Kip’s Comments - March 8, 2026

Reasons Why

Back in May of 2024, as I was working in the far reaches of our yard, I heard a very soft, very weak, very sorrowful “meow” coming from our pollinator habitat. After a bit of searching I found the source - two young (so young) kittens that I wasn’t even sure if they were weaned. One kitten was calico-colored and one was black and white with a black heart on his white side. It is important to share that prior to the arrival of these kittens, I despised cats. These two though, were entirely dependent on Kristy and me. We could not let them starve.

Our intent was to limit these cats to mousing around the farm - living outside in the elements. Both did a good job with the female being far more effective than the male. After the vet removed the male’s junk he became considerably more lazy and certainly a friendly cat.

We recognized an outside lifestyle posed risks to the cats. Passing vehicles, coyotes and foxes, and bald eagles were identified as the biggest threats. We were accepting of the risks, or so we thought.

This past fall another adult cat began stopping by. The female did not like that visiting cat, but our male seemed to fall in love (even though he had nothing to work with). The wanderer led our male down the road too many times. Soon he was missing for a couple of days until I found him dead along the road… a vehicle got him.

The female - certainly the more friendly of the two - watched and waited for her brother who would not return. At the same time she became attached to us, especially to Kristy.

A decision had to be made… while we thought we were ready to accept whatever happened to the cats living outside, maybe we weren’t. Were we prepared for another vehicle vs cat emotional challenge? What about the coyotes in the waterway or the fox across the road? How about the frequent visits from bald eagles to our spruce trees?

Much to our surprise, enough of an attachment had formed that the female is now protected from external risks. We watch out for her. Today we recognized how we likely saved her from a threat… a very real threat.

I was looking out the window when I noticed this young bald eagle moving around in our trees. A couple of times the bird was very uncoordinated - enough that I wondered if it was injured or ill. The eagle flew from tree to tree causing me to head out with my camera, almost expecting the bird to be on the ground.

Young Bald Eagle - Close - Image 1069836

Fortunately I looked up as I went out the backdoor and there it was. Perched feet away was the young bald eagle. Was it watching for birds, rabbits, our aged small dog, or the cat? The eagle remained close long enough for me to shoot many pictures and long enough for me to invite Kristy out to see a bald eagle so close. Neither the cat or the dog were aware of the very real threat just outside the door; we were.

Young Bald Eagle - Close - Image 1069837

The eagle eventually flew away without problems, but not until after I had recorded images I share a sampling of here.

Young Bald Eagle - Close - Image 1069839