Tiki's New Home!

September, 2009:

Our sweet Tiki Barber Randall was adopted today! We are so happy for Tiki, but sad to see the little guy leave the nest, so to speak. Tiki was given to us from a friend of Lauri Magee's, who had a barn full of kittens that needed homes. Since we have a barn full of mice that need to be managed, we knew it was a match made in heaven! Tiki was adopted with two of his brothers; the first one ran for the hills the second I opened his crate (never to be seen or heard from again) and the second brother, Michael (named for his beautiful ginger hair; much like our friend, Michael Kay) was brutally murdered by our cruel dogs a few months later. You might think that having witnessed that savage attack, Tiki would be fearful of the dogs, but no! Tiki was so desparate for companionship after losing his bro that he clung to anything with a heartbeat...literally. He tried to bond with the steers in our haybarn shortly after Michael's untimely death, and started bunking with the bovines. They didn't mind Tiki, and he was often spotted nuzzling with the big beasts!
However, shortly after the big beasts were taken to the Fair (and then to slaughter), Tiki was, once again, in search of some love and companionship. This time, he wandered down the hill to our house. He sat by windows, trying to get a glimpse of the occupents, and whenever we were outside, Tiki ran in and out of our legs, dying for some affection! It was so sad and pathetic, and yet I couldn't pet and snuggle with the little fella more than a few minutes before going into a sneezing attack! It was clear to us...Tiki was never meant to be a barn cat, and he needed a home where he could be loved and snuggled! He was the sweetest kitty ever! Anyway, as it turned out, Bill Simpson's daughter Pippy, had been begging for a cat! After a little cajoling, Bill gave in, and today he came to take Tiki to his new home! When we checked on him later, Bill reported that Pippy and Tiki were inseparable, and that Tiki was even sleeping all curled up with Pippy!