Zip had a busy and friendly morning. He met Bernie, our UPS driver, and they became good friends. He is taking over the chairs on the back porch where Minnie used to sleep. He caught his first rat outside near the woodshed and is earning his keep.
(Above, Zip touches nose with our plastic horned owl, to my bewilderment. The owl is now in the barn, scaring pigeons). Zip wants to check out every corner of the farm.
Zip is careful of new things. He pauses, stares, hides, emerges, and charms—every time. Everyone I know is asking to come and meet him. I never expected to have such a social barn cat. Zip is the most photogenic animal I think I’ve ever had (except for Red); he is everywhere and nowhere all at once. We had our morning scratch and he followed me out into the barn this morning and ran between my legs.
Congratulations on having a Once-in-a-Lifetime Cat. Or, perhaps you’re enamored of the first-of-this-kind-cat and that is perfectly fine. I’ve been lucky enough to live with two of them: first was my college landlady’s cat and the second was a stray off the street.
Wow! rat killer: that makes him One Awesome Cat. Those guys know how to kill also. The cat pretty much gets on shot at it.
I am very happy for you and Maria that Zip is living with you.. I’ve often suspected that someone is in charge of this sort of thing, and sends you the animal you need.