Musings of a Barn Cat

I, Houdini, am the best barn cat! At 12 years old, I have mastered how to properly train the humans that work with me.

According to archeological evidence, it is suggested that the domestication of cats occurred around 7500 BC, and was motivated by humans need to keep rodents and other pests away from stored grains. You could say that rodent control is in my blood, and you would be wrong for thinking that instinct hasn’t dulled in me.

I found my home at Hands and Hearts the same way most cats find their homes- I showed up one day several years ago, said “this is my house now” , and have had the humans cater to me ever since. I must say, they got so lucky that I chose here to live, and I am pretty lucky too!

Rodent control was never something I fancied and, if I’m being honest, my busy schedule just doesn’t allow for that. I prefer to help the humans out in more important (to me) ways. My top priority is holding down the hay. I do a great job of making sure the stacks of square bales stay exactly where the humans put them. I know for a fact the horses appreciate this too! Once I’ve made sure the hay isn’t going to fly away, you will also see me on my directors chair in the barn, overseeing the humans. They have important jobs, and I feel as though it is my duty to stand guard, and make sure they tack up the horses correctly. I also lay on the saddle pads, mostly the exact saddle pads that a human needs, as a fun little joke that I know the horses appreciate.

If we have a school group, you will also find me in the classroom. I like to inspire the nations youth by laying on the couch and letting all the kids pet me and tell me how cute I am. I know they come to ride, but I also know they come to hang out with yours truly! I have even tried to come in the arena while some of my friends are riding, but the humans keep telling me that isn’t allowed.

I would love to do more office work, but sometimes there’s…ugh…dogs.. in the office. I am not a big fan of dogs, and I am not afraid to tell them that right to their faces. If I can claim the office, I like to help the humans by walking across their keyboards. I am not sure what that does or what they are doing, but, I see them smacking those with their hands all the time so I am assuming that I am helping them.

You may be tempted to call it “sleeping on the job” if you were to catch me sprawled out in the grass in the sunshine but that is simply not true. I call it “recharging my batteries” so that I can keep watch over the farm. As you can tell, I have a very important and very busy job.

I love being with the humans almost as much as they love being with me! Everyone is always nice to me, and my food bowl never goes empty. I even love my humans when they take me for my yearly checkups, though I complain to them the whole time. On cold nights, I sleep in the warm classroom. On cold days, I get to go in the classroom and back out of the classroom and back in the classroom and back out of the classroom and back in the classroom and back out of the classroom all day long. I am so glad the humans like to play that game as much as I do! I love living here, and I love seeing alllllll of my people! Next time you’re at the farm, say hello, and I’ll show you where my treats are kept!