While this might seem a little off topic, the craziness in August, 2022, which includes the hecticness of building hives and roofs, would not be complete without introducing Yogi.
Yogi, as she was later named, is a grey tabby cat with tan and brown highlights in her fur. She showed up one day looking for food, water and perhaps a home. She was perhaps 3 months old.
We didn’t think she would stay around long because, for at least 10 years, Kate – a mix of Great Pyrenees and Labrador Retriever – has kept strays and other animals away. This includes dogs, cats, coyotes, skunks, raccoons, the occasional fox, and has more than likely prevented a break-in or two. At her heaviest, she was just over 140 pounds and in the winter when her fur is the heaviest she looks like a black bear. So, it was assumed that in a day or so, the cat would move on. Didn’t happen.
This cat has a big personality and was, and is, too brave for her own good. She would sneak up to Kate’s food and water and help herself. When Kate saw her, she chased her off. The crazy part was that she never just ran out of danger. She would jump backwards just enough to keep out of Kate’s range.
The name happened
One morning, we were watching her from the kitchen window. She was sleeping on a patio chair. She jumped down to the deck and did what Linda described as a “downward dog” Yoga pose. From then on, her name was Yogi.
Since she was named, I had to find a way to make peace between Kate and Yogi. Fortunately, or not, childhood memories came to the rescue. My Mother kept a lot of cats and it seemed that at least one was always pregnant. From all this time around cats, I remembered what sounds a mother cat makes and how to imitate one.
Time to make peace
Towards the end of August, after working on a hive most of the day, Linda and I were sitting in the gazebo. We could see Yogi. She was close but would not come close enough to catch. So I stood up, walked away from Linda and started cooing like a mother cat would when trying to comfort it’s kittens. Yogi ears perked up and she gave me this strange look.
I kept this up for about 30 minutes and, all the while, Yogi started circling closer and closer to me. I finally grabbed her and rubbed her all over my clothes. Yogi was too startled to bite or scratch, but after about 30 seconds, I let her down.
Then I called Kate over. She sniffed me from from my shirt to my shoes and gave me a strange look. Then she ambled up to Yogi and gave her a good sniff. At that moment they kind of became friends. Actually, I’m not sure who adopted who, but they act like mother and daughter.
So the point of this story is that if you don’t slow down and see what’s going on, you will miss some memorable moments.
Yogi and Kate pictures
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