Minnie has changed since her leg was amputated more than a month ago, she is much more verbal – she follows Maria and I around squawking loudly, demanding food, commenting on the world around her. I rarely saw Minnie, she is in the house at night. She is no longer in a crate, she sleeps on various dog beds, she still can’t get up on things by herself, she has to pull herself up, but her rear leg is getting stronger.

She does not seem to be uncomfortable or in pain, she appears in the barn at feeding times, is fine coming into the house at night, is eager to get outside in the morning. She seems more mature to me, more grounded, much more of a presence. Her fur is growing back, her stump wound is healed. At this point, I think, she could be outside or inside, either one seems okay to her. She makes Frieda nervous, but there is no trouble between them. I am always learning about cats, about their independence, their adaptability, their intelligence.

We have a bag of cat treats we keep in a drawer in the kitchen, when I am there sometimes, Minnie comes up to me and stands below the drawer and yowls at me until I give her a treat. She has learned this from the donkeys, I think. It usually works.