person.  Armani is more of a daddy's boy even though my lap gets chosen on occasion.

She looks grumpy here but is slow blinking and purring up a storm

Stubs is happy and healthy aside from what I think is an food allergy we are working to solve (notice some of the ouchies on her neck etc.).  Hopefully we can find out what food is causing that issue and get her healed up since I know she's itchy.

Anyways, my baby Stubs is such a lovey little girl and I'm so glad she decided to adopt me and have me be her care taker.  I feel lucky every day!!

Serene Sunday

Horse blankets fresh from the cleaners means extra wonderful Sunday afternoon nap.

Serene Sunday

It was going to be a horsie July 4th but with lightning and heavy rain we ended up just having the BBQ at KCRC, no pony fun games.  I was a bit bummed but was happy to catch up with members I haven't seen in a while.  I've been out of town for work for the past few meetings!!

For serene sunday I figured we'd visit little Stubs.  She's the cutest thing ever and constantly makes a little trilling meow sound when she wants you for something.  She also has racing stripes which makes sense since she often races around the house with toys or Armani.  Love my kitties!

Serene sunday

Armani gets tired out from being so cute.

Serene Sunday: Stubs and Armani....

The kitty is doing very well I am happy to report.  She has full run of the house now and though she trots off still when we walk to fast towards her she isn't really hiding.  She is tolerating the dogs and learning that ignoring them and standing her ground works best.

She and my other cat Armani get along so wonderfully.  He simply adores her.  One time when Spencer, my Jack Russel, first met her on accident (didn't know she'd jumped the baby gate!) and got her pinned under the couch Armani leaped to her rescue.  He jumped on my dog with claws out, hissing and fur all poofy.  Oh my goodness!  I never have seen a cat defend another like that!  

Now Stubs and Spencer sniff each other and she also goes well with Loki but he's just a tad more intimidating being so much bigger.  All in all things have gone so much better than I could have asked for and I think she's really enjoying being spoiled rotten!!!

"Good" Advice?

I'm sorry this is turning into a cat blog almost!  I just need to rant a little.  I listened to a Vet Tech and she discussed something she calls forced love where even if the cat is not liking petting holding etc. you just keep doing it until they relax.

In a way I think it made sense.  Kind of like releasing pressure with horses.  Well I tried it.  Here's what happened.

Ouch.  Stubs freaked out with me trying to hold her and I got scratched up!  Not her fault.  Totally mine.  I need to go back to baby steps.  Let her come to me, slowly scratch more areas.  Up until now I can really rub her her back and butt, scratch her neck and ears a bit.  I've slowly run my hands down her legs and even brushed her belly while scratching her sides.  It just takes time!

This Vet Tech made it seem like I was being a wimp and that it would take too much time way...perhaps she's just impatient.  I have time!  I have patience....what the hell was I thinking listening to her when I know what's working for my cat and me???  I should have known.  Armani even scuttled away when she tried to pet him and just this weekend he was lap hopping at a party we had.  I let my animals be who they are and do things at their comfort level.

Sometimes you just need to ignore "good" advice and go with your gut.  Hope Stubs will come out from under the bed and love me again!

Stubs Update

Somebody is getting more and more comfortable in our house.  Stubs has only been in the guest room but has met the dogs and cat through a baby gate.  Everything has gone smoothly with that but I think we'll need a little more time before we expand her range.

I've slowly been able to pet her more and more.  It started with just a finger lightly stroking her side as she ate. Now I can scratch her ear a lot and her little bottom.  Purrs galore!!!

She still is very much instinctual.  She likes to attack my feet under the blanket.  I've since been burying myself in thicker blankets to avoid the claws and am working on redirecting her to appropriate play things.

Each evening I watch DVD's or read in the room and just let her explore.  I'll play with her too and do little bits of petting.  She's coming along quickly.  With subzero temperatures I'm really happy we captured her a little earlier than we'd planned.  We just had to get her somewhere warm!!

Hopefully her affection will transfer to Steve and she won't have to continue work with him to get comfortable.  He'll be back Friday for the weekend but is then out traveling again for work.  She has seemed to like him and especially if I'm there with her perhaps that will help too.

Stubs is learning fast that getting between a human and their computer means the human has to pay attention to her!  Steve will love that!  He always has Armani between him and the keyboard.  Let's just cross our fingers he won't have two cats there now....Stubs can come bug me instead!

What a cute kitty!  I'm excited to see how quickly she's becoming adjusted.  She's been at the barn since May 2012!!!  She's about 1 year and 7 months old.  Her litter mates are long gone or else who knows, we'd have taken in another!  LOL.  My poor husband!

Of Mice and Kitties

I'm surprised that I never posted about the elusive barn kitty!  I found out that about 3 cats that supposedly live in the area, GG had brought them and then they ran off somewhere on the property.  They are not trusting which is a bummer.  I've only seen one cat ever, it's a little white, grey and orange mix....that doesn't have a tail.  GG said one day she found a tail sans cat in her shed, Jerico may have stepped on her or something.  I've named her Stubs.  Apparently she had kittens in the lower barn this summer and the gal down there found them all homes.

There was talk when GG was here that the gal down the "hill", D,  was going to get the cats trapped and neutered but there has never been a final decision and now that GG is gone I don't know what is going on.  I've talked with D so perhaps I'll mention getting a trap and getting her spayed before we have another litter next time we talk.  Vaccinations would be good too.  I feed Stubs some kibble and occasionally see her.  It's sad that she isn't comfortable with humans, I would love on her like there was no tomorrow.  I love kitties!

The other day though, I saw little Stubs running across the field to David's stalls at the very top of the hill; she's almost dead center is this picture above.  Then she hung out by his trash can and watched me.  I talked softly to her.  Eventually she went around and behind Dani's shed row.  I know she eats the food I set out once I found a good place for it.  It's out of the sight of the Magpies who used to eat it up and poop all over my tack!  Stubs likes the 12 inch space between my hay and the outer barn wall.  I'm thinking a nice warm bed should be the next addition...

Although, Stubs is slacking off a bit.  There is a mouse living somewhere under or near my palleted hay stack.  I discovered him over several weeks of seeing something dart from behind my muck bucket away from me and under the pallet.  Then one day I lifted the towel off my grooming tote and this little brown body jumped up and scrambled back in among the brushes.  He was so cute looking up at me with his beady eyes and little ears.  I was tempted to take him home but Steve would kill me!  I placed the tote down and he jumped out and ran off.  I've noticed that he utilizes my power cord conduit as a little mouse highway.  The other day while mucking I noticed him dart from the adjacent stall towards my water trough.  Upon closer inspection I saw just where he went.  As long as he doesn't chew my heavy duty power cord we'll be fine.

I have about 5 bales left behind Dani's stall.  I think I'll use those up before going to the shed to restock for the next couple of months food.  When the pallets are empty I can investigate where this mouse may be living...perhaps with the pallets empty Stubs will have a better chance of finding him too.  I love mice, don't get me wrong.  I had many as pets during college.  My feed is stored in sealed containers and I sweep the area of grain bits towards Dani's mouth and she takes care of the rest.  It's not a Deer mouse so no big worries about Hantavirus but I still don't want to have a colony develop and tons of mice and mouse poop in the area.

Little Miss Stubs better start being a barn cat and chase after these fuzzy critters!  I'll also find out about how to get her spayed and vaccinated.  At least they add some entertainment to the barn life!

Knots and Snot

Willy had a HUGE knot in his mane today!  Sometimes the kids here do a braid and then leave it.  If it's not maintained over the next couple days it turns into a rats nest!  Poor boy!  Steve came to ride with me so we grabbed Riddle as well, luckily his short mane doesn't have any tangle issues.

I spent a long time just working on Willy's mane, pulling out hairs one by one until it was loosened and I could finally brush it out.  I was worried that Steve would be all tacked up on Riddle before I even finished with Willy's mane!  Steve had a few issues with Riddle while grooming and picking his hooves but I was too busy with the knot that I figured Steve would get it all worked out.  Then heard this meow of horror, glanced over to Riddle and saw that the horse was standing calmly on the little gray tabby cats tail!  The poor thing was whacking at his fetlock and biting his leg to be released.  The cat was still a kitten so my thought is he still wasn't very "horse smart" and had decided to lay down a little too close to the horses hoof.  Finally he was released and he darted across the arena.  Steve went over to the kitty's resting spot to make sure his tail was alright, not broken or anything.  Luckily the sandiness of the arena probably had enough give in it that the tail was unharmed, though I'm sure he had some bruises and was sore for a few days after!  Poor little guy!

Steve grabbed the saddle, the older Wintec we'd used before and placed it on Riddle, a little too far back so I showed him the proper place to put the saddle and made an "air gap" into the pommel with the saddle pads.  We tried out too girths, both being too long so Steve went back to the tack room in search of another while I tacked up Willy.

Willy's nose was pretty runny and he coughed a bit, seemed he had a cold so I figured I'd take it easy on him.  I cleaned his eyes and face with a wipe to make him more comfortable.  When Steve came back with more girths it was apparent that we weren't going to have any luck with finding a tack fit.  Then Willy started coughing again, pretty hard and at the same time he farted really loud with each cough.  The sounds of farts and coughed echoed in the arena.  His nose was again covered in snot.  Today was not going to be a riding day.  I took off the saddle and unwrapped his legs, again more coughing and farting.  My poor little horse!  I know when I have a cold I don't want to do anything!

I rubbed him down a little and wiped his nose yet again.  We brought the horses back to their pens and gave them both a few carrots.  I hugged Willy and told him I hoped he'd get better, I'd send an email to Susan.  I'm sure she knew he was sick, a couple other horses seemed to have runny noses too but I figured I'd just send her a quick note.  Next to Willy's pen live the two miniature horses.  Steve wanted to go in and see them so we did.  Like me he loves things in miniature!  There were runny noses galore in the mini pony paddock as well.  Something must have been going around.  We gave the little ones some carrots too and then headed home to our warm house.  No riding today but at least I got to see my buddy.  Hopefully he'll get over his cold fast, it's not fun being sick whether you're a horse or a human!