Posted by stringbeaner on Saturday, October 8, 2011
This li'l varment over here on the left is a Cacomistle otherwise known as a Ring-Tailed Cat. He was caught breaking into the pantry at Hummingbird music camp down the road from me a ways and they were gonna shoot him. My daughter in law who works there had me come rescue him and we turned him loose on my deck and one of my sons took about 20 or so photos of him. He didn't seem particularly afraid of us and hung around until dark before leaving. He is about 14 inches long and his tail is maybe a little longer.
They are nocternal as you can figger out from those great big eyebubs. They are so cute you want to pick him up and cuddle him some but you'd be wise not to. They sound sort of like a bird when they hollar and spend most of their time up in trees. Absolutely darlin' little guys.
AlexV Says:
Saturday, October 8, 2011 @8:17:36 PM
Hummingbird music camp, as in Jemez Springs?
panthersquall Says:
Saturday, October 8, 2011 @8:32:58 PM
Thank you for rescueing him. That's a mighty fine tail he (or she?)'s got there. I used to rescue raccoons. Love the little beasties.
stringbeaner Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @10:31:17 AM
Yup! Hummingbird was just a couple of miles down State rd. 4 from my place. I actually taught guitar there a couple of years when I first moved out there in '92 and '93.
And yeah, Panther, how could anyone shoot something that cute???? That'n was a little boy.
stringbeaner Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @10:34:35 AM
By the way Alex, I was a Deputy Marshal in Jemez Springs back in the 90's too. Fun Job!
stringbeaner Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @10:55:48 AM
Since he didn't seem inclined to leave, I thot he might be hungry after a night in a have-a-heart trap and a day waiting around to be shot, so I tried him on ferret food, nope! Tuna fish, peach, raw hamburger, nope, nope, nope! finally, I got a tin of smoked oysters and he perked up a little so I stuck one out in front of me on the table (on the deck) and he snuck up on it , grabbed it and growled at me thru his teeth and ran down to the end of the table and ate it up. So I offered him some more and the little bum et that whole tin of oysters. Din't leave me a one! Even his growl was cute.
AlexV Says:
Sunday, October 9, 2011 @1:28:20 PM
Wow, I knew these were supposedly around, but have never seen one. Interesting about your job in Jemez Sprgs, what a beautiful, funny little place. Spent quite a few evenings at Los Ojos, oh man... So you're not there anymore? Know many banjo people around the Jemez? I'm over in Los Alamos.
Lady Faith Says:
Tuesday, November 1, 2011 @8:28:49 PM
This is the cutest little thing. I am glad you safed his life.
John Herrington Says:
Tuesday, December 27, 2011 @8:42:12 PM
Stringbeaner, you are a compassionate man! I grew up on the Lampassas river south of Killeen, Texas. We had lots of the little buggers in our hill country. During WWII we hunted for hides, coon, fox, possum, and the pretty little ring tails. I think I'm a little sorry now that we did that. It did put food on the table, however. As you probably know they have a little musk about them. As with all God's creatures, they are beautiful. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
Old John on the Big Horn
PickinFool Says:
Friday, March 16, 2012 @8:28:16 PM
First time I've seen a Ring Tail Cat since I quit hunting deer in West Texas many years ago. Thanks for sharing the photo.
C Nyal de Kaye Says:
Monday, April 9, 2012 @3:37:42 PM
I was not aware that such a beautiful little creature existed until reading this post. I was also rather surprised that it liked oysters! I just looked it up and now know a bit more about this lovely little wonder of God's creation. Thanks for telling me about it Stringbeaner.
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