Flo is a barn cat in some weather, but a porch cat lately. Her territory is the front porch most of the night, and the back porch by the day. She never wanders towards the road, and sometimes, if it’s cold, goes up into the woodshed or climbs a ladder to the upper floors of the big barn.

Like all barn cats, she is mysterious and independent and loves to hunt. It’s an unfortunate mouse or mole that venters into her territory. Some animal rights people believe that all cats should be confined, they can be murderous hunters.

I could not do that to Flo, nature is not pacifistic by nature, and I believe in letting animals be animals whenever it is possible. I would not ever want to domesticate a barn cat.

In the bitter cold of winter, Flo and Minnie come into the house and into the basement, where the temperature is always 50 degrees, summer, and winter. I got down on the ground to sit with her a bit in the heat, I don’t think she’s doing much hunting today.

She and I are pals, the is the first cat to break though my dog-loving screen and catch hold of my heart.