"Puss"
As an adult, I have never loved cats…I have always considered myself to be a “dog person“….and even that is subject to the particular dog. We own a Great Pyrenees who is invaluable to us as a farm dog. Pete protects our livestock and keeps predators at a respectable distance.
He is also a majestically beautiful animal with huge warm brown eyes and I love him….he pulls his weight...and offers companionship and gentleness to children and adults alike...but cats?...they have always been simply barn cats…tolerated to help control the rodent population (a must with the hefty amount of feed stored around here) and to entertain my girls…little girls like cats…they name them all...I name none...This was, until My Farmer brought home an orange striped Tabby, slightly older than a kitten. He came through the door in the arms of my 6 year old……”Daddy said I could have him!” she squealed...strange for him, as we normally have a mutual agreement prior to bringing home a new animal...but, oh well…he’s just another barn cat…right? Male cats generally don’t stay anyway….They wander off to do their catting...find love... and do not return...
This barn cat was different from the beginning...He was extremely lovey-dovey and seemed to genuinely share affection...brownie points...From the youngest age he caught tons of rats and mice daily... brownie points....even to the point of gifting them to the other cats, when they had an unlucky hunt...He was a good farm cat...The best we had ever had...he pulled his weight and then some...and I liked him...a lot...he would allow the girls to dress him in doll clothes and push him in strollers in exchange for love and a little milk...brownie points...I found myself growing attached to this special kitty... I began to affectionately refer to him as “Puss” or at times “The Fat Cat“...no doubt from mice O.D...ick!...We even took a trip to see our Veterinarian and had him neutered…what‘s come over me?…..I am a dog person!...well...I was...
He is without question, a beautiful animal...and there is no denying... I love him.
This blog is about family life on an Arkansas farm...
The Animals...
These Mountains...
Our People...
Welcome.