Ranch Babies!

5/3/2025

New Bull Calf

Yesterday morning, Julie’s dad texted us to tell us there was a new, minutes old calf in the paddock. Shelby’s cow Edith had given birth to a new bull calf.

A black calf standing in a grassy area with small plants, appearing wet. It is positioned near a larger animal, partially obscured, with a fence in the foreground.

Shelby has a small herd and they all have names, so they get more attention than the ranch beef cows. It’s always an event when one of hers has a new birth.

Two people taking photos of a black cow and its calf in a fenced area. The setting is a farm with greenery and trees in the background, and the sky appears overcast. — Photos must be taken

Edith is a first time mother and the calf had some trouble with the initial feeding. Shelby had to help, but he eventually figured it out.

Kittens!

Those of you who know me know that I was more excited to find a batch of new kittens. I mentioned on my last post that some cats were dumped at the ranch, and one of them was pregnant. We knew she had given birth recently, but we couldn’t find them. While Julie and Shelby were getting the new calf to feed, I followed the mama cat and finally found her kittens under a dewberry bramble.

A calico cat lies among green grass and leaves, looking directly at the camera with bright green eyes. A small gray kitten is curled up beside her, partially hidden by the foliage.

We gathered them up into a box and took them to the metal shop out of the elements. With all the rain we’ve had, I was very surprised at where I found them.

This is the entire family driving up to the shop.

A woman is sitting in a vehicle, smiling as she holds a cardboard box filled with two cats. One cat is gray with white markings, lying comfortably in the box, while the other cat is mostly gray and appears to be peeking out from behind the woman. The woman is wearing a gray zip-up jacket and has glasses on. There are some outdoor elements visible in the background, suggesting a rural setting.

Can you tell which one is already my favorite?

An adult man with a beard holds a small, sleeping white kitten in his hand. The background features a bright blue sky with a few clouds, and the man is wearing a light purple t-shirt. — You can’t see it in this photo, but there is just a hint of gray on her ears and the tip of her tail.

Mama and kittens safe in the shop.

A calico cat is lying on a blue towel inside a cardboard box, nursing four kittens. The kittens are a mix of colors, including black, orange, and gray, nestled close to their mother.

The Ethics of Outdoor Cats

Living on a ranch has complicated my views on outdoor cats. As a birder and naturalist, I’ve long believed that cats should live indoors. Outdoor cats kill billions of birds and small mammals each year, posing a serious threat to native wildlife. And as a lifelong cat lover, I know that outdoor cats face far more dangers—traffic, predators, disease. Their life expectancy is dramatically shorter than that of indoor cats.

But here on the ranch, things aren’t so simple. We have a barn, and barns need barn cats—it’s even in the name. Barns are where we store grain and hay, and that attracts mice and rats. Controlling the rodents is part of their job, and everybody on the ranch works for a living. Folks who’ve been ranching far longer than I have say it’s just part of the life out here.

No matter where you land on this issue, one thing is non-negotiable: spaying and neutering. That’s a top priority for us. I’m determined not to contribute to the problem of unchecked feline populations.

Bonus Bird!

We’ve been hearing painted buntings, and for the first time ever, I had one at my feeder!

A colorful bird with a blue head, green wings, and a bright red chest perched on the edge of a bird feeder filled with a variety of seeds. The background is blurred, showcasing green foliage.

Obligatory Final Note

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