Farm News July 31, 2006
What horrible heat we lived through for 2 weeks! JUST AWFUL!!! These past 2 weeks have been tough.
We had our own version of the biblical Cain and Abel played out in our own back yard a couple of weeks ago. Farmer Jeff and I were out in the backyard with the dogs, when little, sweet, feral Chloe decided to jump into the yard to visit. Well, India ran towards her, as we all did, but then clamped down on her leg and began tossing her around, as she naturally would do to any intruder. We screamed and shouted and India dropped her. Chloe took off over the fence, how I am not quite sure, and then disappeared under the neighbors fence and shrubs. This was just as the heat was climbing. We put water out all around the yard and I kept the food bowl full. I know that I was feeding everyone in the area, including the racoons, but I needed to make sure Chloe could eat when she could get to the food.
A full week passed with no sighting of Chloe. Last Saturday Farmer Jeff and I went down to the Central Valley to attend a party and to help his mom to move. I can't even begin to tell you how hot it was! At midnight, it was 98 degrees!!! Yes, there was a pool, but it was 94 degrees!!! Anyway, Saturday morning we received a call that Chloe had been spotted around our house and was eating. I just broke down and sobbed. She is such a darling kitty, and is my favorite of all of the porch kitties, as hard as I try NOT to have favorites.
We didn't see her again until Tuesday afternoon. She was lounging in the grass in front of the house under the shade of our massive tree. I brought the food to her so she wouldn't have to climb the stairs to get it. Then I didn't see her again until Saturday morning. All the while we had the heat wave. I was shocked to see her still alive. She came crawling out of the drainage ditch, under the parked pick up truck and crying all the way. Her sisters ran up to her, touching noses and sniffing. Mama Joleen slowly strolled up to her and then charged her, chasing her off while nipping at her. I couldn't believe it! Her own mother chasing her off!!! I think this answered why we hadn't seen her.
I had to take Tyner, the hen, in to the vet and mentioned this behavior to the vet and vet assistant, Marilyn. Marilyn is known as the cat whisperer. She suggested I set a trap and catch Chloe. It seemed so obvious, yet was so brilliant. I happened to have a trap, so I baited it with salmon and watched.
We had our own version of the biblical Cain and Abel played out in our own back yard a couple of weeks ago. Farmer Jeff and I were out in the backyard with the dogs, when little, sweet, feral Chloe decided to jump into the yard to visit. Well, India ran towards her, as we all did, but then clamped down on her leg and began tossing her around, as she naturally would do to any intruder. We screamed and shouted and India dropped her. Chloe took off over the fence, how I am not quite sure, and then disappeared under the neighbors fence and shrubs. This was just as the heat was climbing. We put water out all around the yard and I kept the food bowl full. I know that I was feeding everyone in the area, including the racoons, but I needed to make sure Chloe could eat when she could get to the food.
A full week passed with no sighting of Chloe. Last Saturday Farmer Jeff and I went down to the Central Valley to attend a party and to help his mom to move. I can't even begin to tell you how hot it was! At midnight, it was 98 degrees!!! Yes, there was a pool, but it was 94 degrees!!! Anyway, Saturday morning we received a call that Chloe had been spotted around our house and was eating. I just broke down and sobbed. She is such a darling kitty, and is my favorite of all of the porch kitties, as hard as I try NOT to have favorites.
We didn't see her again until Tuesday afternoon. She was lounging in the grass in front of the house under the shade of our massive tree. I brought the food to her so she wouldn't have to climb the stairs to get it. Then I didn't see her again until Saturday morning. All the while we had the heat wave. I was shocked to see her still alive. She came crawling out of the drainage ditch, under the parked pick up truck and crying all the way. Her sisters ran up to her, touching noses and sniffing. Mama Joleen slowly strolled up to her and then charged her, chasing her off while nipping at her. I couldn't believe it! Her own mother chasing her off!!! I think this answered why we hadn't seen her.
I had to take Tyner, the hen, in to the vet and mentioned this behavior to the vet and vet assistant, Marilyn. Marilyn is known as the cat whisperer. She suggested I set a trap and catch Chloe. It seemed so obvious, yet was so brilliant. I happened to have a trap, so I baited it with salmon and watched.
posted by Chicken Mama at 4:50 PM
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