Wednesday, November 25, 2015

An Addition to the Family of Fy Nyth


I've been thinking since last spring that I needed a cat around to help catch mice among other things. No, I have never had a mouse in my house, but if you were following me last spring, you'll remember the steady flow that kept getting in my van which was extremely frustrating. Anyway, that idea finally had results.

Meet Wynn. The newest member of Fy Nyth's household. She about 3 months old and I adopted her from a gentleman who did not have room to keep both her and her brother, both of whom he had adopted from our local shelter when then were smaller. She came home with me yesterday afternoon when I got off work and now I have quite a few days off work to hang out with her while she settles in. Which she seems to be doing quite quickly. 

Now I have had pets for a while in the form of my composting worms, but Wynn is the first bigger pet in my house. And in my life in nearly a decade. The rental market is understandably not friendly to pets, but owning my own house has made that an option for me once again.


Yesterday she ran around the house and checked everything out first.


Then she settled into the couch and batting around a ball of yarn. And chasing one of my reusable grocery bags around the floor, inside and out of it. This seems to be her favorite toy, but she's always so busy "attacking" it that she's only a blur in those photos. 


I was mildly allergic to most cats growing up and this was and is a concern for me. So far we seem to be getting along well enough as long as I don't cuddle her right up against my face and she's not allowed in my bedroom loft. Hopefully it stays that way and we can stay together. I do have another friend who would love her just in case my allergies do act up too badly, but the plan is for her to stay right here.


She's very much a kitten still and goes back and forth rapidly from playing hard to crashing to nap for a bit. Her kitty bed sits on top of her covered litter box, both in the base of my shower which seems to be working well. When I woke up this morning, she was stretching and yawning in her bed still. 



She loves attention, petting, and to cuddle. It was hard to get a good photo of her curled up in my lap, but when a friend came over for dinner, she settled right into his lap purring away as well. She's got an amazingly loud motor for such a little thing! 


She loves playing on the couch and walking along all those windowsills behind it to watch the outside world where it is snowing once again. Once she has been here long enough to know this as home, and especially as it warm up toward spring, she will hopefully be able to spend some time outside hunting mice as well. But she needs to grow up a bit first. There are too many foxes, owls, and coyotes around here for a little kitty to make it outside. 



Now she is very contentedly napping behind me while I type. I think she likes her home here in the tiny house! Plus she's awful cute, don't you think?



19 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. They are cute and love the house. Someday after college I'll look at getting a tiny house of my own.

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  2. Ah she's gorgeous! Hope you have a lot of fun together! Jenny

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  3. Wynn is adorable and has gorgeous, exotic eyes. She looks happy. I hope the two of you get to stay together. Happy Thanksgiving, Ardith

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    1. She seems pretty happy and it's working so far. Thanks and you too!

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  4. Very cute! I was moderately allergic to my girlfriend's cat when it was little. Itchy eyes and such when it was within a few feet but once it reached adulthood around a year or so I no longer had problems. I'm not sure if this is common but if you do develop any mild allergy problems you might give it some time to see if it resolves once your cat reaches adulthood.

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    1. Interesting. Growing up I know I always had problems with cats, but they were also mostly barn cats and usually quite dusty. And I know I was and still am pretty allergic to hay dust. So I've often wondered if I was really very allergic to cats or just hay. I think it some of bother. So far we seem to be getting along ok. As long as I'm sure I was my hands well after petting or cuddling her before touching any other part of my skin. And I have a gate up that keeps her out of the loft so there is no cat hair where I sleep.

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    2. Hi Ariel,

      I was also mildly allergic to cats growing up. We never had one at my house, but I'd get itchy eyes and a runny nose at friend's houses. When I was in college I adopted my first cat (who was 2ish at the time, not a kitten) and was also slightly allergic to her at first. If she got near my face or slept of my clothes before wearing them I had symptoms. Within 6 months to a year of having her I must have gotten over them, because now I don't have problems with any cats, not even my friends. I've heard of this happening with others too, and it's worth a try! Enjoy, she's super cute!

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  5. Looking forward to the stories of Wynn. She is very cute!

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  6. Ariel,
    Wynn is beautiful. I would caution you on letting her out of Fy Nyth. Coyotes like kitties as a snack. It's a problem even in town now in Austin, Tx. If you do let her out make sure you have some place she can hide... preferably up high that she can get to but a coyote or owl would have problems with.

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    1. Thanks. I know, that why I said I don't plan to do that till she gets bigger and stronger and the weather is more mild. I think I already had a martin sit outside the window watching her for a while when I wasn't home.

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  7. If you are concerned about allergies, one of the best things to do is to get Wynn used to being bathed. It will greatly reduce the dander to which most folks are allergic. I have a friend who was highly allergic to cats but bathed his kittens from the time he brought them into his home and never had an allergic reaction. Enjoy Wynn!

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  8. Hi Ariel,
    I enjoy your posts very much. Thank you.
    Here is an idea which I implemented because we had a similar problem with condensation on our windows.
    If you feel like testing it in your location their are some suggestions for a possible fix:

    1. google "indoor storm windows".
    2. for a cheap trail get a piece of glass or acrylic of the size of the part of the window that opens. Temporarily attach it to the window making sure the outside edges are airtight (two sided closed cell foam works fine).
    The additional airspace adds to your R value and if air tight keeps humidity from your "little window panes".
    If the insulation is enough you might have no condensation on your added window pane,
    or if their is still condensation you only have to clean it of the "big" pane instead of many little ones.
    Hope that helps. If you have any questions e-mail me hfiala1@yahoo.com.
    Best wishes Herb.

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    Replies
    1. I've thought of something like this, but am concerned about moisture and mold growth in that dead air space in between. Do you have experience with this happening at all?

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  9. Hi Ariel! I admire your life choices so very much. I live on 2 acres by the sea in Nova Scotia after a lifetime in big cites: Montreal, Toronto and Los Angeles. I have my own dug well and wood heating so I appreciate all the energy you expend on splitting wood. I have a small dog, do photography and play saxophone for mental occupation. Wishing you all the best. cg

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