Queso arrived at The Shady Llama in the spring of 2020 while we were closed for COVID. After feeding her for a few weeks and getting her used to us, we took her to the vet for shots and to be spayed. (Turns out she’d already been spayed, but there was no external indication or microchip.) She’s been a fixture at The Shady Llama ever since.
While Queso is very self-possessed, she does, technically, belong to The Shady Llama owners who provide her with veterinary care and absurdly expensive senior cat food in exchange for managing close up duties at the bar.
It is somewhat unusual to have a female orange tabby. The majority of orange cats (80%) are male. Queso is approximately 12 years old. She enjoys presenting herself to adults for pets and scratches and lounging on table tops, chairs, and laptop keyboards. She is sometimes timid when approached and dislikes being held or being within about 50 feet of children or dogs. She is also very nervous indoors and prefers to be outside, even in the most extreme weather conditions.
She usually comes out when the bar is calm or at the end of the night. You’ll sometimes find her slinking around under the tables looking for scraps along with our regular bar fox. They both appear to tolerate each other rather well and have occasionally shared food. If the space is busy, she is typically hiding out of sight or roaming the woods. She has an elevated, heated cat bed that keeps her safe from predators and cold temps.
On occasion, when Queso is feeling extra cuddly, she will drape herself across a table and allow a line to form to rub her tummy. While the llamas are a fun draw for our customers, our bar kitty often leaves a lasting impression, especially if she graces you with her favor.
- Queso’s loving human at The Shady Llama
