Benjamin Jets Breezynuggets (Benny) |
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Beans and cornbread, B-nugget, B-train, B-dazzled, Beenie, Benny-kins, Benny-roo, Benny-cat.
I have always loved grey and white cats. When the time came to find one, I went on Petfinder.com and did a search for my perfect kitty. When the results appeared, I found several but the one in particular was about 2 hours away at a shelter. I called and made the appointment for a meet and greet for this particular cat. When I arrived, I was taken into the room where the cat was and had him pointed out to me. And I kneeled down and tried to interact with him to see if he would take to me but he slowly wandered away. Even as other cats surrounded me and the technician, I tried going back over by him but again, he just wasn't all that interested. I stayed bent down as the cats wandered around me, petting those that walked by, a little disappointed. But then, this lanky, little grey and white 5-month old kitten with a long tail walked right up onto my lap and into my arms. He was purring like a motor boat and rubbing his head and cheek all over me. I looked at the shelter worker and said, "Well, I guess I'll take this one instead." She just smiled and noted that this one was the other one's brother - Jelly Bean. |
I filled out all the paperwork and took the kitten home with me that day. The rest is history.
He was renamed to 'Benjamin' after the rock band Breaking Benjamin, 'Jets' after the song by Elton John - "Benny & the Jets", and 'Breezynuggets' .. because he's fixed.. That was November of 2013 and I still have him with me today!
He was renamed to 'Benjamin' after the rock band Breaking Benjamin, 'Jets' after the song by Elton John - "Benny & the Jets", and 'Breezynuggets' .. because he's fixed.. That was November of 2013 and I still have him with me today!
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Zoey Raptorsaurus Christmaskittens (Zoey) |
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Zoey-cat, Zoey-roo, Queen, Queen of Darkness, Princess, Basement Huntress, Basement Queen.
Zoey was born at the local humane society (which I volunteer at) in the summer of 2020. I wasn't really looking to add additional cats at the time, but with Stella being at the lab, it seemed like a good idea to maybe provide her with some company. There was a beautiful, very friendly grey male kitten at the shelter at the time. I asked one of the supervisors if I would be able to adopt him. She noted that there was a family interested in him but that they do give volunteers first "claim" to an adoption. In good conscience, I couldn't do that. So I told her if the adoption didn't go through when they visited, I'd take him. It just so happened that it did which, in hindsight, wasn't a terrible thing. Because it also just so happened there was a litter of kittens born around the same time which included a grey female. A little hesitant at first, I put a claim on that grey kitten. I didn't want a super young kitten to begin with, but also the momma cat was a little temperamental (she had bit someone) and I've seen it frequently happen where a kitten's temperament takes after their mom. |
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And I wish I could say I was wrong - Zoey turned out to be one *spicy* little lady!
And while she may be a little growly, hissy, snarly, angry hag sometimes, she's still my girl. She definitely has her moments where she's super sweet, talkative, and wants to be cuddled, it just has to be on her terms. And that's OK.
Zoey is also the BEST when it comes to hunting. She is my #1 mouser and will even take out big insects and spiders!
And while she may be a little growly, hissy, snarly, angry hag sometimes, she's still my girl. She definitely has her moments where she's super sweet, talkative, and wants to be cuddled, it just has to be on her terms. And that's OK.
Zoey is also the BEST when it comes to hunting. She is my #1 mouser and will even take out big insects and spiders!
Khari Bou Berries (Bou) |
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Bou-ski, Bou-bear, Bou-kins, Little Man, Bou-roo, Floofy cat.
One thing I've always really wanted was a blue-eyed cat. I know that sounds silly and a little superficial but I've always found them very stunning. Since I was just after another pet, I didn't need anything fancy or expensive and I decided not to look into purebred cats. Instead, I decided I wasn't going to pursue one unless it was through the shelter as they were somewhat of a rare find if you can believe. It took about a year. In the summer of 2021, a beautiful long-haired pregnant cat with blue eyes was brought in who later had 3 kittens - 2 females and 1 male. One female was a tabby with white and the other two were a white with darker points like their mom. I decided to take the plunge and immediately put a claim on the male day-old kitten. As the weeks went by, and his eyes opened, they were this brilliant ice blue color that I was confident he would keep, not the darker blue that changes as the kitten ages. |
I took him home at 8 weeks old where he has since grown into a very handsome boy and a copy and pasted version of his mom. He got the name "Bou" because his coloring reminds me of the northern animal - the caribou.
Bou is fairly sweet overall but he knows he's handsome because he gets away with almost everything. He uses that cuteness against me and I fail every time. He can get a little "diva-ish" and likes to push Zoey and Benny's buttons at times but gets reminded that he's not as big as Benny or as spicy as Zoey and gets put back in his place.
Bou is fairly sweet overall but he knows he's handsome because he gets away with almost everything. He uses that cuteness against me and I fail every time. He can get a little "diva-ish" and likes to push Zoey and Benny's buttons at times but gets reminded that he's not as big as Benny or as spicy as Zoey and gets put back in his place.
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Leo |
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Unlike most of our animals, Leo didn't begin his life at the farm as a puppy but at 4 years old. It began with the farm having an issue was some of the local wildlife that was taking up shelter in our barn - mainly raccoons and opossums (the latter whose feces carry a parasite that causes EPM) .
While the neighbor gave it his best efforts with T & R, the solution was temporary and more creatures would show up to take its place. In one situation, I had to care for young raccoons for a few days while transportation could be arranged to get them to a wildlife rehabilitation facility. Another issue we had since both myself and neighbors had moved in (within a year of each other), was unknown people coming in our yards to pick apples as the property used to be an orchard, coming in and checking the property out since we had both done major work on the outside, and even so far as going into our barn by the horses! This was a major concern. Within a few months, I found myself on PetFinder.com looking for livestock guardian dogs. I had looked at a few breeders of different LGD breeds but decided a puppy wasn't a good option as I didn't have that kind of time available. |
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I came across this big white Pyrenees Mountain dog that was being rehomed. I reached out to the contact person who put me in touch with the owner. I spent a good 20 minutes talking with him, letting him know what my intent was, describing the property, and all my animal experience. The owner sounded relieved as he had turned down several other homes because Leo would have ended up in a similar situation he needed to leave.
In an unfortunate set of circumstances, Leo's owner was forced to rehome him as he lived in town and Leo was a barker - which made for unhappy neighbors. At my place he would not be kenneled and he could bark and run around to his heart's content. And his presence would help us keep the critters out. Within a couple weeks, we scheduled to meet at a neutral location in Iowa to make the exchange as they were coming from Nebraska. At the location, we met the owner, his sister and Leo. After some time talking, we all agreed it was about time to head back our separate ways but Leo would be going back with us. We gave the owner and his sister as much time as they needed to say their goodbyes. I can't imagine the mix of emotions one would have.
But we loaded up all of his toys, food, treats, and supplies, hugged and thanked his now previous owner and sister, and made our way back home - the "polar bear" riding in the back seat. And Leo has adjusted very well. Through added training, has been learning which animals to protect/leave alone and those he can chase off. And we haven't seen any unwanted wildlife since, which is a big bonus to help keep our other animals safe from predation or disease. Leo's first couple of nights home, he had cornered an opossum and drove off multiple raccoons!
Due to Minnesota's weather extremes, we've had to make some changes to be able to accommodate him. He's very much like me in that he's not a fan of the heat. His tolerance level drops around 77 degrees F. If he gets too hot, he becomes extremely agitated, tries to dig holes in the dirt to cool off (including the garden!), lay on concrete, or in the grass in the shade, all of which don't help - and he won't use his kiddie pool. So I made him his own room in the basement where it's nice and cool and he can spend the hottest parts of the day (and night if needed) on his raised bed and then return again to work outside in the evening.
He *thrives* during the late fall and winter. His super thick coat keeps him well-protected from colder temperatures and he becomes much more active. If he runs around too much, he has to roll around in the snow to cool down, even if it's -30 degrees! But he has access to the garage and bed, although he usually chooses to sleep out in the middle of the yard. In brutally cold temps, he is brought in the house, more so for my piece of mind.
We continue to be in contact with the previous owner today and send him and his sister updates and pictures.
Keep in mind, this is an active, centuries old-working,-mountain dog breed. We've chosen to utilize his heritage by assuming a working role in addition to being a pet.
In an unfortunate set of circumstances, Leo's owner was forced to rehome him as he lived in town and Leo was a barker - which made for unhappy neighbors. At my place he would not be kenneled and he could bark and run around to his heart's content. And his presence would help us keep the critters out. Within a couple weeks, we scheduled to meet at a neutral location in Iowa to make the exchange as they were coming from Nebraska. At the location, we met the owner, his sister and Leo. After some time talking, we all agreed it was about time to head back our separate ways but Leo would be going back with us. We gave the owner and his sister as much time as they needed to say their goodbyes. I can't imagine the mix of emotions one would have.
But we loaded up all of his toys, food, treats, and supplies, hugged and thanked his now previous owner and sister, and made our way back home - the "polar bear" riding in the back seat. And Leo has adjusted very well. Through added training, has been learning which animals to protect/leave alone and those he can chase off. And we haven't seen any unwanted wildlife since, which is a big bonus to help keep our other animals safe from predation or disease. Leo's first couple of nights home, he had cornered an opossum and drove off multiple raccoons!
Due to Minnesota's weather extremes, we've had to make some changes to be able to accommodate him. He's very much like me in that he's not a fan of the heat. His tolerance level drops around 77 degrees F. If he gets too hot, he becomes extremely agitated, tries to dig holes in the dirt to cool off (including the garden!), lay on concrete, or in the grass in the shade, all of which don't help - and he won't use his kiddie pool. So I made him his own room in the basement where it's nice and cool and he can spend the hottest parts of the day (and night if needed) on his raised bed and then return again to work outside in the evening.
He *thrives* during the late fall and winter. His super thick coat keeps him well-protected from colder temperatures and he becomes much more active. If he runs around too much, he has to roll around in the snow to cool down, even if it's -30 degrees! But he has access to the garage and bed, although he usually chooses to sleep out in the middle of the yard. In brutally cold temps, he is brought in the house, more so for my piece of mind.
We continue to be in contact with the previous owner today and send him and his sister updates and pictures.
Keep in mind, this is an active, centuries old-working,-mountain dog breed. We've chosen to utilize his heritage by assuming a working role in addition to being a pet.
Daisy, Bella, & Patch (The "Cow" Cats) |
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Salem Binx Sanderson |
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My little biscuit-making Halloween cat.
Salem is a fairly recent addition to the feline herd. A co-worker had this tiny, lanky, black kitten wander up to their home out in the country. It had shown up a few days prior but they weren't able to catch it. Although small, she was pretty quick. Unfortunately, the home she wandered up to had dogs that were not cat-friendly, but luckily, they were locked in the garage at the time. So, it wasn't going to be possible for her to keep the kitten. |
She was able to text me a few pictures as she said she had a couple injuries. I gave her some instructions on how to care for her until I could stop by to pick her up after work. When I arrived, she and her husband were on the front porch playing with the kitten. After some time, I loaded the box with the kitten in the back seat. On the way home, she insisted that she didn't want to be in the box so I ended up holding her in my lap most of the way.
Once home, I set up another large, enclosed cage for her alongside the other kittens. She received a bunch of toys, lots of food, and a big fluffy brown pillow which she immediately started making biscuits on.
I treated her eyes with Terramycin and her skin wounds were gently cleaned up and an OTC topical ointment was added each day. And she healed up quick!
Fast forward to the present and Salem is one sweet, goofy, and lovely little cat. Although she like to try out her acrobatic skills anything low-hanging such as my curtains and clothes, her mischievous personality makes up for it.
Once home, I set up another large, enclosed cage for her alongside the other kittens. She received a bunch of toys, lots of food, and a big fluffy brown pillow which she immediately started making biscuits on.
I treated her eyes with Terramycin and her skin wounds were gently cleaned up and an OTC topical ointment was added each day. And she healed up quick!
Fast forward to the present and Salem is one sweet, goofy, and lovely little cat. Although she like to try out her acrobatic skills anything low-hanging such as my curtains and clothes, her mischievous personality makes up for it.
Milly |
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FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) is primarily spread through deep puncture bite wounds as the virus needs to enter the blood stream for transmission between cats. It is not spread through casual contact such as the sharing of food bowls, sneezing, play fighting, using same litter boxes, grooming, or non-aggressive contact. Because of the nature of this particular household of cats, the risk of transmission is extremely minimal to non-existent and they can live safely alongside each other.
FeLV (feline leukemia) is a much contagious condition and caution should be exerted to prevent the transmission between cats.
Always talk to your vet regarding the safety and risks associated when brining new cats into your home.
FeLV (feline leukemia) is a much contagious condition and caution should be exerted to prevent the transmission between cats.
Always talk to your vet regarding the safety and risks associated when brining new cats into your home.
Rest In Piece Our Beloved Pets
Stella Bean "the Disco Queen"
We don't have very much back story on Stella. It just so happened to be that she had shown up at my old boarding stable one day after barrel races. So, we assumed, that maybe someone had just dropped her off. It seemed unlikely that, given the state she showed up in, that she could have gotten there herself. We had a bunch of barn cats already, maybe around 10. And, being a cat-lover and all-around animal enthusiast that I am, always took it upon myself to help buy more food in addition to what the stable was already providing for the cats.
That day after the races, I had been mixing up some wet food and happened to catch a glimpse of this new cat. It was very difficult to get close to her as she was very elusive and quick. It took several attempts to finally even be able to touch her.
When she was finally tame enough, which didn't take her very long, we got a better look at her. The poor thing was completely covered in fleas and lice. She had a huge open neck would that looked like proud flesh and one side of her stomach was extended abnormally which turned out to be a hernia. Myself, the stable owners and a few others other did our best to help take care of the obvious outward problems; flea and lice topicals, oral deworming medication, ear cleaning solution, Terramycin for her eyes, antibiotic to put on her wound, and a whole lot of groceries to put weight on. She bounced back remarkably well. She also received the name Stella.
It wasn't too long before I received a very heart-breaking text from the stable owner that they were going to be closing. We were asked if we would be able to take her because the owner was worried she wouldn't do well at the new barn location all the other barn cats were being rehomed to. While she was certainly better, she was still very fragile. We had a bit of a panic because we didn't really have a place to keep her and we weren't sure how Benny would deal with this newcomer. After brainstorming a bit, I decided we could keep her (temporarily) at the lab I oversaw until a better living arrangement could be made. She was also taken into the vet to have her hernia fixed, the large proud flesh wound on her chest removed, major dental work, and spayed. It wasn't too much longer that I finally purchased my property in the country and brought Stella home.
She is an FIV+ cat but has lived very well alongside the other feline residents. Due to her condition which makes her more weak, tired, and susceptible to illness, she was given her own room and amenities as some of the other roommates were getting a little too rowdy with her.
August 2022
Over the past couple of weeks, Stella's condition dropped significantly. A tumorous growth began putting pressure on the side of her face and ear, causing excessive drainage and unnecessary irritation and pain. She developed a severely phlegmy cough which made breathing difficult for her. Two different antibiotics were used to try to help with the cough as well as medicine for her ear which yielded no improvement. She became very agitated over the past few days and her appetite was completely gone. Her quality of life could not be compromised. On August 10th, 2022, Stella was humanely euthanized by a veterinarian and buried at home on the northwest corner of our property next to our other remembered pets, including Tigger. That corner has the best view of the sunsets.
Tigger
Arrived the summer 2021, lost in May 2022)
Our sweetest, lovely boy with the friendliest personality.
Tigger showed up to the farm one day, and I decided to try to befriend him. I had left out bowls of food and a blanket to entice him to stay. He scaled up along a wall where I climbed up towards him, offering him some treats. From there, I was able to convince him I wouldn't hurt him and brought him down. Over time, he let us get near, then pet, then pick up him up for short periods of time. We had a garage sale one weekend and he wandered up near us. Eventually, he wandered around the house and seemed to be headed down the driveway to the road. In a panic, we retrieved him and brought him back to the garage. That following morning, our neighbor found Tigger on the side of the road. Tragically, he was lost after being HBV. He quickly stole our hearts with his sweet, gentle demeanor. He loved to play, help with barn chores, sleep in the sun, and play hide & seek in the hay. Our hearts are still broken by his loss.
We don't have very much back story on Stella. It just so happened to be that she had shown up at my old boarding stable one day after barrel races. So, we assumed, that maybe someone had just dropped her off. It seemed unlikely that, given the state she showed up in, that she could have gotten there herself. We had a bunch of barn cats already, maybe around 10. And, being a cat-lover and all-around animal enthusiast that I am, always took it upon myself to help buy more food in addition to what the stable was already providing for the cats.
That day after the races, I had been mixing up some wet food and happened to catch a glimpse of this new cat. It was very difficult to get close to her as she was very elusive and quick. It took several attempts to finally even be able to touch her.
When she was finally tame enough, which didn't take her very long, we got a better look at her. The poor thing was completely covered in fleas and lice. She had a huge open neck would that looked like proud flesh and one side of her stomach was extended abnormally which turned out to be a hernia. Myself, the stable owners and a few others other did our best to help take care of the obvious outward problems; flea and lice topicals, oral deworming medication, ear cleaning solution, Terramycin for her eyes, antibiotic to put on her wound, and a whole lot of groceries to put weight on. She bounced back remarkably well. She also received the name Stella.
It wasn't too long before I received a very heart-breaking text from the stable owner that they were going to be closing. We were asked if we would be able to take her because the owner was worried she wouldn't do well at the new barn location all the other barn cats were being rehomed to. While she was certainly better, she was still very fragile. We had a bit of a panic because we didn't really have a place to keep her and we weren't sure how Benny would deal with this newcomer. After brainstorming a bit, I decided we could keep her (temporarily) at the lab I oversaw until a better living arrangement could be made. She was also taken into the vet to have her hernia fixed, the large proud flesh wound on her chest removed, major dental work, and spayed. It wasn't too much longer that I finally purchased my property in the country and brought Stella home.
She is an FIV+ cat but has lived very well alongside the other feline residents. Due to her condition which makes her more weak, tired, and susceptible to illness, she was given her own room and amenities as some of the other roommates were getting a little too rowdy with her.
August 2022
Over the past couple of weeks, Stella's condition dropped significantly. A tumorous growth began putting pressure on the side of her face and ear, causing excessive drainage and unnecessary irritation and pain. She developed a severely phlegmy cough which made breathing difficult for her. Two different antibiotics were used to try to help with the cough as well as medicine for her ear which yielded no improvement. She became very agitated over the past few days and her appetite was completely gone. Her quality of life could not be compromised. On August 10th, 2022, Stella was humanely euthanized by a veterinarian and buried at home on the northwest corner of our property next to our other remembered pets, including Tigger. That corner has the best view of the sunsets.
Tigger
Arrived the summer 2021, lost in May 2022)
Our sweetest, lovely boy with the friendliest personality.
Tigger showed up to the farm one day, and I decided to try to befriend him. I had left out bowls of food and a blanket to entice him to stay. He scaled up along a wall where I climbed up towards him, offering him some treats. From there, I was able to convince him I wouldn't hurt him and brought him down. Over time, he let us get near, then pet, then pick up him up for short periods of time. We had a garage sale one weekend and he wandered up near us. Eventually, he wandered around the house and seemed to be headed down the driveway to the road. In a panic, we retrieved him and brought him back to the garage. That following morning, our neighbor found Tigger on the side of the road. Tragically, he was lost after being HBV. He quickly stole our hearts with his sweet, gentle demeanor. He loved to play, help with barn chores, sleep in the sun, and play hide & seek in the hay. Our hearts are still broken by his loss.
