Bud and Zip have never come nose to nose with one another; Bud isn’t allowed to run freely outside, as he likes to chase and kill things, including chickens. Fate is grumpy around cats; she doesn’t hurt them but likes to try to herd them, which doesn’t work out.

Yesterday morning, they all came nose to nose at feeding time. Zip was awaiting his morning food; Fate was ready to go out, and Bud was staring at Zip, who stared right back. It was a standoff. When we came to the door, Zip headed for the barn and his meal; Fate came out to be with the sheep, and Bud stayed in the house, staring. One day, these two (Zip and Bud( will meet. Bud will get a nose swiped.

So far, Zip is afraid of nothing I can see except the sound of tractor-trailers roaring down the road. He stays away from them, as smart barn cats tend to do.

Photo by Maria Wulf