Guess who showed up at the barn yesterday?

[Bayard]

He says his name is Thomas, but his friends call him Tommy. I'd say around 8 wks old. We've also had an old tom cat hanging around lately (there's good eats here!) and I suspect Tommy had followed him here. They seem to be on good terms (the other barn cats are skeptical.) No sign of mom or other kittens.

Both have a little white spot on their chests. We've been calling the tom, Spot (score one for originality). Haven't been able to get closer to him than 10 feet, but he's chatty. If he hangs around long enough, I'll trap him and take for neutering/shots. There will be no problem getting Thomas in a crate--he climbs my leg!

[Polly Hennessey]

1. Looks like Thomas is set to become a most handsome

fella 🐈‍⬛

[Katcat]

19. Little fella

With big feet too. He might grow into a huge kitty

[Midnight Writer]

2. Hard to resist one so cute

[MuseRider]

3. I would guess

at this point in time that that little fella is yours.

[Permanut]

4. Looks like you have passed his interview..

and now you have been adopted - again.

Been there, done that, it's always an honor to be adopted

[AllaN01Bear]

6. like.

[AllaN01Bear]

5. sez aww.

[niyad]

7. What a little cutie!!! Clearly, he is keeping you.

[hermetic]

8. Aww, he's adorable!

Thank you for taking care of him and his uncle.

[Duppers]

9. He's certainly adorable! 😻

And he looks inquisitive and intelligent.
Yep, I'd say he's a keeper!

Start a fund drive for his shots & neutering, and I'll certainly pitch in.

😺😸

[wendyb-NC]

10. He's very cute, with blue grey tabby coat.

[Hope22]

11. What a sweetheart!

💗💗😁

[Ladythatvotesblue]

12. Thomas

Awwww. so cute.

[BumRushDaShow]

13. He's kneading the paver

Looks like he needs to knead!

(sorry I had to )

[maynard]

14. Getting the job done

My friend did not have a barn cat. One day a tabby shows up looking for a handout. Husband says to the cat that if it wants to stay it has to start catching mice. Cat disappears and returns 30 minutes later with a mouse. 3 weeks later she gives birth to 4 kittens. Mama gets to stay and all 4 kittens have new homes.

[Model35mech]

15. I have a farm off a county lane with the eponymous sign "Deadend" .

People regularly drop off cats which also regularly aren't ready for a feral existence. Some people do this thinking cat/mousers are always welcome around a farm, which on some farms might be true.

Not true for me. I've learned dumped cats bring legal and financial obligations if one "gets involved."

So, I don't intervene in what over 30--sh years is now a recognizably never ending traffic of unwanted/problem cats.

For me I see them 1000 feet from the house or garden and note their appearance as "another" cat. Then a week or three later I see them failing or find them flattened on the hard road.

[Bayard]

17. That's sad

I've lost track of how many, "barn cats," we have now. Most of them hang out around the front porch, where Mr. Bayard built them a palatial cedar cat house. Luckily, I vaccinate everybody on the farm myself.

Several years ago, we hauled everybody to a discount community spay/neuter clinic. I think it was 15 then? The kitties that have trickled in since have been one at a time, so affordable.

Actually, Thomas is the first newbie we've had in quite a long time.

[Model35mech]

18. It's quite a thing you do for them, near heroic humanity

really.

[Whatthe_Firetruck]

16. Such cute toes

Look how long they are!

[bluescribbler]

20. He is adorable

You're lucky he chose you.

[appleannie1]

21. He is a cutie. He will grow to be a good looking cat.

[calimary]

22. Awwwwwwww... little sweetie!

Glad he found you, Bayard!

[Bayard]

23. Roh roh.....

I couldn't dissuade him from following me back to the house today. Some of the porch kitties touched his nose. The dogs chased him, which is not a bad thing, as long as they don't hurt him. I was watching. He arched his back and made tiny hisses--at 2 Great Pyrenees.

Its not safe for him to be going back and forth. We have coyotes, foxes, hawks, owls. I tried to talk a friend into taking him, but her husband, (the cat lover,) doesn't want to risk another one dying. Eventually.

[Niagara]

24. Enchanting!