Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid.

Two things I learned tonight...
First, there exists between cats and goats a relationship of selective and mutual terror.
Second, when falling from a great height, goats (unlike cats) do not always land on their feet.

 Many afternoons when I take the goats for a walk, this sweet kitty tags along with us. A foursome, we meander along the creek while Em and Ellie graze, cat and goats in close proximity and seemingly unmindful of each other. However, when the goats are on the deck, Tabby runs from them in fear, usually cowering in the house until they are put away. Given the weight difference, I can almost understand this. (Actually, I'm still wary of Emerson-the-Attack-Goat most days...)

What I cannot comprehend, though, is why the reverse is also true. Whenever the goats spy little Tabby near the house, they startle and flee. Or hurl themselves off tall buildings, as happened tonight.

Elliot was calmly snacking on top of his wooden house, about 3 and 1/2 feet high. Suddenly, Scary Kitty ambled by, so frightening Ellie that he hurled himself backward off the roof (never mind that a four foot high chain link fence separated him from the ferocious feline!). He landed horribly on his back and left side, stunned in an awkward, twisted position on the driveway and also drenched by a bucket of warm water which took part of the impact. Heart racing, I helped him upright, dismayed to see that he would not put any weight on his back left leg. Oh, Ellie...

Now an hour later, he is resting. He did tentatively walk a bit on that leg after some soothing care and an extra handful of orange peels from my pocket. I'll see what tomorrow brings.

And the next time Emerson tries to attack me, I know just what to do...MEOW!!