Lira, one of the young Collies, takes his herding very seriously. He’s very good at it, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything. Whether herding, fetching, or just running for the fun of it, he’s easy to spot in a group because he becomes a blue blur. Very energetic, he has to go outside for at least a couple hours every day to romp about. He really likes the snow, and when there’s a new blanket he bolts outside, rolls in it, roots his nose into the snowdrifts and digs holes in the banks. Hot summer days aren’t as inciting, however.
Dollar is a rapidly progressing herd dog, and is really great working with Lira - both are very work-oriented dogs. Inside, he prefers to jump into your lap on the sofa and curl into a ball with his head on your chest, gazing up adoringly. Dollar really doesn’t weigh that much, only about 50 pounds, with sort of thin hair for a Collie.
Ragamuffin is a great friend. She has the nature of a human tomboy, always ready to get down and rough-house. Her curly coat, when properly groomed, is soft and fun to pet - if she’ll sit still long enough. Ragamuffin is always running after this or that, rarely settling down. Life is an exploration adventure to her, especially the woods. She gets along with all the dogs - Lira and Dollar are her age and actively play with her, but their commitment to work frustrates her, so she seeks out Gabu to hit the woods with, and has made fast friends with Lucy (who seems to enjoy a female companion). At night, though, Ragamuffin will finally slow down and then she likes belly rubs and licking faces, and is eager for rope toys to chew.
September Winds certainly warrants his name - he never stops moving! The most adventurous of the dogs, he spends as much time as possible in the woods (picking up ticks as he goes, of course…sigh) and dunking himself in any available water. September loves playing - fetch, tug-of-war, obstacle courses (he’s well trained when he wants to be). Sometimes he gets Dollar and Lira to come with, but they are too serious for his liking, so he runs by himself or with November. Belly rubs are a special favorite of his; a mere pat on the head sends him down on his side, thumping the ever-wagging tail in hopes of a scratch. A very sweet and adorable dog.
Sweet November fits her name too - more laid back than her brother. She likes to go exploring with him, but doesn’t go swimming much. November prefers ear scratches to belly, and could sit for hours with her head on your knee, having her face stroked. She gets along with the other female, Ragamuffin, but the two have very little in common. November’s silky smooth coat rarely gets tangled, which makes it a joy to brush. Soccer is her game - she bats it with her paws, then picks up a kid-sized ball and whips her head to "throw" it, then chases it down and dribbles it some more.
Maneki is a friendly cat. He’s big and fluffy and loves to be petted, so when you sit on the sofa you are likely to find him there seconds later. Newspapers and books don’t distract him - he just sneaks under them and crawls halfway up your chest. Definitely not a cat you can ignore. Maneki is sometimes called "Monkey" because of his dexterious paws, which mysteriously open cupboards to dig out extra cat food. Maneki idolizes Pumpkin, and tries to spedn time with him to imitate his manners (he hasn't mastered the art of climbing yet though).
On the other hand, Kitomi is aloof and solitary. It’s almost creepy, the way she avoids everything - dogs, cats, and people, which is not an easy task in a house with 12 other felines, 5 large dogs and frequent guests. She’s not shy - just carries a profound disdain for her company, with the exception of our Friesian mare Celestial Arrow. She also detests getting dirty, unless it is while craftily stalking mice and ending their lives. Then again, she likes to stay up at night and look at the sky. Ever seen a cat study the stars? Come visit our place.
Tigra is our little baby cat. No matter how old she gets, she remains fluff-minded and playful, without a care in the world. She loves to play with string, and chase toy mice, and find new and interesting ways to cling to peoples’ shoulders as they walk. A very people oriented cat, she is afraid to come near most of the horses. However, she likes to follow me while I work in the barn, batting hay and straw down the aisle. She’s unique in the way she takes after her namesake, the tiger. If the horses aren’t in the pasture, she dives into their water tank and swims about like a calico-patterned otter.
Many of the cats like to visit the horses, but Jumbo is the only one so far to enjoy riding them. He truly deserves the title "Cowboy Kitty." A true ranch cat, he sits just in front of you in the saddle, front paws on the horn to steady himself, watching the trail ahead. I let him try this after a dozen failed attempts to ditch him when I went on trail rides - the big cat kept stubbornly following me like a dog. Being completely easy-going, he even wears the little felt cowboy hat I made for him. Jumbo usually feels out of place here, nothing in common with any of the other cats, but he seems to feel important when he rides with me. The plump cat has even begun making his own rounds to the barn, and his favorite horses are Black Fire and Clipped Image.
Haunt, one of the kittens in the second Oriental litter, is one of the more playful cats. He usually amuses himself by playing Living Room Olympics. This cat doesn’t climb trees, he climbs curtains, and winds his way around objects on shelves before leaping down to an armchair or sofa. He pretends to be a tough guy, but is really a sucker for a chin scratch. His very lightly built body is also good for a cuddle on cold nights, like a little teddy bear. Haunt looks just like his father, and Chizaar takes pride in showing him around. He has a horrible aversion to water, however. If he gets wet, he yowls and spits, then sulks on top of whatever heat source he can find (he’s terrified of the blow-dryer, though).
Kitty is very close to her sister Tigra. They grew up completely inseparable, and to this day if you see one, the other must be nearby. Their favorite game is wrestling over their yarn ball and stuffed mouse; the winner never gets more than 3 feet with the prize, though, before the loser is on her feet and chasing. Kitty is an absolute snugglepuss who likes to be held and cuddled like a baby, and adores sugary talk - the sappier it is, the louder she’ll purr. Often, she and Tigra will fall asleep after winding themselves into a ball, legs tangled up with each others’, until they resemble a furry octopus.
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