Barn Cats

The two kittens don’t know it yet, but they are destined for a life in a barn, not a soft, warm house with beds and slippers. The barn will, however, contain lots of mice, straw for bedding, cows to snuggle with, warm milk on cold mornings and the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. If it’s raining, stay inside. If the moon is full, go hunting. I’m sorry about the sex thing but I’ll have to have your gonads removed just to keep the neighborhood cat population from exploding. You are cute and orange, both of you, and boys and I couldn’t expect anything but the worst behaviour if we didn’t have you “altered.”

I know some people will say it’s unkind to keep barn cats but what’s the alternative for cats. There are too many cats and too few people who want litter boxes in the corner and cat hair on the bed. I have a dog who lives outdoors all year and he seems quite happy. We go for rides in the pickup truck. He barks and everything and he has learned not to mess with the livestock on the farm, especially the chickens, ducks and turkeys. He’ll learn to live with the cats too. In fact, we’ll do about six weeks of training and orientation before the cats and dog get to mingle. The cats will never get to mingle with the chickens because cats are prey machines. You may think Boots loves you but the truth is he hasn’t figured out a way to put you in the prey column. If he ever does, you’re toast.