SEHNSATIONAL CAT RANCH:
Visit The Cattery

The desert can be a forbidding place. One spring evening, I spoke with a little girl who had tears in her eyes as she pulled cactus spines out of her thumb. She told me she doesn't like Tucson because "Everything bites," even the vegetation.

At twilight the spines on the teddy bear cholla promise soft fur, the yellow blossoms of the creosote mirror the gold of the setting sun. If one is quiet and the moon is full, the yapping of coyotes -- right over there in the little dry wash -- reminds one of gossips' competing for airspace. Night falls....

the Gambel's quail roost in the Ironwoods, night creatures come out of their burrows, and human beings enjoy the cool evening hours sitting on the patio and sipping margaritas.

Meanwhile, back at the Ranch (I couldn't resist), the cats are safely tucked in their enclosures. There are two enclosures right off the house, and 5 in the Cat Palace right next door. A bit further away from the house are two large "stud runs," so designated because that's where most of the boys spray.....

The Cat Palace - Security and a place of their own

There are two large enclosure on the north side of the Cat Palace, and three slightly smaller runs on the south side. We are constantly inspecting the structures to ensure security from predators, both small and large.

Rattlesnakes have invaded on three occasions and scorpions more often than I can count. So far, no invaders have survived except one rattlesnake flushed out of the north enclosure by a stream of water fearlessly directed at it by my housekeeper.

Coyotes live and breed on the property and will kill and consume any escaping felines. Bobcats have been seen on the property, and there are at least two mountain lions in the Tucson Mountains bordering the property.

Javalinas are not predatory to the cats, but can be very destructive as they nose their way around the property looking for food.

The stud runs.

This is the building and enclosures BEFORE we put in a misting system. All the misters did was change the decor from "acacia green" to "rusty camouflage." I don't have the heart to take pictures of the now well used enclosures. And no photos can convey the aroma of fertile boys competing for territory, though well separated by a sally port/storage area.

Before we had any studs in the enclosures, Meercat and her (then) kitten Chainlettah spent a spring together in the enclosure on the north (where the ladder is leaning).

Chainlettah, perching on a shelf in the enclosure, and Meercat, inspecting the lintel above the door to the enclosure. Neither cat found a way out...

But the biggest part of the cattery is the house:

Rani and Mia Ching's Faith on the kitchen counter. The cats are gently invited off the counters as often as they are found on them. Unfortunately, Rani has discovered that it's great fun to knock a pen or other small item off the furniture, onto the floor, and then chase after it.

Lakme loves to sing, preferably on the television shelf, and enjoys anything to do with food. (See the oven in the commercial on the TV.)
Sehnsational Bengals

This is a Siamese boy, Sehnsational Ananda (Andy), playing on my (our?) bed. Like most cats in the Siamese breed group,he is a "velcro cat." Andy is now in a pet home.

Here is Samson as a two month old kitten. He became IW, SGC SEHNSATIONAL Samson of Balcatta, TICA's 17th best international Kitten and 20th best Allbreed Championship Cat in 2005-2006. Owned by Ian Squibb of Balcatta.
Sehnsational Balinese