The Grim Reaper Wears a Fur Coat

The barn cats have been released!  Their two weeks of solitary confinement is up, they know where home is and where to get food, so now the hunt begins!

As it turns out, Licorice (Shadow Death) has passed on her ninja-like ability to hide in plain sight to Taffy (Mind Bender).  They avoid any human contact at all costs.  So let's focus on the star of the barn cats, Kit Kat (Rodent Ripper).

"What should I do first?!" Kit Kat ponders as she explores the great outdoors for the first time.

"I know! Stick my face in a hole! Mmpphhh!"

 "What the Friskies is that?!"

"I'll need some camo if I'm going to be out here."

"Here's your first problem.  Rats can fit right through this!!"

"Time to find something to eat."

"What's this like?"

"Ack!"

"I am Kit Kat.  And I am ready to brave the great outdoors."  So with that, we left her out and didn't see her again until the next morning.

"No one said ANYTHING about coyotes!!!"

Goat VS Dog

Hunter has always been a great dog, but now he's gone from great...to AWESOME!

From the moment Hunter saw us scold our cat, he wanted to help. In no time at all he learned that when we hiss the word, "Psssssst!" he's to chase after, and stop the cat from whatever he's doing. It works every time!

Cat Herding - Hunter in action

Now Hunter has stepped it up a notch. As some of you know, portions of our fencing is in poor shape. A hole here, a hole there. It doesn't take much for a goat to find the weakness in a fence and exploit it. Once they're in, it's a pain to herd them back out into the pasture. People just aren't as fast or as agile as a goat, but dogs are.

We were always afraid that Hunter might enjoy a goat-chop if he had the chance, so we kept them separated from the start. Gradually, he got more and more time with the goats as they partied in our yard while we were away. It was clear that Hunter didn't like them, but he let them off with nothing more than a casual butt sniff.

When it came time to herd the goats out of our yard, Hunter was put into the garage for safe keeping. Then I would seek out the wayward goat, trying to either catch it or chase it through the gate.

"C'mere goat, goat, goat!" I cooed cheerfully to Patches, one of our more feral youngsters. Slowly I crept in a squatting position.
"Good goat, atta goat." I said as Patches stopped munching to stare at me out of one wide, rectangular pupil. I wasn't close at all when he decided that he didn't like the cut of my jib and took off. I tore after him down the hill that is our property.
"You're mine, goat!" I yelled as I gained on him with downhill momentum.
Zip! He easily jumped left and dodged my grasp, mocking me with his freaky goat eyes. Up the hill he bounded. I gave chase.
"Get back *puff* here *puff* goat..." I wheezed after going up and down the hill three more times.
I collapsed. He grazed.

Eventually, we got him back where he belonged. We've had several more goat-break-ins; each time Hunter was shut away.

Then I got fed up with those blasted goats. It was just too darn hard! So I unveiled the secret weapon. Release the hound!

Hunter couldn't believe it. He seemed shocked at what I was asking of him.
"Are you sure, boss?" His eyes asked me with a gleam.
I had one word for him, "Psssssst!"
Hunter began to vibrate as a mechanical "whir" hummed from inside his body. Twin turbo boosters unfolded from his back and Hunter rocketed toward the goat, leaving behind a pile of black fur.

I was excited, yet scared for the goat. Would Hunter have it for dinner? Nope, he knew exactly what to do. Hunter nipped at the goats flanks, barked at it, and chased it until the goat jumped over the fence into the pasture unscathed.

"Good boy!" I cheered as fireworks exploded around me. No more huffing and puffing, Hunter is now the official goat chaser.

And stay out!

War Party

Oh, rats.

No really, RAAAATS!!!

Our property is infested with the fury spawn.  When we moved in, we thought that there might be one, maybe two. Now we know that there are many. My guess is that the inner property, on the people side of the fence, has become a safe-haven for the four-legged vermin because of little to no predation. Our dogs won't chase or eat rats, but they chase and scare away the things that do. So we're left with no natural pest control and poison is too risky to use for the sake of the other animals.

You see, the snakes have it good out in the field, the hawks can't spot the rats through our ivy or structures, and we have no barn cats...until now.

Meet our new crack team of specialized hunters.

Name: Taffy (AKA Mind Bender)
Specialty: Mesmerizing stare - Confuses her prey.

Name: Kit Kat (AKA Rodent Ripper)
Specialty: Rapid bunny kick - Shreds rodents in seconds.

Name: Licorice  (AKA Shadow Death)
Specialty: Invisibility - Can't be seen, even by the keenest eye.

 
Well, you try getting a shot of an invisible cat.

We got our barn cats through an interesting organization who supplies rescued cats to people with vermin problems. These cats come in three types; friendly, part friendly, and feral.

We talked with the owner of the rescue and she recommended three cats for our infestation. Kit Kat is friendly, Taffy is part friendly, and Licorice is feral. I haven't seen Licorice once since she came, though I have heard her, so we know she's around.

The best part about this particular cat rescue is that if anything happens to a cat, they will take it back and care for it. Naturally, they are very selective about who the cats are loaned to.

The cats have a two week waiting period while they adjust to their new surroundings. They're staying in our tack room and coming to know it as home. This is where they will find regular food, water, and shelter so that they don't stray too far and always come back.

Here is the ramp I've built to ensure that they always have quick and easy access to safety and their commodities. I'm sure it will come in handy when Hunter wants to "play" with them. Heaven help that dog if he ever corners one. It would be his first time being mauled.