Kittens & Keets, An Update

Kittens

The kittens now have names.

Sam

Sam does not like hands. He does not like to be petted nor picked up. He will, however, climb into our laps and purr, or sleep on our feet. He loves to play and has amazing stamina! He loves to lick and gives everyone excellent baths.

Katy

Katy. I know, I've already had a Katy and I still miss her dearly. But as much as I tried to come up with a new name for our new girl kitten, I kept calling her Katy, so Katy it is. Katy is friendly and affectionate. She loves to be petted and readily jumps into any available lap to purr. She loves to play too, but poops out more quickly than Sam.

Guinea Keets.

The keets are now almost 7 weeks old. They still "peep, peep," but on occasion sound like the rusty hinges on an old screen door. In order to imprint "home" on them (as in where to roost at night), they are still confined to the buck barn. It is so tempting to want to let them out. I find them congregating by the door, looking longingly at the great outdoors, knowing they have a mission out there. Yet, I'm heeding the advice of those who have gone before, and keeping them in their permanent quarters for at least six weeks. I fear that if I don't, they will never come in to roost, and considering that we recently lost a young chicken who was roosting at night in a cedar tree, I'm motivated to see this through. (We suspect the culprit was an opossum.)

They love their mirror

The keets love their mirror and also love their millet. I keep some handy in an old Parmesan cheese container. Our "training", at this point, consists of me shaking the container and calling  "guineaguineaguinea." I then shake a little on the ground and step back. I'm hoping that they will learn to come for their treat, so that I can get a head count at least once a day. If I sprinkle the millet inside the buck barn in the evening, then hopefully I can get them in for the night. Besides possums and raccoons, we have owls I'd like to keep them safe from.

I plan to start letting them out in about two weeks. They'll be 8 weeks old and will have spent 6 weeks in their permanent home. Hopefully, that will be enough.

Kittens & Keets, An Update © September 2013 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Expanding the Rodent Control Department

After losing so many baby chicks to a rat, Dan and I discussed the possibility of getting another cat. There are certainly enough rats, mice, shrews, moles, rabbits, chipmunks, snakes, and squirrels to keep more than one cat busy. I looked at kittens on Craigslist, but never reached a decision. The other day, it occurred to me to look at one of our area animal shelters. No, they aren't free, but the adoption fee includes vaccinations plus spay or neuter. This not only makes acquiring a pet more affordable, but also gets them out of a cage and into a home. So, I went looking for a young adult cat and came home with...

They're about 6 or 7 weeks old, a little boy and a little girl. Of all the cats at the shelter, these were The Ones.

Little Girl Cat is friendly and purry; instant cuddle cat, just add lap.

She made herself at home in no time.

Little boy cat is timid and shy.

He was slow to coax out of the kitty carrier. If I try to pick him up he gives me a baby hiss and tries to run away, but doesn't growl, bite, or scratch once I've got him. The folks at the shelter said they were relieved that I took them both. They worried about Little Boy Cat being left behind because he's too scared to be friendly.

He's gradually getting adventuresome.

And Riley?

Not pleased. I put the kittens in the pantry and put up the baby gate to keep them in. This will give them some territory to get used to for now, plus, I hope, let Riley get used to the idea before being overrun with kittens.

Riley quickly hopped over the gate to investigate.

Riley smelled them before he saw them.

Of course Riley only hisses as them. The kittens are both quite fascinated with Riley, and will sit on their side of the baby gate watching him, while he lies on the kitchen floor and tosses hisses at them over his shoulder.

Little Boy Cat came out more the next day, but he still has his safety zone.

 

He loves to play and can easily be drawn out for that. He hasn't purred for me yet but likes having his chin scritched. I've noticed that if my hand is raised too high while I'm petting him, he flinches. I suspect something happened before he got to the shelter that has made him a little gun-shy; nothing that gentleness and love can't cure.

The baby gate barricade was breached after about 24 hours.

They have supervised access to other parts of the house.

Names? We'll have to live with them awhile to figure that out.

Expanding the Rodent Control Department © August 2013 

by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/