Saturday, March 2, 2024 it’s another snow day at blue moon ranch, but this year we can carry on pretty well without trying to keep the big gates functional. I know where all the cats and dogs are, and that’s good. Toothless now comes when I call him! No, I don’t call his name I just make a little tiny meow, and he shows up within a few seconds. He knows I always bring food. I’m not sure where he hides, probably in the old hay barn. We are definitely connecting, his stare is pretty intense and he looks directly at me. His stare also says “don’t you dare try to touch me”. So that’s where we are.
Over the years I have accumulated quite a library of Alpaca reference books. I’m emptying my office for some long overdue housekeeping and I have listed all these books for sale. There is so much misinformation online about alpaca health and care this collection would be invaluable to a new alpaca owner. If you know anyone who would appreciate these books, please share. Meanwhile I’ll keep emptying shelves and adding to the collection as I find more books. This undertaking will keep me busy for quite a while, for relief I go to the doll making table and work on my next spirit doll. It’s all about balance. 😊
More family time coming up this week and I’m always grateful for that. I’m also grateful for those of you who drop in here to check on us. Stay warm and have a wonderful weekend.
Photo of the day: I see you.
Sunny Bryson
Those eyes!!
Linda
They’re intense! When he looks at you, you KNOW you are being looked at! 👀 lol
Lana
Oh it must be so hard to not touch that silken black fur. But maybe someday it will happen that he trusts you and approaches for interaction. Are you sure he’s a boy? I can’t remember if you said it before. 🙂
Linda
I’m hoping it’s a boy but I haven’t been able to tell yet. Do you have any suggestions for how to tell without picking him/her up?
If he is a she, I’m very concerned that she could get pregnant before I can build up enough trust. ugh. We are making incremental progress each day. It’s just hard to be patient when I would love to touch him/her.
Lana
The only way you would see if he was a boy is if you caught him walking away when he was happy and secure, with his tail straight up. You might be able to tell when he is mature and starts to mark territory. Intact males have a strong scent. Perhaps you could get a Have a Heart trap and catch him for a visit to the vet for neutering? I’m not sure that would endear him to you though. Maybe a barn cam in there would catch him walking (or marking, as they put the tail up then too, but usually facing a wall. lol) Hopefully he’ll warm up to you in time for you to get him fixed before he ends up being a girl after all.
Linda
Thanks Lana! I can put my trail cam out there again and see if I catch any telling behavior. Funny thing about marking, we have 3 barn cats, 2 boys and one girl, all gave been neutered. The only one who marks and sprays is our female! If the boys do, I’ve never seen them do so. So strange.
Lana
Yes, females do mark, even spayed ones. Most neutered boys don’t. My cats are in a multi-cat household, so I think that is why some cats do that. Luckily, though I now have seven, plus kittens now and then, everyone has staked out their space and no marking. yay. I hope Toothless mellows out soon and discovers the benefits of being friends with you. 🙂
Linda
That is so interesting Lana, I never knew.
If the weather would cooperate we could get my grandson up here. He is a real cat whisperer. He somehow turned Odin from feral to lap cat!