I want to tell you that this touches my heart every time I see it in the morning. We think Minnie and Flo are two aging barn cats roughly the same age.

Minnie was born a feral kitten; Flo lived on the farm for years before we saw her. Over the years, they have come to know and trust us, and we have come to know and love them.

Flo always seemed able to care for herself, and Minnie was often too sweet for her good. Some predator tore up her rear leg so badly we had to amputate it.

These two were never seen together and marked out separate territories, each one honored. When they met, they hissed and spat; sometimes, the fights were nasty.

Now, in the autumn of their lives, these two old barn cats struggle to stay warm as their blood thinks and their bones narrow. On chilly nights like last night, they are always together, always working to keep warm.

It is a sad thing to see and a beautiful thing to see. Perhaps one day, we humans will learn from the animals and love and care for one another and keep each other warm.