One of my buddies - how pets touch our lives

Today as a tribute to my wonderful black cat - it seems fitting to post his photo - doing what he loves to do - lie in the sun and watch. In this photo he's watching a chipmunk that is standing on that little brick "chimney" munching on a sunflower seed and trying to decide whether it will dare the feeder beside the deck again.

Christopher is the true guardian of the property. He is a "rescue" arriving at this property when he was nine months old, skinny, starving, in early winter, weighing only five pounds and according to the vet, on the verge of dying.

He's the one that's been with me longest, sleeps on my bed when I won't let him outside or just because it's cold or wet and he wants to be comfy, and gets into fights with feral cats to protect his little "sister" Eleia. He is now recovering from a mess made of his face by same feral cat...a nasty bite that got badly infected.

But true to his warm and laid back personality (except for invading feral cats) - this boy didn't freak out in the cat cage when we went to the vet. He allowed the vet to shave his face without flinching and continues to lie in the sun, greeting me when I come back home after venturing to shop or leave the property for any reason. He arrives near the door from wherever he is, purring, tail curling slightly at its tip as if to say "Well you've been gone a long time."

He used to follow me on walks with other dogs, but the two that own us all right now - Bliss and Spirit - figure that if he goes into the pasture with them, it's fair to chase him in a wonderful game. Bliss once ran right past him he was so enthusiastic about the fun. It's the chase, not catching. And so Christopher stays on a rock or a rail watching us and greeting us on our return.

So here's to Christopher, loving black cat - and to all loving pets everywhere. They fill our lives with so much  - pleasure, interest, joy, laughter, frustration, work and again pleasure. Pets can help heal us - it's now proven. And a reminder to you all - I support a group called C4Panimalrescue.com - if you want a pet, please adopt one from a shelter near you, or a pound where they will be killed if they are not collected by their owners within 72 hours...or if you don't want a pet, can't afford one, aren't enthusiastic about all the issues around being owned by a pet, please consider making a donation to the shelter nearest you. Thanks for bearing with me in this.
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Now off my "hobby-horse" - here's to all of you - from me, on this beautiful labour day - thank you for stopping by. Thank you for your interest, your support, your friendship whether in person or virtual. All deeply appreciated. What started as a blog about pets three years ago, has become something much more... but underlying it is my love for animals and nature. Thanks for giving me a space to  talk about it all.

Fall sunrise - such a soft and lovely start to a day - cool and beautiful.

Christopher

This beautiful black cat came to my four-legged family as a nine month old starving kitten. He actually went next door to my neighbour's. She called me (they all call me, right?) and asked what to do - there was this cat trying to get into their house. A friend had told them it was probably rabid and not to go near it.

So I went to see what was what. When I called "Kit kit kit!" around the corner this skinny black bit of fur came racing. I picked it up. One of it's paws was cut slightly, we found out that it had been in the rose bushes near the house, trying to stay warm I guess.

The kitten purred and purred. I put it in a crate and brought it home, putting it in the drive shed with some food and water. I didn't want to bring it in the house because I already had two cats and obviously this wee guy hadn't been given shots or much of anything.

That night my neighbour decided to keep it warm inside their home. In the basement.

She called me an hour after I delivered the crate and kitten. The kitten was now sitting on her husband's lap upstairs, curled up and watching tv...Made me chuckle, made her chuckle too. This kitten was going to win everyone's heart it seemed.

So my neighbour and I spent the better part of a day trying to find a home for the kitten. Obviously we were unsuccessful.

I took the wee mite to the vet, having finally given in to the idea of keeping it. My neighbour couldn't do so, though she still adores him and looks on the cat as her "step-cat." She was the one who gave him his name - Christopher because it was close to Christmas. The vet gave the little fellow a good going over and said that he would likely have died if he had stayed out in the wild one more day. He was starving and just barely five pounds when he should have been about eight or nine.

You can see from the picture he certainly isn't starving any longer.

Most of the photographs I have of Christopher are of him lounging on the stairs, a chair, the deck, the deck chairs, my bed, somewhere not being very busy. He is however one of the best mousers I've ever had. He had three teeth removed a year ago, including his two upper "fangs" because they'd become infected and rotten, yet I find him still coming to the door with a huge mole, mouse or vole dangling, quite dead, from his mouth. When I don't let him in, he proceeds to devour his meal.

Since that's not really one of my favourite sights in nature, I usually don't watch. The dogs on the other hand keep an envious eye on their buddy. They check later to see if he's left any scraps. He never has. He also loves to go for walks, but my former dog companions allowed him to come along, Bliss and Spirit let him go to the edge of the pasture, then he must climb on something like a rock or a fence rail, for them to leave him alone, otherwise the chase is on. They would never hurt him, but they chase anything that moves.

Christopher is the guard cat. He keeps the dogs in line. Spirit will not come into the house or pass by him if Christopher stands in the doorway. The dogs' brother and litter mate lives two doors away. He is terrified of Christopher who walks up to the him and sticks out a paw, claws extended. That dog scuttles backward quickly. Christopher mews in satisfaction. He did that this morning - told the dogs all to mind their manners.

So today while it's trying to decide whether to remain sunny with incredibly high winds, or to snow again - (a snow squall hid the drive shed from me an hour ago) - I thought it would be a good day to share this wonderful cat's story. He sleeps on my bed most nights, giving a little mew of hello when he hops up. He loves to sit on my lap, purring mightily, and share any food he thinks he might like - particularly breakfast if there is yogurt involved.... sweet yogurt that is - he turns up his nose at the plain stuff... silly boy. He has been a most welcome addition to this family.

I hope you can enjoy the antics of a dear pet or a friend - something or someone to make you smile today. Christopher has made me smile several times this morning as he told the dogs off when they all went outside to greet the day. When they came back to enjoy breakfast he checked their dishes hopefully to see if there were scraps left for him. Not a whisker - but he'll not stop hoping. He's that kind of cat.

And once again a snow day

Two pals, Christopher my black cat and Bliss my yellow lab, watch out the deck doors from my studio. They both spend a lot of time looking out the doors watching. Christopher is allowed up into the loft and so looks out the church windows there as well.

This is what the boyz are watching - but I think Bliss is hoping to see the Dread Red. The little birds are just a few of the flock of about 50 and often more birds that frequent my feeders all winter. The little birds as I call them consist of goldfinches, nuthatches, juncoes, American tree sparrows, English sparrows, house finches, sometimes purple finches and of course the ubiquitous chickadees.

The little birds gather on the railing and this small bird feeder, made to look like a bakery, as well as feeding from the deck on the seeds that I throw there or that the larger birds - blue jays and woodpeckers as well as mourning doves toss onto the deck as they search for the best ones.

Bliss won't last long before he's pawing or lunging at the door after the squirrel or begging me to take him and Spirit his brother out. Yesterday it was sunny and I got onto the snowshoes (thank you Bill - www.wildramblings.com -  for your recent reminder on how and when to use them) and tramped all around the pasture. But of course that was yesterday and as you can see from the photo above - it's snowing again - and may tomorrow as well. I'm going to have to brave the snow-covered roads. Christmas is way too close!

Hope you don't have too much snow wherever you are (You especially Mindy who hates snow but loves Christmas - mindymilburn.wordpress.com) so you can get out and finish up Christmas tasks or get to work and home again safely and easily. Enjoy the day!