Cat?

I went out to do a late-night check of the hay in the barn last night about ten o’clock and as I walked into the horse barn, there was an explosive flurry of motion near the ferrets. I froze, then spotted a frozen cat staring back at me. After a second, he had a spirited go at scaling the wall to get out through the roof so I backed hurriedly away to the other end of the horse barn, whereupon he shot towards the exit into the stable shed, carooming off the doorjamb on the way, and scurried away.

I checked everything was ok with the ferrets and quail – which it was – and then put a bit of ferret kibble out in a spare dish for the cat, placing it where I’d first seen the cat standing.

I had the impression (in the gloaming!) that the cat was grey on top and white underneath, possibly somewhat fluffy, and male. He’s very welcome to move in, if that’s what he wants to do, and he’s certainly very welcome to all the mice and rats he can find!

When I went back to the house, he was sitting in the gateway opposite mine, which is just a big field gate, and watching suspiciously.