Barn Cats
All Together Now
This winter we said goodbye to one of our four original barn cats, George. In 2016 we moved to the farm and got four barn cats from Cat Lover’s of Three Oaks and named them John, Paul, George, and Ringo. They live fairly harmoniously and healthy in our large white barn, spoiled with canned pate (shreds are disgusting) and dry food. Each have distinctive personalities; Paul, the leader of the pack who talks often, cries when he brings his latest catch to your feet, and lived on our back porch until our new house dog Stella came along. He’s a frontrunner for my favorite animal on the farm because we have similar work schedules, always around and always into something. John is a big black fluffy love who is quick friends with any visitor. Ringo is our Hemingway cat, also black, but with 6 fingers. He quickly became the outskirts of the farm hunter, being seen in pasture pouncing on mice, voles, and birds. He moved across the street, as the neighbors started to feed him cat food. He comes back to the barn in the winter a few times, but we go weeks without seeing him at all.
John in the spring pastures
Isn’t it a Pity
Paul and a new found snake friend
George was a handsome little guy, who was full of fear, and looked as if he was on death’s doorstep for the past four years. I tried to get him a few times for medical intervention, but after a few scratches and his continued eating and existence, we Let it Be. Last winter we found a similar grey cat, frozen dead in pasture. We said our goodbyes to George and buried him in the compost, only to find him in the barn the next morning. This winter, he had a couple days looking even more bedraggled and Molly and I tried to capture him for a vet visit. He evaded us behind the large pallet racks, his own solitary kingdom, and to not be seen since. We doubt there will be another resurrection of George, and I fear I will be the one to find his little corpse during spring cleaning.
Ringo amongst the hay bales
A rare glimpse of our reclusive George
Eight years of survival on a farm for a barn cat is rare, and we figured he’d be the first to go. I cherish the few times I was able to pet him, only when serving the cats their shared precious pate. Fortunately,a new cat has found his way into our barn and the John and Paul have allowed him to remain and share their meals. This hasn’t been the case for any of the other cats that find their way to the farm looking for a new home. This little black one looks like it could be John or Ringo’s kid, so we dubbed him StarrChild. He’s not a substitute for George, just the next generation. All Things Must Pass on the farm, though we are dedicated to our animals having the best life and a respectable end, when it goes otherwise, it’s hard. Actually, it’s hard anyway it goes.
With a Little Help From Our Friends
Louie being his magical self
Our good friend is struggling with cancer right now and Molly and I are taking it hard. Steven has worked around Molly for over 20 years, and he met and fell in love with Louie, over 10 years ago. We all became close and get along famously to this day. Louie has been battling cancer for the past four years and it’s just real rough. Steven and Louie put each other at ease, nurture each other’s interests, and know how to have fun and share it with others. They're just simply great people who are great friends with a great love for each other. What can anybody say in moments like these, that truly ease the pain? I’m sure comparing barn cats to the loss of a dear friend is probably one of the worst ways to do it, especially since neither gentleman has any interest in…cats, but here we are. Nothing makes sense or seems fair when we struggle with loss and we can’t be accountable for everything as our worlds fall apart and everyone around us is suffering. The sandwich shop lady briefly asked me how was 2025 going, and not thinking and out of habit, I just said “Yeah, it’s going great, should be a good year.” But I want to take that back, it’s been a fucking nightmare and the longest January on record. What are we hoping for this year that will actually turn out well? What is Life
In actuality, I do personally feel hope in a number of ways with myself and an increasing web of people In My Life right now. I’ve got to keep those alive in my heart while the feeling of utter despair and sadness I feel in other moments of my life because Tomorrow Never Knows.
