Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Front porch protection

If I look out through the windows of our front door right now, this is what I see:

The photos are poor quality because I had to take them through the window of the door and everything inside our house winds up reflected in the glass:

If I open the door, the little calico-like cat (we've named him "Clyde") will run away, so we're just doing "through-the-glass" shots for now:

It is so sweet to see the abandoned-but-now-adopted-by-us cats cuddling together like this. It's funny that the spot they've chosen to cuddle in is so close to us. I guess they just like hearing our voices and noises throughout the evening:


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In other news, I stopped in at my small town vet's office last week:

...and bought de-wormer for them:

I chose the squirt-on-the-back-of-the-neck de-wormer for the wilder calico cat (Clyde):

And the pill form for George, the tuxedo cat, because he's much more tame and I figured he wouldn't mind me pushing a pill down his throat (wrong!):

"Hey, Georgie...here's something that's going to make you feel better":

"Now, this won't hurt a bit":

It did hurt. A lot. Silly me. I've pushed pills down dogs' throats, given paste de-wormer to donkeys and goats, given injections to goats, donkeys and llamas and yet, it has been so long since I've been around cats, I had forgotten how sharp cats' teeth and claws are. Dang. But I got that darn pill down George's throat finally, using a lot of wet cat food as a disguise:

Clyde, the calico-like kitty, doesn't come by every day, so I had to be ready for him when he did show up:

I hadn't used this type of de-wormer before and I was a bit nervous about causing the little guy (who's all of about 2 pounds and in pretty poor shape) more anxiety than he could handle:

But I knew it would help him if he would just let me pick him up:

I swooped in and got the job done and he was pretty ticked off when I was finished with him. I was worried I might not see him again, but then I noticed that he didn't run all that far away after I put him down:

Funny little guy. Now, let's see if we can't put some weight on him:

If you had told me 3 years ago... or 6 months ago...heck, even 6 weeks ago that I'd be blogging about cats living on Critter Farm, I'd have called you crazy:

It just goes to show you, you never know what to expect in life. Things you hold for certain, rarely are.

30 comments:

  1. It goes right along with "never say never"! How awesome for those kitties that they ended up in "critter heaven". ;)

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  2. Well girl, maybe you would never have thought but we wouldn't have expected less. I think the word is out...Critter Farm is the place to be!!!

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  3. :) I love that you're taking care of them. Clyde is a perfect name. They obviously appreciate your care by hanging out close to you. You must give them hope.

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  4. awwww Danni! You're the best. Those cats look so natural there. And they are smart enough to know that they truly are safe and are finally going to be cared for. I bet these two have known each other for a bit.

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  5. Reading about your care of these abandoned cats warms my heart and gives me a really big smile.

    Looks like they've chosen their new favorite place on your front porch. :D

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  6. Hooray! Worming done. Fattening up kitties, next.
    Just for fun, because now you know.....
    http://www.thedailymews.com/articles/howtogiveacatapill.htm

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  7. Bless you, Danni! I didn't even know there was a back-of-the-neck wormer for cats! Hope they will start putting on weight soon. They look purrfectly comfortable at Critter Farm!

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  8. And I also notice that the non cat owner turned beguiled by cats has a comfy cushion add on for the kitties too. You're a sweetheart to take them in. The Olde Bagg, Linda

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  9. Hi there! We live out of town, too, and were adopted a couple of years ago by a yellow cat who escaped from some neighborhood coyotes by climbing a nearby power pole. The electric company came to rescue the cat and it ran off before they got back on the ground. My husband is allergic, too, so Rupert hung out in the garage. Rupert would come--from the rafters--when you called. I took his picture and listed him with a nearby animal league. After several weeks, a woman drove down our rough driveway and Rupert (we discovered he was a she after we had all gotten used to the name) and the woman fell in love. I saw them bond instantly and got Rupert's food for the lady to take with her. I'm happy has a good home with someone who can treat him the way he told me he should be treated. I'm so glad that you have guard cats now.

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  10. They've got your back and you've got theirs. Bless your heart for taking them both in.

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  11. Haha..I remember also how sharp their claws are..but you were so brave..as were they to let you treat them..I'm sure they realize its for their own good..
    They look so cozy all cuddled up on the bench..I believe it is comforting for them to be around humans..but they definitely like their space..Is Mr. Goldfish still alive?

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  12. Hi Danni- I think the calico-like Clyde is more Siamese than anything else.

    I'm glad for them that they have each other and you, and I'm glad for you that you have them. They look like they've always belonged on the porch.

    haha! My verification word is 'nester'!

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  13. Great post! I enjoy reading your blog every day and I especially appreciate all the photos you include to tell your story. Great storyteller, and a good photographer!

    They are such sweet looking cats. Before you know it, Clyde will be rubbing on your legs and mewing for pets.

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  14. Our cats' flea treatment is the squirt on the neck kind. We have house cats and they hate that darned little tube like it's trying to eat them or something.

    I think it says a lot about Clyde that he didn't go very far. Was probably more surprised than anything. :)

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  15. Oh, I absolutely love this post. Those kitties are A-Number One Smart. They know a good deal when they see one.

    I apologize for any derisive laughter I may have let fly when I read the part about how easy it would be to give George a pill. I am very impressed with your success in giving Clyde his medication. Well done!

    So, so happy for you & your growing family. I'm already smitten with the two of them. What does Roxy think of the newest additions?

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  16. What lucky boys George and Clyde are. Have a great day!

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  17. They are beautiful. Boy is that true that you never know what to expect!!
    Staci

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  18. Wow, if you hadn't said anything I wouldn't have noticed that you were taking those pictures through clear glass. That could be dangerous for birds, you may want to put a few stickers on those windows......

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  19. o they are just so cute! I did not know that they made dewormer to put on the skin of a cat.

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  20. You're warming my heart. Those first pictures of them through the window are priceless. You're amazing, Danni! Hugs.

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  21. Awwww, Danni. I really love this post. Look at how comfortable and happy they are on your porch. George sure was smart to convince his friend to come live with him and you. You are so sweet to treat them for worms - and brave to give a cat a pill! You did take down the "No more room at the Inn" sign, right? :)

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  22. apparently the local cats have been sleeping on porch chair cushions at our guest house. i know this because teddy ripped a cushion to shreds a few days ago. she was sure the "bad kitty" was inside of that cushion! glad yours have picked a safer environment.

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  23. I suspect that your guard kitties will hang around. They know when they've got it good!

    Have you allergies bothered you at all?

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  24. I love the shot of the kitties snoozing together. ANd I bet Clyde will come around. It took me awhile to win the trust of our cat Julius and eventually turn him into a house cat, but it happened. :) These little guys are lucky to have you looking after them. :)

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  25. Every loving home needs a cat and every farm needs at least two. You are wonderful for taking care of these furries. They will pay you back in love and rodent control. I do think that Clyde has some Siamese in him as one of the previous comments suggested.

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  26. I am not really sure how, but I've stumbled onto your blog and it is THE BEST THING EVER!

    Can't wait to read more. Oh, and I live a hop, skip and jump away in Yacolt, WA.

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  27. Oh Danni, I love the name Clyde just suits so well. Isn't it fun giving a worm tablet. We once had a cat at the doctors surgery where I worked. Well I adopted her, and we managed to catch her to get her desexed. She was alley born and bred, and we gave her a very appropriate name... Little Girl. I remember trying to give her her first worm tablet. The Ex had never laughed so hard, said he had never seen a cat get it's back leg up over it's head to scratch someone... LOL I still have the scares :)

    Doing such a great job, animals just know where there is love :D

    LiBBiE in Oz who has rambled enough tonight.

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  28. I had to come out of my lurking status here Danni and say how wonderful I think you are for taking care of these kittehs. Every kitteh deserves someone to watch over them and love them. You went the extra distance to risk bites and scratches to get them wormed. Lucky kittehs to have found you and Critter Farm!

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  29. Lovely story:) I think I'll look for that neck dewormer in my part of the globe.

    Mocha Barney, Ashley Pumpernickel and Winniechurchill

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