Cat Chasing This Morning

This morning we had some excitement around our little farm. The day before yesterday Tip was getting chickens back in the fence and she was having to retrieve one from the side closest to the cotton field next door to us. My eye caught a flash of black and white streaking into the cotton. It was so quick I thought maybe I was just seeing things. I went over to make sure it wasn't a chicken. That might be disastrous if a chicken got in there, I don't know if they are smart enough to find their way back out. No chicken that I could see.

My eyes did not decieve me. I DID see what I thought I saw. As I went out to put Phoenix in his porch enclosure this morning I looked over to my left out of the porch and slinking along the garage on the patio was a black cat with white markings. Stalking chickens that were behind the fence, just minding their own business. Sneaking back in to the house quietly I whispered for Tip. She came barrelling through the house as usual, ready to do her duty. I stopped her short of the door and explained to her that she was not getting chickens this morning. I told her "There is a CAT. Get the CAT". Now she knows about getting cats. I will tell you why later. So she was primed and shot out the door like a lightening bolt onto the porch, me racing to get the porch screen door open and her shooting out into the patio...no cat...but we know cats...it was around the corner not far we were sure. I told her to "Find the CAT" and she was on the trail...quickly finding it hiding under the front porch there was much scrabbling and the cat shot out from under the end of the porch with Tip right behind. Both were incredibly fast.

Now we dont have many trees. Matter of fact what anyone would consider a real tree, a mature tree with shade to offer...well we are just fresh out. The cat headed for the one tall tree we have out front and was half way up before it stopped. Tip was pumped, she was hoppin' and a barkin'. It took some convincing but I got her to come on back in. I left the front door open so she could watch the cat in the tree. After a few minutes the cat started to get down. I sent Tip out there to send it back up the tree. She excitedly did her job once more. I wanted this cat to know we meant business and didnt want it to stick around. One more time Tip came back in. I let her watch at the door but this time I let the cat get down. Tip was going nuts barking and whining as that cat ran like its tail was on fire out towards the road and into the cotton field across the road. I dont think we will see it again. ;)

Normally I dont worry about cats too much. We have had a few come and go around here. They will come around at night and catch mice. But I do have one small hen out there, Dorothy. She is a silkie and very small. A cat could probably kill her. So I have to look after her, even though she does have Rough and Rowdy to protect her, and believe me they are fierce protectors of their lady, I dont want to take chances that someone gets mortally wounded if I can help it. This is the first time I have seen a cat take interest in bothering the chickens...so it had to go. And go it did.

I almost forget to tell why Tip is well schooled in getting the kitty. Back before our cats got old and didnt care anymore (we are down to one 17 year old) they liked to try to get away with popping their claws on whatever was handy be it the couch or the carpet. When one would pop, I would tell Tip GET THE KITTY, or GET THE CAT. She would haul butt through the house after the offending cat, chasing it into hiding. After a while, I didnt have to say a word. Tip would hear the popping noise and go after the source. Cats lick too much in my opinion also. It can get quite annoying. Likcing leads to massive hairball logs being vomited somewhere strategically placed so you can step on it in the dark as you go to the bathroom at 3 a.m. in the morning. I have had cats that would be so obsessed with grooming they began to eat their hair off their bodies, so I like to keep the grooming to a minumum as they are after all inside cats and just dont get that dirty. So following the same rules...STOP LICKING provoked the dog to come running to stop the offending cat. Now let it be known that you have to remember, Tip is a herding dog so she never actually makes contact with her "prey" so to speak. That would not do. But to have her hauling butt towards you and come within an inch of you staring you down is enough to get anything moving...lol.

Anyway...that is the story on that.

I want to take a minute to thank everyone for coming to visit my journal. It really does mean a lot to me that you stop by and take time out with me. I know I still have some that don't comment, and thats okay...come on out and say something one day if you feel so inclined.

Lisa I am so glad to hear you are feeling better...don't over do now, you don't want a relapse. Hestiahomeschool wrote that her husband wont let them have two silkie hens because they already have too many animals. Hm...welll...I will tell you...Ian and I have an agreement. I can have as much as I want as long as I take care of them and he doesnt have to do stuff. I think I am at my limit right now as I do still have a lot of time taken up with my daughter...but I sure do wish I could have a few head of miniature cattle...but WOW they are so expensive! So how many animals do you have anyway? Paula that is an iron rooster! That thing sat in a neighbors garage for over twenty years. She knew I loved chickens so much and showed up with it one day when she was stopping in to buy eggs. She said it had just been sitting there and she never knew what to do with it til she met me. She knew I would love it, and of course I do. It had a few cob webs on it and some oil spilled on it, but I cleaned it right up and I liked it so much I put it in the house instead of hanging outside somewhere to get dirty again.

Well its time for me to go visit all of you now...I need to catch up on putting all my new friends on my side bar here sometime soon too. I hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday.