Latest addition.....

Taking time out from the competition among Barn Cat Mansion inhabitants to show you what happened in the land we call Chinook Country.

Its a new foal,

pictured at less than 10 hours old.  He was born in the dead of night and on the run by morning.  Animals are truly amazing!

Oh no, not again!

In a perfect world, Orangey Tail would have posed nicely for the camera and would NOT have stuck her tongue out at us.

But our world isn't perfect!

Something, though is close to perfect and that's those enchanting whiskers on OT's upper lip.  Check out the symmetry and slightly downward curve.  Evenly spaced up and down, and as wide as her body is fat, these whiskers are world class.
Its going to be a close competition and with any luck, OT will be crowned

Whisker Champion of Barn Cat Mansion
for the second year in a row.

Anybody want a treat?

"Hey Big Kitty!  Show us your whiskers!"

What's up with that?  No matter how hard we tried, Bumble refused to face the camera.  Now we have two tasks at hand:  get a new picture of OT's whiskers and a "competition" worthy shot of Big Kitty.

Guess we'll have to haul out the Temptations!

Mama!! Come back!!

His title was "Earl of Egmont".  He left England and landed in southern Alberta where he bought a large tract of land.  The goal was to create a game preserve, but government regulations in Canada ban Canadians from containing wildlife.  So, in the mid-sixties, he built a fence that satisfied gov't regulations.  It was high enough to deter hunters, but low enough to allow freedom to deer, elk, bears and moose.

Between the government and the Earl, no one realized, or stopped to think, that little ones can't jump a 5 foot fence.  Its a good thing wild animals are smart enough to go back to their babies.

At least that's what we like to think!!

When time is of the essence.....

Our first attempt to get a new photo of OT's whiskers was thwarted when she refused to co-perate!

C'mon, OT!  Show your face!

We'll try again tomorrow, but this cat needs to remember:  humans have more to do than follow a cat around all day trying to get a picture.

And the winner was......

Orangey Tail!!

Well, maybe Orangey Tail's whiskers weren't perfect, but they were the straightest, longest and most beautiful.  This photo was taken in May of 2011, so her whiskers could be way longer and more evenly spaced by now.

Hey, Orangey Tail!  Are you ready for a 2012 On Location Whisker Photo Shoot?

You'll have to be, because the camera is ready and so is the person handling it.  :)

Let the games begin!

Now, you can see that Smart Little Baby had an excellent set of whiskers in 2011.  Soft and squiggly, thick and healthy, but totally unkempt.

We are waiting for a foal that should be born in the next few days, so if it has whiskers worthy of a contest, the little kitten may get a run for its money in the competition.

You never know, Orangey Tail could enter again with her awesome, meticulously groomed whiskers.  We'll take all the entries we can get,

so please stay tuned....

.....but only by a hair!

Last year, Barn Cat Mansion sponsored a whisker growing contest.  Two entrants were worthy of capturing the title.  Smart Little Baby, the only foal we had last year, had a great set of whiskers, but they were not well groomed.  On the other hand, Orangey Tail's whiskers were long, luxurious and perfectly groomed.  After much deliberation, the winner was proclaimed.....and

Orangey Tail won!

Our only entry so far this year is pictured here.  This kitten has whiskers everywhere!

Here let me get that.......

Tipster had no idea that Casper could get so dirty living outside the Mansion.  After all, he has a nice dog house with all the amenities of home.  That little speck of dirt clinging to a stripe on the right side of Casper's neck really got on Tipster's nerves.  He reached out and carefully pushed the dirt away.  Good boy, Tipster.  Now Casper looks as good as new .      

Look out above!!

Casper refused Bumble's invitation to move back into the Mansion.  He knew that with Big Kitty's temper tantrums, the stay could be short lived.

Seen here, waiting for his chance to nab the sparrow that's sitting on the rail above, Casper is capable of making it on his own.

That's the great thing about Barn Cats.

If for some reason, nobody feeds them, they will survive. (But we always feed them)