I love barn cats and I respect their lives, I have little time for the notion that is cruel to let them live their lives. They get spayed, they get shots and when it is cold, they get to come in and sleep by the wood stoves. I love and celebrate the mystical lives of the barn cats, and I see and respect their murderous side.

In the real world of real animals, death is respected and accepted. With the end of this brutal winter, the barn cats are beginning to return to their lives. Minnie crawls around the garden looking for mice and she sleeps under Maria’s studio. Flo is a sun worshipper, as many cats are and there is something very spiritual and settled about her. They don’t always want to come inside in the good weather, they usually are in by nightfall.

I respect their wishes, if Flo wishes to hunt at night, I let her, I understand the risk. There is risk in the real lives of real animals, I let them choose how much risk to take.