Rudi's cat brought this little bantam chick for us as a xmas gift on the 24th December 2008 ..

I would not like to think what this chick's thoughts were when she realised that she was caught by the cat, but the cat brought her without  a scratch as a gift to me.  It turned out completely different for the chicken, as what should/could have happened. My wish to you is that your problems would have the same happy results in the new year 

Some times you need a miracle ..

but most of the time .... no matter what stupid situation humans may get you into, make the most of it.

10 January 2009

Our little bantam chick is growing a mile a minute. She more than doubled her size in three weeks but she is still small and light, compared to other foul. She is now in the "ugly" half-feathered stage. We would love to keep her but with the cats, bullterrier and foxhound she will have to remain in a chicken pen and that is not available or fun for anybody. We already found a home with other bantams for her.

The bantams have been roaming free on the farm opposite our home for something like a century or more. Very few survive all the feral cats, house cats, dogs and humans looking for a meal.
The cocks are beautiful with long curving glossy feathers draped over the tail feathers ranging in color
from bright golden yellow - orange - dark red, as well as the glowing neck feathers. There are many more cocks than hens.
They seem to survive better by sleeping high in trees where the cats, dogs and humans can not catch them as easy as the small hen when she is brooding.

Jorian arrived from winter in Belgium to summer in South Africa.
It was during one of the hottest heat waves we had this summer the day Jorian arrived from winter in Belgium. The first day we kept him inside to get used to the climate and smells. He showed no sign of stress so the next day we let him wander around in the garden and meet the other members of this family.

 Jorian has, amongst other titels, three Grand International Champions in his line. He was bred by Josee Wijnants Ludo of CurlFantasy in Belgium. We are satisfied that Jorian is beautiful in type and sure of himself, without being aggressive. He shows promise to continue breeding the adorable loving temperament of the American Curl and adding excellent type.

Just a catty way to say "Well hello there. Nice to meet you." That swipe of nails missed by a millimetre but that was the aim.

The puppy is cornered so she passes through the door with body language that is obvious even to a human. However she is not bullterrier only by name, just you wait mister cat. We had some doubts as to the safety of the puppy's eyes when the cat lashed out, but the Jorian does not lash out to make contact and both the dogs seem to know how to protect their eyes. So far cat and dogs get along fine.

The older stud Enigma, is something else. Jorian very much wanted to meet the guy, so we introduced them for a short while. Enigma ignored Jorian. A six months old boy is no threat to his ego.

Everything was under control until the teenager made a major mistake.
He took liberties to inspect where it was not permitted for a minor ranking kitten.  aghhhh no! use your head Jorian ....to think !
The next moment was a whirling of dust with a black bundle in the center.   I did not take a photo,  I stripped my blouse and threw it over the black spot and was lucky the blouse covered and confused Enigma. Jorian escaped.
I did not even think to take a photo - too much damage can be done in a minute.
Jorian learned. He now looks away respectfully if Enigma is in view. They take turns playing in the garden. We will not allow them to make physical contact again. Playing with the girls is the most fun they will have and I doubt that they will complain.

Precious Kittens and their new homes. 

It is emotionally difficult to let the little kittens go into the rest of their lives with strangers. No matter how clever you may think you are, it is not possible to know for sure how this little kitten will be treated.

In one instance I felt happy for the kitten up to the point when the new mom took the kitten to leave. She carried the kitten in her hands away from her body like a parcel. When I saw that I was very worried but I could not think of a reason to cancel at that point. I phoned a few days later to ask if all was well with the kitten and this person could not stop talking about what the cute kitten was doing. I did some spying there to be sure, but she really adored that kitten.

Seems she was just not the hugging type.

First impressions can be wrong the other way round as well. A person may coo and love the kitten like a baby and forget about him after the novelty has worn off.

Some instances the person do not have experience and something the kitten do will be perceived in the wrong way. This may result in complete misunderstanding and aversion towards the kitten. Most of the time - 99% - it is easy corrected. Contact the breeder the internet or e-mail me if the kitten "misbehave"..

Once when a couple came to take their kitten home I found out that the woman feared cats. My thought was "What about this kitten, will he have to live outside?" . She said: "No- do not think that!"

Her husband loved cats and he missed a cat since they were married (more than ten years). She was the one who decided he may have a cat she will do her best to avoid direct contact with the cat. After a while I could see that husband and wife were two very nice people and it was pleasant to be in the company of two people who are loving as well good friends towards each other. When he picked up the kitten she waited, he moved the kitten into one arm and she went to the other side. I felt the kitten will be fine and I hoped this kitten will get her new mom over her fear.

One incident stands out - Two little Siamese kitten boys were friends from the time they started moving around. One was beautiful but the most neurotic introvert of the litter and the other was an easy going extrovert boy. It seldom happens that people buy two kittens, but it happened in this case and it was ideal to let them go together.

A few days later I had a phone call from the kittens' new mom and she told me in a hushed voice that her husband will ask me to take the shy kitten back and please do not do it. Soon after this call he phoned and told me in no uncertain terms that I should put that kitten down (kill it) and not sell a kitten like that.

The kittens were bought for two kids who now both shared the other kitten. The shy kitten found a loose place in the lining at the back of the sofa and he was hiding inside the sofa all the time. I told the husband to let the kitten settle down. Be patient kitty will find his friend in the family. When I refused to take the kitten back the husband was furious. That night I could not sleep as I was worried that he would kill the kitten.

The next morning after he left for work the new mom phoned and explained her love for this kitten. Every morning when husband left for work and the kids were off to school the kitten will crawl out of hiding. Then she would make a nice breakfast for them both. The kitten followed her from room to room as she did her daily chores, and disappeared as soon as somebody else entered the house. Two soul mates bonded in their private world.

Now and then in the same litter there may be a neurotic fearful kitten and an overly friendly dumb kitten who does not know the word "fear" exist.
The temperament or character of the rest of the litter will fall somewhere between these two extremes. The fearful kitten will lead a life of hell in the wrong hands, but if the little kitten bond it adores that one person and it will be for life. The friendly kitten loves the world everything and everybody. A very easy kitten to own and always there for whoever needs (or rather can give) a hug. Now the warning - these friendly kittens get stolen too easy. The friendly little ones should wear a badge: "I work for hugs, if you want loyalty I will fetch my brother".

Fortunately like humans most kittens are in-between the extremes and like humans no two kittens are the same in character and it seems there is a match for every one.

Feel free to add your experiences selling or buying kittens.

Some more really cool cat graphics by Else for valentine or any other cards or your site or whatever you choose. These pictures can fit into most any mood or situation and they will not slow down your page. Feel free to use the graphics. right click on the graphics to copy.
No registration or follow up e-mail strings attached but a small link would be sooo nice.

finally found you been searching all my life.

mad about you.

you changed my world into a wonderland

you are my perfect gift

dotty over you

aaa so sweet Bullterrier mom with babies

and the puppies six weeks later

You have to cuddle them to really enjoy them.

bring the cuddles

they grow up so fast

she is so-oo sensible for a human, isn't she.

I have been tagged by wildcatsthree .

With all the tagging going on, I suggest you keep something up your sleeve for later. Do not take the "seven" serious, just write # weird things.

Here are the rules:

Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share seven random weird facts about yourself. Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a notification on their blog. Here are my weird things:

I can not find anything weird about me. I am just one of the crowd. Most people will agree, that is weird. aaha.

Maybe it is weird that I like cooking but my cooking is just about edible. the worst is when I cook for a special occasion. Not weird you think? There are many writers, singers, artists and more with the same problem. That is weird. If you like something and give it all you have got, it should be good - I think.

Let me try again... I like to dig in the garden. Turn the soil. I can keep on digging as long as my back and breath allows me.

Now for some tagging.

image impression
Fossforous
Predator Press
artsy catsy
What the Pets!?
Reading in the dark
amazing animals

We are siameze .....

There was a time when all cats with the Siamese color were 'Siamese', then it progressed to pedigree Siamese and Siamese. The Siamese factor was added to the Persian breed and the new very popular breed was named Himalayan or Colorpoint. The Himalayan and the Birman would be two of the first breeds with the siamese facter and not seen as Siamese. It started slowly but the past few decades the new breeds with the siamese factor took off. A new name like the Java were given to some of the breeds but in other cases it is just another color of the breed under the name 'pointed' (which is what it is, only the color).

I am NOT Siamese

American Curl and Balinese are new long haired cat breeds with the siamese factor. These breeds are much easier to groom than the Himalayan breed.

The Siamese factor was already in the genes of the first American Curl female. The color suites these cats to a T and for those who do not like the constant talking, the American Curl is a calm, quiet, friendly cat.

The Balinese is the medium hair Siamese. It is very much the Siamese with a thin silky soft medium length coat. Very easy on grooming. I found them softer than the Siamese in voice and temperament too. These cats are extremely graceful. The name suites them 100%.

The kitten on the photo below would be seen as an apple-head. It is not a recognized breed but they are popular. The round head is more obvious in the adult cat, but a photo of a kitten is cuter.

The so called "apple-head" is not what the first Siamese looked like. Apple-heads are the result of Siamese and Persian cats when the Siamese factor was bred into the Persian for the Himalayan breed.

There are many people who like the old fashioned domestic type Siamese cat ( known a.o. as classic Siamese). The squint was adorable but it has been bred out even in the classic Siamese. Same for the kink in the tail. In 18 years of breeding I had one kitten with a kink in the tail and three with a slight squint. (not on the same cat and not from the same lines). If ever I breed a Siamese with a squint and a kink on the same cat - he/she will be priceless. I promise not to breed with it, but I will enjoy the cat.

The other breeds in the siamese colors are beautiful in their own right and they do not take anything away from the Siamese cat. The color is a very small part of this cat. That long slinky body with flat short coat, large ears and oval eyes of the Siamese breed is special. Add the attitude and the fact that they have the last word ( in their special language which does not include the word mew) and the Siamese is a cat like no other.

There are cat breeds in a range of body shapes, sizes and hair length in the siamese color to suit any taste.