We’re learning some things about Zip. He’s an accomplished escape artist; he almost broke out of his crate yesterday. Like most barn cats, he isn’t really into playing. He’s ignoring the open-sized paper box we were advised to put in the crate to keep him occupied.
He just isn’t interested and doesn’t respond to toys. That was also true of Flo and Minnie. They don’t like crawling into laps but love touching and scratching.
We’re extending our acclamation plan to two weeks. Zip’s former home is just a few cornfields away. His brother is living there, so we’re being careful and deliberate. He has accepted both of us, eats out of our hands, and responds to his name.
We are committed to a long, safe, and healthy life for him here at the farm, the same kind of life we could give to Flo and Minnie.
Yesterday, I had a brief and ugly online struggle with some incredibly obnoxious and enthusiastically ignorant animal rights people about rescuing Barn cats.
One claimed barn cats like Zip only lived for a couple of years.
Of the three barn cats, one left to return home (Mother, I suspect she made it or chose to land elsewhere), and two (Flo and Minnie) lived between 16 and 17 years. They were happy here, and we loved them both. Minnie lost a leg to a late-night predator, and we got her through it; she lived a long time in peace and comfort.
There is always a risk to a barn cat’s life. I get the feeling that Zip can take care of himself.
Adopted barn cats who are neutered, vaccinated, and fed do very well; it is a blessing to adopt them.
We take complete care of our barn cats, which is why they live so long.
Most barn cats around here live around barns; sometimes, the farmers give them milk. They don’t live long.
Our vet assures us that barn cats who are cared for and eat their natural foods as part of their diets live longer than indoor cats, who live an average of 12 to 15 years.
I know better than to be drawn into hopeless arguments with arrogant and hostile people, but I was so annoyed I succumbed. I don’t want to fight with people on my blog (I don’t argue my beliefs with strangers on Facebook), so I deleted the comments and the argument. But adopting and caring for these remarkable animals would save many cat lives.
Seeing people who call themselves animal rights advocates enable and support the killing and imprisonment of animals who work with people makes me furious. They live to turn goodness into shit.
But that’s my problem, not my readers.
Offensive and angry people like that should be instantly deleted, which I have been doing happily and eventually did yesterday.
They still get to me sometimes, I’m embarrassed to say, but much less frequently than before. People like that haunted me in my childhood; it’s an important habit to break. My shrink is helping me with it.
None of these people are regular readers of the blog, who tend to be courteous and civil even when they disagree; they slide in from Facebook and hardly ever know what they are talking about, who I am, or what the farm is about. It’s not about fighting.
It felt good to delete the argument. I should never post things I know are hostile or erroneous; it does no one any good and is upsetting to me, not useful, or true to the blog ethos. It didn’t help that since my head injury, I can get irritated more easily. That is getting better, but slowly. Pain and anger are first cousins.
We are delighted to have adopted Zip and are optimistic about him. He seems to be the cat we wanted, and he seems to have attached to us quickly and deeply. His acclimation is going well. Fate ignores him, and Zinnia wants to be friends. Bud will have to get his nose scratched.
Our donkeys and sheep are used to dogs and accept them. We have all kinds of cozy spots for cats to hide in and sleep in – under the front porch, in Maria’s fiber chairs, in the barn, in the woodshed. Zip is a savvy cat; in his 11 months, he has never gone into or near the road and always finds good places to rest and sleep.
In America today, someone – usually on Facebook – always lives to correct and disagree. It’s just a part of our lives. I don’t want that poison on my blog.
Usually, they are just angry know-it-alls (peckerheads) blowing smoke and bullshit. It is a spiritual challenge for me to accept this and resist taking the bait. I’m almost there.
Where did you get the idea that house cats live TWO TO THREE YEARS??? Good grief! Perhaps you hit your head harder than you thought! It’s obvious that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats. Just think about it!
Take a deep breath, Desiree..it was a typo and is fixed…You may never make a mistake but I do all the time..
Unfortunately, some people seem unable to share differing views without also feeling the need to vanquish the person who may have a different perspective and declare themselves the “victor.” We all learn by sharing our experiences. We all lose when someone thinks there must be a “victor”. So please keep sharing.
Hi Jon,
I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I think the hassle you get about your cats is compounded because the stereotype of “barn cat” is of a cat that is just barely not feral. Runs when it sees you, eats out of a bowl of cheap dry “kibble” left in barn- but only when no one is watching. Hides, hunts, doesn’t go for being petted, no vet care, many kittens.
Your cats usually happen to sleep in a barn but nap on your porch, get pets, care, quality food, interact with both of you comfortably. You might get less grief if you dropped the “barn” label and just went with “outdoor cat”. I’m sure you will still get grief about bird murder but I hope he’ll be too busy chasing mice to notice them.
Btw, I’ve found male cats to generally be more friendly and affectionate than females-except with each other when fighting territory battles. I’ve mostly had indoor cats except for my current one who was a stray, I think abandoned when his original people moved. I think he’s smarter then the indoor cats were. He also disdains any toy that isn’t reminiscent of a prey animal. His idea of fun is to work on his hunting skills. Maybe try a feather toy or a “mouse” on a string he can chase, or a cable tie under a paper bag or through the crate wall openings.
God bless you Jon! The Delete button comes in handy for the crazy a**holes
😉 Zip is a lucky little dude🐾🖤
Thanks Kathleen wise word
Don’t pull a Trump. Ignore all the twitters, etc. Best off not getting involved.
I love how “pulling a Trump” has entered the language..I think I have a good ways to go before that…but it’s a good thought..
So let’s accept for arguements sake that cared-for barn cats do only live for two or three years. Isn’t two or three years of being well-fed, having a good place to sleep, som affection and being cared for if injured, better than just letting the feral cat run around with no home? A short happy life vs. a long somewhat unnatural life.
I commend you both for adopting a barn cat. Zip looks like a wonderful and healthy animal who will live a long life and still take care of the mouse population. I really hope he stays and does not decide to head home. I love that you guys have him.
It looks like he’s pretty happy here..thanks Jean
that cat has attitude! once released, he will call his own shots, you can tell.he is a beautiful healthy half grown cat.( I guess Sylvester was a tuxedo…)
ish.
He is really setting down…
Wow! I am surprised that your vet said the average lifespan of an indoor cat is between 12 and 15 years. I would have thought it to be much higher than that, I consider myself to be fortunate that five of my strictly indoor cats have all lived to be between the ages of 16 and well over 18 years of age. It never seems long enough though…
Well, Mr. Katz, it was a bold attempt at inclusion, but maybe CREATIVITY AND GENTLE WARMTH combined with BLOW IT OUT YOUR ASS, EILEEN is just too much of a stretch for one blog. Kind of a combination of Mr. Rogers and George Carlin. It did give me a laugh, though.
I hope both your back and your brain continue to recover, even if they’re not hustling along at the pace you desire.
Kind regards from another native of Providence (of the same vintage).
I don’t know Susan, it’s a part of who I am, and I kind of like who I am…but it’s a waste of time and energy for sure, thanks for th enote..
Once again, people give unwanted advice. You and Maria have listened to your vet. That’s all the advice you need. Glad you are using the delete button.
I agre with “S”. Zip is not going to be a traditional Barn Cat. As S suggests, he is what I would call an Outdoor Cat. Or, how about Assisted Living Cat? A true Barn Cat is pretty much on his own and is merely permitted to live in the vicinity of a barn without the threat of being killed. Katz Kats get food, vet care, shelter, tending, and love. Katz Kats get names and are valued for the sentient creatures they are.
As for ignoring busy bodies: here is a quote from Thomas Paine that seems relevant: ” To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.”
I’m so sorry about your head, Jon. Sending you healing thoughts.
As opposed to an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, a barn cat is considered an “indoor-outdoor” cat. Zip has found the perfect home, without question.
From a recent research paper, if anyone is interested in such things:
“The median age at death for indoor only cats was 9.43 years…while the median age at death for indoor outdoor cats was 9.82 years…and the median age for outdoor cats was 7.25 years…”
Longevity and mortality in cats:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9799304/
Regardless of how long or short they live I believe barn cats are probably happier than cats trapped inside a house bored to tears.
Oh jeez (some) people let it go — house cats, barn cats, feral cats, indoor /outdoor cats—whatever! Zip is a lucky cat to have a home in Jon’s barn, he will be loved.
Sounds right, Jon. Step back, skip the useless arguments, move on. That old saw said it: Don’t wrestle with pigs – they like it and you get filthy.
Zip looks like a real winner. That look reminds me of the alpha female I was lucky enough to know for 13 years. Attitude and more Attitude, did _not_ back down. If there’s any more to the resemblance, then note – she did like to play, but you needed a long willow wand because she always angled for the fingers… She wanted it to be real, some flesh in the game.
FYI, Jon: I’ve forwarded your reports on the NYC carriage horses to several “influencers” who’d bought into the PETA (etc.) reports and were advocating carriage horse and “other animal abuse” to be closed down. They read your reports, followed up by verifying your reports with your cited authorities, and changed their allegiances. Good reporting changes minds, and I thank you for your good reporting.
Thanks Emile
Jon, thank you for keeping Zip. I am happy to know he is being fed every day, they’re vaccinated and spayed/neutered. He is free. That’s what’s important. He’s not stuck in a small cage drowning in his own feces because that’s how they are kept in some overcrowded shelters. As long as he eats well, and he’s taken care of, nothing wrong with that..