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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Nurse Shyla and Cats, Cats, Cats

We are down for the count here - the flu has taken hold of all humans. It's a terrible bug but we've learned that Shyla is a nurse at heart. She is alert to anyone who is coughing too hard or is having a terrible moment, and she rushes to that person's side, full of concern and kisses. Nurse Shyla...
Of course, dogs need exercise even when the humans are sick. Since I am less severely sick than the Runner, I took each of them for a romp.
And, they both took full advantage of it, getting out all that excess energy. Thank goodness that they can't catch this bug from us!
On this quiet day, I want to share a series of photos from one camera that has become the "cat camera" since the bears seem to have gone to sleep. On 12/1, the female who I believe has a kitten or two stashed nearby visited the spot.
She does not leave "scrapes" on the ground, huge obvious furrows that male mountain lions leave obsessively by kicking back with each hind paw. Moreover, I again thought that I saw enlarged teats in one of the many photos of her visit.

A graceful tail...
And, one more sniff before departing...
Less than a week later, the male mountain lion who I captured photos of more than a mile away appeared at the same site. Unfortunately, he never took exactly the same posture as the female so it's tough to compare their sizes. However, he left "scrapes" every quarter mile or so. They were big and deep scrapes that I couldn't miss.
Then, a few nights later, we got a treat. Here is our mother bobcat who we've followed since summer. This audacious cat urinated in the same spot as the mountain lions who are many times her size had been sniffing.
Her kitten was slightly behind but appeared soon, catching mom's attention.
The kitten sniffed the spot that has caught the interest of many cats but didn't mark it.
With mom ahead again, the kitten stopped to look at the camera before disappearing into the night following his mother.
It seems that a mother bobcat has successfully raised a kitten in our neck of the woods each of the past two summers. By spring, this young bobcat will strike out on his own to find an unoccupied territory.

I found it fascinating to see all of these cats sniffing and/or marking the same spot. The male mountain lion is a threat to all of the other cats. Moreover, any mountain lion is a threat to the bobcats, especially the kitten. Yet, the bobcats still use this territory despite the many scent marks left by the mountain lions.

Okay, Nurse Shyla says that it's time to go rest. She's the boss!

25 comments:

  1. I hope you get lots of rest! At least you'll be over the bug before Christmas gets here. I am not surprised that Shyla is a nurse.

    Those cats really are fascinating! Isn't it always the little ones that are the scrappiest, though? lol

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  2. You're so lucky to have such a wonderful and attentive nurse! Get better SOON!

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  3. Get well soon! The October 4 years ago that I brought Stella home, I got a little bronchitis thing, and apparently she had never heard anyone cough before. She was good to go sleep on the bed I fixed for her, but the minute I coughed, she leaped up on my bed and stuck her face in mine! Thankfully it didn't last more than a few days, so she got over it, before I got over it!

    Cheers,

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  4. This does not surprise me that Shyla has this loving and caring nurse spirit. Of course she does. Love the running shots of R and Shyla. What grace.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  5. Lots of TLC from Shyla, soon you will both be well, and the cats, love the bobcat kitten.Take care, get well very soon, and wrap up extra well when out in the cold with whoever thinks it is their turn to have a run. Greetings from Jean

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear the flu bug has hit your household. Thank goodness you have Nurse Shyla there to help get you through it. :) Great running shots of Shyla and R and what a wonderful series of big cat pics! Wishing you and R a speedy recovery. :)

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  7. We are glad Nurse Shyla allowed us our daily dose of splendor! Sorry the humans all have the sickies; sending White Dog get well quickly healing energies.

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  8. I think Shyla is the perfect nurse and soon all of you will be well!
    Those are some big cats !
    love
    tweedles

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  9. Hope you and the Runner feel well real soon. It is so great that dogs can't catch the flu, isn't it? Could you imagine trying to take care of yourself and a sick dog?? OMD! What a mess that would be.

    Love the kitty pictures. Can't get over the size of that mountain lioness. How thick their legs, body and tail are.

    So glad Shyla is taking care of you two. :)

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  10. I hope you are all feeling better, I am sure nurse Shyla is helping. I was so excited to see the baby cats, I was hoping you would get to show some. What a treat, thanks.

    Anne and Sasha

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  11. Flu! Poor you. Lots of rest and a speedy recovery.

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  12. You will have your family all better in no time at all with your sweet sweet kisses, Shyla!

    Love ya lots,
    Mitch and Molly

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  13. Sorry about the flu, That's a real bummer. Please feel better soon, under Shyla's tender loving care!

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  14. all the cats look good and healthy heading into the winter months! so beautiful...so lucky we get to see these beauties through your lens!
    hope you are all feeling better soon...or you can continue to "milk it" so nurse shyla can keep her job!
    :)
    xoxo

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  15. We know that Nurse Shyla is doing a great job over there! We're so sorry to hear you and the Runner are both sick. But with Dr. R and Nurse Shyla on duty you're bound to get better real quick.

    Loved seeing the baby cat. Makes you realize that life is truly amazing!

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle & Muffin

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  16. Yowsahs those are some BIG kitties!!

    Get well soon xx

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  17. Hope every buddy feels better. Those cats are beautiful. Careful she doesn't make a nurses hat for you Shyla. Humans tend to get nutty
    Benny & Lily

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  18. So sorry to hear you're not feeling well. I just know that Nurse Shyla knows what's best and will take care of both of you. Get Well Soon!

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  19. Well what a pretty nurse you have!!

    Feel better soon!

    Mamma Heartbeat

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  20. Feel better soon! Sounds like both our girls are excellent nurses.
    Nola's Mom

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  21. You take care of her - she takes care of you - seems fair! :)

    I haven't yet gotten sick since having Blueberry, so I have no idea how she will handle it. My other dog Shadow - she would go outside through the dog door and leave me all alone - guess she found all the coughing and sneezing irritating. Lol - not as nurturing as your Shyla, that's for sure!

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  22. Oh the flu.....I amsuch a baby when I get the flu. There is no way I would take Bert on a hike.

    You are "the Woman" If I ever get sick, I am sending Bert to you......

    Get Well soon, All of you

    Bert's My Vickie

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  23. Nurse Shyla is so dutiful and falls into place so quickly. We take a homeo medicine here, called Oscillococcinum ...works its charm every time. Take care
    Ron

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  24. Hope you will soon get well so you can hike with Shyla and R.
    Hope we will see the lions kitten soon...that would be great.

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  25. What is with that tree??? The animals really seem to like it. I'd love to see it someday!

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