#TBT: The 10 Commandments of Being a Barn Cat

It’s not a real barn until there’s at least one.

Photo by Kristen Kovatch.

Thou shalt leave thy headless mice, dismembered small birds and unidentified pieces of rodentia in empty shoes, helmets or purses so that thy humans shall magnify thy glory and appreciate thine offering.

Thou shalt leave thy pawprints across every hood of every car in the barn parking lot.

Thou shalt leave no lunge whip unchased, especially if it’s in use at the time.

Thou shalt always sleep on the fancy saddle pad and shed as much as possible, even when thy humans provide with a fluffy cat bed.

Thou shalt always follow the warmest patch of sunlight for thy naps, even when it shall lie in the middle of the aisle.

Thou shalt wait to leap out of the dark corner of the arena when the green, spooky horse is being ridden.

Honor the indoor arena, for it is thy litter box.

Thou shalt always be present when someone breaks something, borrows someone else’s tack without asking or hopes that “nobody saw that,” for you are the cat and you are always watching.

Remember the horse’s back, for it is the ultimate place to sleep on winter nights.

Thou shalt enjoy thy nine or more lives to thy fullest potential.

Go barn cats. Go riding.

Barn dog lover? Don’t miss “The 10 Commandments of Being a Barn Dog.”