Meet Gabby Cat

Everyone talks about the pond behind our barn, but you never get to see it. Not that you can really see it here, but take my word for it, it’s behind the brush. Really. Xena’s checking it out here, but it’s too cold for a swim.

Two days after Christmas, I discovered that we have a new family member too: our very own bona fide Barn Kitty.

She’s not just pretty and friendly, but she’s in good shape – and she gets that way by eating mice, which is just what you want a Barn Kitty to do.

I don’t think she really knows what to think about Xena coming to the barn with me.

But she was very friendly to me – I think cats come equipped with a sucker detector sometimes. And it works better if they have a beautiful coat like this kitty obviously does.

She’s still with us a couple of days later, so we’ve started giving her a little bit of food to tide her over until her next big juicy mouse.

And since she hangs around outside with Xena, and because she’s so talkative, we’ve named her Gabby Cat.








We’re still not sure what Chloe thinks of this arrangement. Othello walked out the front door with me one day and wound up nose-to-nose with Gabby Cat, and I don’t think he liked it. (It probably didn’t help that she wanted to get into Othello’s house with him.)

It’s also hard to tell how Xena feels about Gabby, ironically.

She likes to get as close to her as she can, though I think it’s more out of curiosity than trying to chase or catch her.

And if Othello’s that insecure about it, he can always hide out in Fort Othello. This is actually our old blue sofa, upon which is leaning a bed headboard we’re no longer using and are waiting for someone to pick up.

It’s curiously become a de facto dirty clothes/Christmas wrapping remnant pile over the past week or two – and secret headquarters of the black cat. You have to admit, it’s good camouflage for him.