How the Barn Cat becomes a House Cat

Step 1:
Arrive in the summertime, origin unknown, when you are 6 weeks old and oh, so very cute. When picked up, make sure you purr, purr, purr.

Step 2:
Always be underfoot, begging for attention when the people try to clean the stalls, work in the garden and split wood. When picked up, purr, purr, purr.

Step 3:
As the weather gets colder, hang out with the other barn cats at the back door. When the door opens, dart inside. When picked up and carried outside, make sure to purr, purr, purr.

Step 4:
Become a nuisance. Follow the people to the garage and run under the cars. When they retrieve you, purr, purr, purr--and then dart under the cars again. Eventually, they will throw you in the house, so that they can leave.

Step 5: 
When the weather is freezing, adopt the frozen-paw walk and pitiful cry. Stand at the back door and dart inside whenever the humans go outside to get firewood, walk the dogs or feed the livestock. Once inside, make sure to purr, purr, purr whenever they are near.

Eventually, you will wear them down.

As if Chores Weren't Hard Enough...

After spending three weekends at sheepdog trials and clinics, I turned my attention to the farm.

The chore list was long: groom the dogs,

 (So glad only two of the Border collies are rough coats)

sort out the ram lambs,

clean up the horse paddock (actually a joy now that it's finally drying out),

mow (it may have stopped raining, but the grass is still looking lush)

weed and mulch the garden...

and watch the kitten.

Between four Border collies and trap/neuter efforts, we've kept stray cats to a minimum on the farm. But this one appeared while I was at a sheepdog clinic. And so far, I've found no one who wants an adorable kitten--so, for now she's staying.

She thanks me constantly by being underfoot. So, I've resorted to holding her while I'm moving ram lambs, feeding the chickens, dragging around the muck bucket.

She purrs, delighted with the arrangement.