Zip was waiting for me on the back porch table when I got home today.

He seems very at home here; he loves stalking and hunting in the pasture, hanging out with the donkeys, sleeping in the woodshed, and hanging out on the back porch. He loves hounding the pigeons in the barn.

When I sat down to see him, he jumped on the table, and I scratched and stroked him. He saw something move in the grass and took off like a shot. I missed him and was happy to see him.

I love how content Zip is with his life on the farm. Our farm babysitter said Zip was easy and fun. He wasn’t afraid of her, eagerly awaited his feeding, and rubbed against her legs several times. She was charmed.

I’ve learned one thing about my animals – don’t get excited when you go away – leave – and they will respond in kind. Slobber and weep when you go out or on vacation and say goodbye ten times, and another neurotic animal will be born who surprises their owners by needing tranquilizers when you go out. That has never happened to an animal of mine, or a dog or a cat.

Generally speaking, I believe separation anxiety to be a human neurosis, too often blamed on the dog or the cat. They reflect us; we are the mirrors they look in. The bigger fuss we make over leaving, the more anxiety and confusion the dog or cat will feel.

Zip is in the right place. He doesn’t like other cats much and appreciates being an alone cat.

He loves attention two or three times a day and then takes off to hunt and explore. When he’s tired, he curls up in a ball and sleeps. When it’s cold, he curled up in some paper boxes with blankets we’ve put down for him. He shows no interest in coming into the house, which suits us perfectly.

We have no interest in bringing him inside. I would miss those desperate messages from cat lovers who think me monstrous for not wanting Zip in the house. I don’t see Zip having a problem with it.

We have the same ideas about friendship – avoid the extremes and keep things in the middle.

Cats do three things – hunt, eat, and sleep. Now that I’m paying attention, I’m struck by how remarkable these animals are: intelligent, self-sufficient, fast and agile, and bloodthirsty. Zip has reached into my life and touched it deeply. I was thrilled to see him waiting for me when we came home.