Black Cat II

When one of the semi-feral barn cats had kittens this spring, we caught glimpses of three that two mother cats shared. One of those became Screamin’ Chicken but the other two had vanished, I assumed that nature had thinned them out.

Now that the weather has turned more autumn and the easy summer hunting has slowed,  Screamin’ Chicken’s sibling has showed itself in the show barn as I have been feeding or wrapping firewood. It is just as pitiful as when Screamin’ Chicken first showed herself high in an apple tree and meowing for a morsel of food. This little kitten looks jet black just like Screamin’ Chicken.

Black Cat II, that is not really its name, or maybe it is if I cannot come up with something else that fits the little scrawny beast, hides beneath the firewood pallets and cries for a kibble. The grown up cats stalk this critter just like they do with Screamin’ Chicken and don’t allow it anywhere near the food pan. This kitten screams just like its sibling when danger is near. I have tried to get a picture of this little one but it is far to spooked to stay still or move out of the shadows long enough for a snapshot.

I have taken to feeding BC2 (working on names here), with small handfuls of kitten chow in small hidey spots when the big cats are chowing down so they don’t pick on it. The kitten is very skittish, and hisses whenever I get close but it inches up as food is served. I have gotten within a few inches of it over the last week, and managed to touch the tip of the tail one time.

Eventually I think that I will be able to get this little creature to be more friendly because it talks to me even when no longer hungry and scampers around the cement flooring when the big cats are gone from the barn.

For now, I am content to talking out loud while I work to soothe the youngster. Eventually I would like to get both Screamin’ Chicken and Second Screamer (still working on names) back together so I do not have feedings going on in protective hutches scattered around the farm.