To begin, I will say for the record that I am not a cat lover, or a cat person of any capacity. In fact, generally speaking, I really do not like cats. With that said, I will also state that I am not mean, or cruel to cats or any other creatures, I just prefer not to have them around me.
Now, the current state of events and what led to this point. This story actually begins a couple of years back, when my former fiancé lived here. She is, was and will probably always be a cat person, and while here, had what I consider way too many cats (just my opinion). There were kittens born here, most being very friendly and underfoot whenever possible. There was one, however that did not like to be messed with and would stay as far away from people as possible. It was nice enough when caught but really didn't like to be messed with.
When my former moved to her new place, she moved all of her cats, leaving some of them for a time, including the one that did not like people, with her mother who lives about 40 miles from me. Later (last fall), she moved them to her place which is about another 40 miles farther from my place. The one that did not like people promptly disappeared. By early spring, I began catching brief glimpses of this cat at my place, first around the barn, then at the edge of the back yard, always hiding immediately when she knew she was seen. Like them or not, I can't help having some respect for any creature with the focus and determination to make such effort to be where it chooses to be. I didn't mind her being here, since she was not under foot and was helping with the rodent population.
In mid-July, I startled said feline while doing some work in the wood shop. At first, I thought nothing of it but she kept hanging around so I investigated. Sure enough, right there in my wood shop, in an old chicken nest box behind a board, there were two brand new kittens. As soon as I left the shop, she promptly moved them to the lawn mower trailer where they would be safe (at least until time to mow the cemetery). When mowing time came, she moved them again, this time into the old house I use for storage and office. At this point, I am thinking that this is a temporary affliction, and that as they grow, this wild mother will teach them to hunt outside and they will return to the outdoors. Toward this outcome, I made a point of not acknowledging them or showing interest in any way.
About a month ago, however, the mother abruptly disappeared and has not been seen since. Whether she abandoned or was eaten by the local pack of coyotes, I may never know but the result is the same. I am now responsible for these two adorable little razor clawed demons that follow me everywhere and have a terrible tendency to be underfoot.
Nothing in life happens without a reason so there has to be a reason that I need cats in my life. Whatever the reason, it looks like I am stuck with cats. I just hope they grow to be more independent and become good hunters like their mother. If they do, at least I won't have to worry about rodent problems here on the homestead.
Now, the current state of events and what led to this point. This story actually begins a couple of years back, when my former fiancé lived here. She is, was and will probably always be a cat person, and while here, had what I consider way too many cats (just my opinion). There were kittens born here, most being very friendly and underfoot whenever possible. There was one, however that did not like to be messed with and would stay as far away from people as possible. It was nice enough when caught but really didn't like to be messed with.
When my former moved to her new place, she moved all of her cats, leaving some of them for a time, including the one that did not like people, with her mother who lives about 40 miles from me. Later (last fall), she moved them to her place which is about another 40 miles farther from my place. The one that did not like people promptly disappeared. By early spring, I began catching brief glimpses of this cat at my place, first around the barn, then at the edge of the back yard, always hiding immediately when she knew she was seen. Like them or not, I can't help having some respect for any creature with the focus and determination to make such effort to be where it chooses to be. I didn't mind her being here, since she was not under foot and was helping with the rodent population.
In mid-July, I startled said feline while doing some work in the wood shop. At first, I thought nothing of it but she kept hanging around so I investigated. Sure enough, right there in my wood shop, in an old chicken nest box behind a board, there were two brand new kittens. As soon as I left the shop, she promptly moved them to the lawn mower trailer where they would be safe (at least until time to mow the cemetery). When mowing time came, she moved them again, this time into the old house I use for storage and office. At this point, I am thinking that this is a temporary affliction, and that as they grow, this wild mother will teach them to hunt outside and they will return to the outdoors. Toward this outcome, I made a point of not acknowledging them or showing interest in any way.
About a month ago, however, the mother abruptly disappeared and has not been seen since. Whether she abandoned or was eaten by the local pack of coyotes, I may never know but the result is the same. I am now responsible for these two adorable little razor clawed demons that follow me everywhere and have a terrible tendency to be underfoot. Nothing in life happens without a reason so there has to be a reason that I need cats in my life. Whatever the reason, it looks like I am stuck with cats. I just hope they grow to be more independent and become good hunters like their mother. If they do, at least I won't have to worry about rodent problems here on the homestead.
