I had just finished dragging a pasture this weekend and was heading back to the house on the tractor when I looked over at the hay barn. Something had caught my eye. Yep, there they were -- Rocky and Joshua, two of our barn cats, way up high on the hay stack. These two boys live in Beauty's Barn, which is across the drive from the hay barn, but they spend a good part of the day hanging out like this.
Rocky is the orange cat who arrived here about two years ago. He belonged to a couple in the Swan Valley of Montana who have been very generous friends of the animals at the ranch. Rocky had shown up at their place as a stray one day but had not gotten along with their own cat. Every time they tried to place him with friends, Rocky would wander off and show back up at their home ... often miles and miles away from the family he had left. Finally, they asked us if we could use another barn cat. As it turned out, we had just built Beauty's Barn the year before and had one lonely barn cat there -- Joshua -- and thus a companion for him would be nice to have.
Though they warned us about Rocky's history of wandering off -- and they were skeptical he would stay here -- I had always enjoyed good luck "homing" newly arrived barn cats. My method is to put them in a giant dog crate with a bed, litter box, and food and water, and then I let them stay in the crate for a week or so in the barn that will become their new home. That way they get used to all the comings and goings in that barn, the sights and the smells, and familiar with all the people and animals. After a week of watching the activity and becoming comfortable in this new environment, they identify with it as their own place. When we let them out of the crate on the big day, they stick around ... because now they're home.
Joshua had belonged to a young lady who worked here a few years ago, and though she loved this cat, he had developed an annoying habit: He peed on her bed and couch. And only on her bed and couch. (Weird, huh?) Otherwise, Joshua had impeccable potty habits. When she moved to a new rental to be able to work at the ranch, she was beside herself as to what to do with Joshua. We offered to let him come live in Beauty's Barn, and thus he took up residence.
Joshua was apparently not as lonely as we presumed, and it took him and Rocky months to work things out. There were no real fights, but a lot of hissing and posturing. Somewhere along the way they decided they really did like each other, and now they're the best of friends.
Rocky's favorite spot on the hay stack is to be on the very top. Joshua prefers to be on one of the bales that stick out from the front of the stack, as if he's on the bow of a ship. And yes, it's safe there -- those bales are wedged in tightly and are configured like that by the hay wagon that picks up and stacks the bales originally.
Here's a closer shot so you can see the boys better:
Wow! What a great vantage point for the boys. I would love to see how they get themselves up there.
I'm a "dog person" (animal person really) that recently got involved supporting a local feral cat program. Their barn cats program is really fascinating/thoughtful. Lots of great info here: http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=5606223
Posted by: Margaret | October 15, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Great story!
Rocky and Joshua have quite the purrrfect cat life!
I learned a couple cat tips which will come in handy for myself and others too.
What a wonderful way to start the day!
Posted by: Boundforglory | October 15, 2008 at 09:27 AM
I'm glad you told us the hay was safely stacked...looks like Fibber Magee's closet to my untrained eye. Those are two very lucky "barn cats"!
Posted by: Debbie | October 15, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Disneyland for kitty kats!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | October 15, 2008 at 12:36 AM
SO cute! I love the blog photos where the animals look like little dots on the landscape :-)
Posted by: Kristen D. | October 15, 2008 at 12:06 AM
I love the cat homing technique! its so good to see these boys lovin life and protecting their hay stacks from mice. its great!
Posted by: Kate and Luke | October 14, 2008 at 10:41 PM
It looks like the boys are doing a fine job keeping the mice population to a minimum?! Such handsome boys!
Posted by: Nina | October 14, 2008 at 08:58 PM
I love it! Cats are just the craziest & I love them for it! I know they love being up so high & observing everything feeling like kings. Great story!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | October 14, 2008 at 07:34 PM