Rain Mountain Chinooks

The Chairman of the Board

Dar Morev Rory of Rain
Rory

It's a Tough Job But Someone Has To Do It

When my sweet Kitty Kitty Bandit passed away in the spring of 2003, I swore I was not going to get another cat. After all, I was a dog person. But for some reason, I never did move the cat tree out of the living room. And within a month of Bandit being gone, we were overcome by mice and the small wood rats that live in the small park adjoining my back yard. My sister, the crazy cat lady of Tacoma, offered me one of her semi feral cats but finding the right cat to fit in around here was not going to be easy and just any cat wasn't necessarily the right cat.

So just as I had gone in search of the perfect dog back in 1987, I now went in search of the perfect cat. I may not have gotten perfection but I did get Rory and life will never be the same.

Rory is a Maine Coon Cat who was raised by a woman, Barb Solga, who also raises Borzois, both under the name of Dar Morev. So Rory had been surrounded by big dogs from the moment he was born. Maine Coons are bigger than the average cat, which would be helpful here where a cat would have to deal with a multitude of big dogs. They are known for being very friendly and people oriented, a bit dog-like you could say. Rory did not have the right ear set to be considered a show contender and was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand when he first came home. But even at a mere three pounds, he nailed his first rat when he was less than four months old. Within days, the assault on my garage by the rodent army ended and we haven't seen a single one since.

Rory has not only fit in well with the dogs but has also taken over. He has no fear of any dog that steps in the front door. He loves wrestling with the dogs and considers them all "his" as you can see when he gets in a certain mood. He will go through the dogs one at a timie rubbing all over them to cover them with his scent. They have learned to tolorate his affections though one time when Holly had enough of Rory's love and tried to get away, Rory chased her down the hallway so he could finish his massage. In between wrestling matches, Rory helps raise puppies. He taunts them with his furry tail and tackles them when they are preoccupied and he wants a game. We once witnessed Rory dive bomb Cheyenne at least five times before Chey agreed to give up her bone and wrestle. Where the dogs wrestle by bouncing, fake biting, and body slamming, Rory's idea of a wrestling match is to glom on to his victim with all four paws to take them down.

Rory is a 90% indoor cat but occasionally sneaks out onto the back patio or the front porch to hunt bugs. He's a total weather weenie and wouldn't even think of stepping out the front door if it's raining. The garage is all his domain and he has a sandbox (actually one of my whelping boxes) full of his special cat toys. He is the penultimate "boy" and usually is has weird items clinging to his fuzzy coat. I've seen him carry a 12" stick in the hairs of his tail. He hates being groomed and has only rarely been seen cleaning himself. At two years old he's still growing and may someday have a body to match his huge feet. On his most recent vet check up he weighed in at 14 pounds though the thick coat makes him look bigger. The vet was impressed at how lean and well muscled he was but I'm sure it's from wrestling with the dogs.

Rory helps me plant my pots on the front porch

Rory also feels that he has to oversee all functions in the house. While I'm working he perches on the back of my chair and loves it when I roll from one computer to another. Or he sits on the shelf in front of the window between the plants. He is fascinated with the printer/fax machine and is still trying to figure out what kind of creature it is that spits out pieces of paper. It's impossible to change the sheets without his help too.

Above, snuggling in the warmth of the lamp. Below, cooling off in the bathroom sink Above right, even at three months old, Rory had no fear and walked the house as if it were his castle Below right, Rory chases Lolo off her dinner and helps himself.