New Kitties!

The day after Thanksgiving my two new barn kitties were delivered from the Humane Society and their custom crate was built.

The Talbot County Humane Society here in Easton, Md (and probably all over the country) has a barn/feral cat relocation program and since I have a barn, I decided to adopt.

I already have a barn cat who took up residence in my hay loft about two years ago. In the beginning I would see him out of the corner of my eye, maybe crossing the road at night or scooting out of the barn in the mornings when I went out to feed the horses. My barn is only about 100 yards from my house so I also caught sight of him just lurking around the barn. I started leaving out cat food the first time I saw him.

It wasn't long before he got bolder and when I went up in the hay loft I was a little intimidated by him as he sat high up on the stacked bales of hay watching me. I was afraid he was going to pounce! I always talk to my animals and he is no exception. I would say "kitty, kitty" as I climbed the stairs.



When winter came I felt well padded enough to hold out my gloved hand to him, and what do you know? He started purring and rubbing his face on my fingers! We progressed slowly and soon he was following me around the barn as I did my chores. By then, I had no choice but to give him the unfortunate name of "Kitty". He is my barn buddy.



He is not the first stray animal to "adopt" me. When I lived on my horse farm in the mid 1990's, a super friendly black dog used to hang around. I would get so frustrated with my boarders when they brought him treats, I wanted him to go home! Eventually I arranged to foster him until the rescue was able to find him a home. I took him to the vet to be neutered and get whatever shots he might need. He tested positive for heartworm which made him un-adoptable. I had tried so hard to NOT bond with him but he came home with me that day, the heartworm was treated successfully and he became my farm buddy, "Stan", the best dog ever! (no offense to my current kids!)



I moved here to Easton in 1999. On New Year's Eve 2000, my Lempe came. When I was heading back to the house after feeding horses, I noticed movement around the wooded perimeter of my property. I got some dog food and she tentatively approached the bowl and gobbled every morsel. I confined her in the garage overnight and the next morning I brought her into the house, gave her a bath and she is still with me.



About two years later, a big old hound dog that I named Deke decided that my yard smelled good. I adopted him through the Humane Society when his owners relinquished their rights. Deke was with me for almost a year and then went to live with my sister. He passed away a few months ago. According to Janet, he was the best dog ever!



Not to forget my newest, Mosey. When a friend who is an equine dentist came by one day with a puppy, which was not unusual for her to have dogs with her as she rehabilitates and rescues dogs and horses, I said "cute puppy" and she said "do you want him?"... Of course I said "Yes!".



Back to the new kitties. They are currently in their cage in the barn where they should have stayed for only a few weeks. There is a fairly simple process of letting them out in a closed barn to explore during the night, then opening the doors in the morning and hoping that they return for the regular food they have become accustomed to during their confinement. We are having a particularly cold and snowy winter and I am not ready to let them out of their cage, yet.

There are two kittens, both are under a year old so they shouldn't be threatening to Kitty. A fuzzy little black male that I have named "Sweeny" who likes to play and flirt and a shy little tortoise shell female with white paws and face that I named "Junior". The ladies at the Humane Society got a good laugh talking about "Uncle Kitty" and his little nephew "Sweeny" and Sweeny's sister "Junior". They are very cute. Hopefully Kitty has gotten used to them through the cage and won't chase them away when the inevitable warm January week comes and I let them out.