Friday 5 at the Farm: Cats & Llamas

Happy Friday!! Whew. I have to say, this has been a drop dead gorgeous week here at the Lazy W. The weather has been amazing. We have  been cleaning forgotten closets and burning off piles of fallen limbs. Running some, reading some, visiting with friends and loved ones, gardening, romancing… This first week of spring has been divine. And to cap it off I’d like to offer an installment of “Friday 5 at the Farm: Cats & Llamas.”

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Have you ever found yourself wondering what llamas and cats have in common? I’m here to help. We happen to have four cats and three llamas, and we study them with great acuity. By that I mean we sometimes notice stuff. And let me tell you, cats and llamas are basically the same animal.

Proof That Cats & Llamas are the Same Animal

1. Both are extremely territorial. You have no idea. They know who belongs in the area and who doesn’t, and they are not bashful about dividing the two. While a cat may hiss at an intruder, a llama will spit. Neither is happy about sharing her territory with an intruder, especially if said intruder is a chihuahua. (This happens here at the W much more than I have shared with you guys.)
2. You can only touch them on their terms, and this includes leashes. Only very special llamas will be led on a halter (Dulcinea and Seraphine recently joined this club, but they only attend the meetings sometimes), and I dare you to put your cat on a leash and take him for a walk. Even short of that, though, both cats and llamas are extra fussy about when and how they are petted. Usually they prefer to do the petting themselves, against you, instead of the other way around. Usually. Again, this is not your call. Your wishes are not part of this equation.
3. They are oddly discreet about their bathroom business. They only “go” in certain areas, making manure collection a breeze. I only collect llama manure, to be clear. To my knowledge cats still bury theirs. Though I would LOVE to see a llama do this. Anyway, discreet. Fussy. Both llamas and cats are these things.
4. They fight with their front hands. You’ve seen a cat get into a vicious slap fight, right? Well, llamas do this, too, but instead of stiletto claws they use their giant, butcher knife-sharp hooves. It. Is. Terrifying. Also, both creatures pin their ears back and bulge out their eyes when they fight. Not pretty.
5. You will never touch anything softer than a cat belly or a llama neck. Period. And amen. Of course, refer to #2 to get an idea of how special it is to touch either, right? So when it happens, soak it up. You’re cuddling a four-legged angel.

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Now you know!* Llamas are basically taller, more stretched out cats, with short, fluffy tails and slightly more astonishment in their faces than arrogance. Or perhaps cats are just more petite, shorter necked llamas with far less social awareness. Exactly the same animal, really.

Now on to a glorious weekend. I hope yours is filled with some of your favorite things plus at least one fantastic surprise! I am about to go run my heart out into the cotton candy sunrise, giving thanks for so many blessings this week and so much renewed energy. Life is just too beautiful sometimes.

*And knowing is half the battle.

XOXOXOXO