Of Mice and Chickens

The chickens have finally started laying; small eggs, but eggs nonetheless. It's about damn time, too, as I have all sorts of pumpkin and apple baking to do (not for any particular reason, I just enjoy baking and relish the scents of cinnemon wafting throughout the house). I also need them so that I no longer have to pay for haircuts and eyebrow waxing. My friend, who owns a salon in town, always trades me her services for eggs (with four girls, a husband who likes to eat, and her love of baking she goes through a lot of eggs) but getting only four eggs a day just doesn't cut it.

Art tells me that there is a cat in the barn. We're actually very excited about this, as Kittylicious never returned and Sleuthy has been relocated. Art said that s/he was not friendly, but was doing a hell of a job killing the mice. The mice had gotten out of hand as of late- Art walked in to the barn the other day and he said the mice just looked at him. They didn't scamper or hide, they just sat looking at him with what I assumed to be mocking expressions of disdain because they knew they had the upper hand. We can't set traps because we'd most likely catch a stupid chicken, we can't set out poison because we'd end up poisoning a stupid chicken, and the glue traps just seem cruel (plus, we'd most likely just catch a stupid chicken). The mice knew this and, thus, had no fear. My concern is that they would store their corn and chicken feed in the walls of my house and then have their babies who would use my wiring as teething rings.

I have resolved to not feed, pet or in anyway befriend this new kitty because I know that as soon as I do, it will rely on me to feed it and the mice will again take over. I just can't have that. Sure the kitty might be hungry and a little thin, but that will only provide motivation to catch and eat as many mice as possible*. I'm not even giving it a name- it will only be referred to as "Kitty" or "the cat". See how well I'm doing already? I know I sound resolved, but I know that as soon as I see that poor little thing, my determination will crumble, so I think the only thing to do is stay out of the barn. It will be a hardship, I know, but I think it's best for everyone involved if I never have to witness the poor, hungry Kitty.




*I know that it sounds a little cruel, but I'm trying to convince even myself that it's ok not to feed it.