We feel a bit as if we are slowly making a picture book come to life in our daily lives. You know the ubiquitous barn cat that is always seen in every children's book about farms? The ever present barn cat provides that warm fuzzy feeling of contentment when seeing her grooming herself on straw bales and she also provides an invaluable service of keeping the mice and moles in check.
We have hit a new epoc in our lives of living in the country as we now have our first official, authentic, full-fledged barn cats that have arrived... and actually were born in the barn!
This is Clover, Molly's cat.
We have hit a new epoc in our lives of living in the country as we now have our first official, authentic, full-fledged barn cats that have arrived... and actually were born in the barn!
This is Clover, Molly's cat.
She had 8 kittens. Sadly, however, none of them survived.
We wondered where the cats would choose to deliver. There are limited places the cats can go that our outdoor dog, Jessie can't get to and it was hard to picture them birthing kittens in those places.
Clover chose to birth nearby the cats' favorite place to snuggle, a stack of straw bales. She wedged herself in between the stack of bales and the wall of the barn. It got very cold that night and one kitten died. We wondered if it was because of the cold. We hoped the other seven kittens would survive but, unfortunately, the rest of the kittens also died one by one.
We wondered where the cats would choose to deliver. There are limited places the cats can go that our outdoor dog, Jessie can't get to and it was hard to picture them birthing kittens in those places.
Clover chose to birth nearby the cats' favorite place to snuggle, a stack of straw bales. She wedged herself in between the stack of bales and the wall of the barn. It got very cold that night and one kitten died. We wondered if it was because of the cold. We hoped the other seven kittens would survive but, unfortunately, the rest of the kittens also died one by one.
The other two kittens we call "the twins". Only Emily is able tell them apart. One of them is named Pipkin and the other is Heidie. They had what we assume to be their kittens, but we have no idea who's is who's! The two of them were both pregnant and both of them are no longer pregnant.
One day we found Pipkin had given birth in an empty vacume box high atop of shelving system in the dairy barn. We moved her box to a safer spot on top of the straw bales.
There are only 4 kittens and all three of the cats share taking care of them, grooming and nursing them.
One day we found Pipkin had given birth in an empty vacume box high atop of shelving system in the dairy barn. We moved her box to a safer spot on top of the straw bales.
There are only 4 kittens and all three of the cats share taking care of them, grooming and nursing them.
Here is Clover taking a turn at caring for the kittens.
This takes our cat count up to 9 now!
Our farm cats have been incredibly helpful killing mice and voles and moles, but we are not sure if we will keep all of this next litter or find homes for some of them. It is turning out to be a kitten plantation! Obviously, this will require some decision making in our near future. In the meantime we will enjoy watching the baby kittens develop and the fun and frivolity that comes with a new litter of kittens!
Anyone want a bonifide barn cat free to a good home?
Our farm cats have been incredibly helpful killing mice and voles and moles, but we are not sure if we will keep all of this next litter or find homes for some of them. It is turning out to be a kitten plantation! Obviously, this will require some decision making in our near future. In the meantime we will enjoy watching the baby kittens develop and the fun and frivolity that comes with a new litter of kittens!
Anyone want a bonifide barn cat free to a good home?
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