Cats & Dove Update

 OrangeJello and Emerald eating breakfast together.

The cats and the rock dove are the hardest critters to get pictures of, but I haven't posted about them in a while so I thought I would try to get some for you.  The cats are easiest during breakfast because they are still.  They are always either twirling around my legs (which is when I call them my rainbow of kitties because they are all different, pretty colors) or running around at mach speed (well not lazy OrangeJello, but it's true for the other three).

 Pharaoh muscles his way in to the food bowl...

 .... but Shadow always patiently waits her turn.

The dove, who still doesn't have a name, gets free range on the screened in porch.  The poop is annoying to deal with, but it can be cleaned up and it's worth it watching her fly around and stretch her wings.  She is super happy outside of her cage.  She now coexists with the squirrel, but we don't leave them alone unsupervised.  They still don't like each other, but she's learned how to avoid Jack and he loses interest quickly.  Even when he's attacked her, he hasn't hurt her, but I won't leave them alone because you never know.  That's why I won't leave the dog and squirrel alone together either even though they haven't tried to hurt each other so far.  Jack very rarely catches her by surprise anymore.

I still need a name for her.  I never realized how hard it is to name a bird.....

Any ideas?  We've tried a few things, but nothing sticks.  The only thing I regularly call her anymore is Pretty Girl.  I don't want that to end up being her name though.

Don't worry Jack the squirrel will have his own update soon.

Oh I almost forgot about this picture I got of Pharaoh!  One of his rare moments of stillness.  His color has changed a lot since he was a kitten, but he's still very unique.  I think he's absolutely gorgeous. :)

An update!

Sorry no pictures.  I haven't had time.  Things have been a.... ****storm at work lately and it's had me extremely stressed.  I've barely read anything and I'm way behind on my October reading update, but I'll get it up this weekend.

I just wanted to update you on everyone really quick and to say I'm sorry I haven't been reading blogs or blogging lately.  I've been working a lot of over time and when I'm not working I'm cleaning house and doing chores.  I haven't had time for anything lately.

First up, the horses (and donkey).  Everyone is doing fine.  Chrome's injury is coming along well.  They are fat and happy and ready for the cold weather (which we haven't had yet, it's been a very warm, very dry fall).

The goats are doing great.  We've bred Coral to Crockett.  Jasper has moved out into the big pasture with the horses, Rebel and Yankee.  He's doing great and getting big.  I'll have to get pictures soon.

Jackal is doing great.  He hasn't had any neck problems after being weaned off of the drugs.  We are still working on his weight and gentle exercise.  As recommended by the vet he is not wearing a collar or being walked on a leash, which means he's pretty much stranded at home which sucks... I'm thinking of getting a harness, but it absolutely can't put any pressure on his neck.  I'd appreciate any recommendations.

The cats are doing well.  Gray Kitty is fifteen this year and she is really showing her age.  The other cats don't like her so she's been living on the screened in porch and inside full time since late summer.  She spends the day on the porch while we're at work (with her own heating pad) and comes inside at night.

OrangeJello is doing well and still rules the roost.  We got Emi, Shadow and Pharaoh spayed/neutered last Tuesday which is such a relief!  I was so afraid Emi would end up pregnant before we could get them in.  We had the appointment scheduled for a month (that's how booked they stay).  They are all healing up well and doing great.  I have to get pictures of the kittens.  They have grown SO much!  Pharaoh is really starting to chunk up and is looking like a tom cat.

Jack, my squirrel, is doing fabulous!!  He lives on the porch during the day in a double decker condo (I'll post pictures sometime, sorry I haven't been posting the ones I promised) and sleeps in a smaller cage inside at night.  He is almost four months old now.  I never imagined I would have a pet squirrel, but I love him so much, even if I am constantly covered in scratches.  Those claws are sharp!!

The dove is doing great too.  It took her a while to adjust to being on the porch with all of the activity as opposed to in the chicken coop, but she's slowly figuring it out.  She's still skittish, but we're able to give her free run of the screened in porch (not at the same time as Jack because he's a brat lol) so she can fly, bathe and get some exercise.  We just wait for her to perch at dusk to catch her and put her up so it's minimal stress.  Everyone is coexisting well on our zoo of a screened in porch.  Jack and Gray Kitty had a dispute, but now they are fine together.  They both stood their ground, but didn't hurt each other and now they have a truce where they ignore each other haha.  They are NEVER left alone together unsupervised though.  Jack and Jackal basically ignore each other now although Jack does vault off Jackal's back sometimes hehe.

Hubby and I are doing fine as well.  I'm having trouble adjusting to working so many hours (man those part time jobs spoiled me haha) and everyone is sick at work right now (so of course I'm stressing about trying to avoid it before my favorite holiday), but it will be okay.  I'm going to try to figure out some things to prioritize my time because I really miss all of your guys.  I had to mark all of your blogs as read... I'm really sad I don't have the time to go back and get caught up.  I hope you guys will let me know in the comments if there is anything important I missed (or link the posts so I can read them).  Thanks for sticking with me in my absence.  I'll try to post more, but for now I'm going to hit the hay.  Night!

The other new addition to the farm....

I completely forgot to tell you guys about the rock dove I rescued!  I rescued her several months ago now, I just hadn't gotten pictures yet so I never posted.  This beautiful girl was outside the place where I worked during a storm.  She even came inside.  They chased her back out and she almost got ran over by a car.  She was too weak from hunger to fly, so I was terrified she would get eaten by something or run over.  So I called my husband and he came and got her.  He was able to walk right up to her and put her in a box.  She has a leg band on, but we haven't had any luck figuring out where she came from, so we're keeping her, unless someone turns up claiming her.

She's a sweet girl, always so curious, but shy.  She likes to perch in the window of her pen and watch us.  She flies to whichever window we're closest to.  I haven't handled her at all since that first day.  She's not terrified of humans, but she is shy.

I've always loved rock doves (pigeons of any sort really), especially their coo.  It's so peaceful and sweet.  I love listening to them.  We are going to find a couple more pigeons because I don't want her to be alone.  I would rather give her to someone else than have her be alone.  Since we have a nice pen for her there's no reason not to get some more though.  There's plenty of room and I've always wanted some.  :)

Now more kitten pictures because they are too cute not to share!  They are blurry because they were moving too much and I need practice taking pictures with phones hehe.

 I he/she not the cutest kitten you've ever seen??

 A slightly better shot of mamma's gorgeous green eyes.

 I just don't even know what to say... so cute!!!!!

Check out this adorable video.  I swear you will melt at the cuteness overload.


Also I've been calling the dove Dovey.... I need name ideas because if I'm not careful that's going to stick......