When you think of a cute, fluffy, cuddly pet, you probably picture a dog or cat. The last animal you’d probably think to include is a cow. But that’s not how Marc Stewart sees things!
He has two Highlander long haired cows that he treats just like house pets. And absolutely showers them with his love and affection.
It’s probably the purest thing you’ll see on the internet today.
Marc and his wife Karen own the Thistle’ Do Farm at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. Hamish and Kyloe are the long haired cows, and are just two of the unusual animals Marc and Karen care for.
Highlander long-haired cows are also sometimes known as Heilan Coos – maybe an affectionate nickname given because of their Scottish roots? Or sometimes for short, just Highlanders.
In any case, those options are not such a mouthful and roll off the tongue a little easier!
Unlike your average dairy cow, Highlanders have long hair that hangs in front of their eyes. It’s a miracle that they don’t bump into everything in their path.
Their flowing locks make them look a little bit like an angsty teen.
Brushing through all that crazy beautiful hair is no small task. So on a sunny day while grooming, Marc had a little chat with his dearest cow friend.
Hamish recently fell ill and had to go through some tough treatments to get better.
Because of his internet fame, fans made donations on GoFundMe from all around the world to help cover the cost of his medical care.
“I noticed some swelling on his cheek,” Stewart said. “At the time, I thought maybe he’d poked himself in the cheek or something, you know, because they’re always rubbing up against broken tree branches and things to scratch.”
But after a trip to the vet, Hamish was diagnosed with Lumpy jaw.
That might sound like a made up illness or something not too serious, but it can actually be fatal for cows if not treated.
He put out a message on Facebook, and soon the internet came to the rescue. They helped Marc raise money for the $3,000 medical bill.
Now Hamish is looking much better and seems to be back to his usual relaxed self.
“Even after what we put him through recently, he never got angry about it. Hurt? Yeah. Confused? Yeah. You know, he didn’t like it. But I don’t think anger as an emotion was part of the set up.”
As Marc strokes the knots and mats out of Hamish’s incredible coat (seriously, I’m taking his photo to the hair dresser on my next visit), he reminds him how lucky he is.
“You’re getting spoiled just because you were sick and poor Kyloe, he doesn’t get anything. And he was the one that was so patiently standing back watching, hoping for the best. Did you ever tell him thank you for that? I bet you didn’t.”
Apparently Hamish can be a hard on his little brother sometimes!
The way Marc talks to Hamish is too cute for words. It’s so casual and down to earth, as if he’s talking to an old friend.
You can tell just by their short “conversation” that Hamish and Kyloe are both spoiled rotten on that farm. They couldn’t be in better hands!
Once the grooming session is over, the Highlander’s coat looks amazing. Why am I so jealous of this cow?
Marc gives Hamish a big hug and I can feel my heart melt a little.
There is a lot of excess hair, and some creative viewers were inspired to see if the hair could lend itself to some crafting.
“I have an odd question. With how long their fur looks, would it be any good for spinning? My mind inevitably leads me to that question when I see unusual, longer coated animals shedding.” – AdelardRen
Don’t worry – I looked it up. Even though cow hair is completely different to sheep’s wool and other common animals used for spinning yarn, you can actually use it if you’re determined enough.
The hair isn’t exactly easy to work with, but if you can master the craft it makes for a very strong fibre. Who knew? You learn something new every day.
You can watch the wholesome, heartwarming video by clicking below.
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