After re-locating our pony farm from Illinois to Ohio, I knew I had to get a barn cat. You just cannot have a pony barn without a barn cat. The two go hand in hand. A friend I had met after moving here took me to the local pet food store to show me how to get there. After walking in the store, I noticed some cats in cages and asked her why they were there. She said they had a co-adoption program with the Ohio Licking County Animal Shelter to help find homes for cats. Especially cats that are close to their euthanasia date.
I walked over and looked at all three cages, but my eye was drawn to a big fluffy tiger striped cat looking at me intently. Much to my dismay I saw he was at the end of the line. His euthanasia date was within the next 24 hours. He looked at me and tried to meow and all that came out was a croak. I asked the cashier how I could adopt him. She gave me a lengthy 15 page adoption contract which I filled out on the spot. His adoption fee had been lowered from $55. to only $25. because he was so near his euthanasia date. He was already neutered and had all of his vaccinations. He was perfect! The cashier looked the form over and I paid his fee. I thought that was all there was to it. Little did I know that this was not the end of the adoption process.
We got our newly adopted cat home and made him a bed in the tack room with plenty of food and water. Initially shy at first, he warmed to us quickly and we adored him. Over the next week he claimed the barn as his kingdom and came running to us every time we entered the barn. I did worry about his inability to meow and people always laughed when they heard him attempt to meow in greeting. We named him Barn Kitty which people thought was odd but somehow it just fit.
About a week later I got a call from the Licking County Animal Shelter wanting Barn Kitty back. They did not deem it a proper home for a cat to live in a barn. The employee stated they only adopted cats out that would live in houses not barns. I had answered all the questions in the adoption paperwork honestly and stated that he would live in the barn. Finally at my breaking point I exclaimed to the shelter employee that Barn Kitty would much rather live in my barn than be euthanized. I begged her to call my veterinarian or come visit my farm to prove that our barn was a great home for a cat. I was in tears thinking of giving Barn Kitty back.
A couple days later an employee from the Licking County Animal Shelter called and said although it was against their adoption policy, they would let the adoption stand since my veterinarian verified that our barn was an excellent home environment for a cat. I was so relieved and had to run to the barn to give Barn Kitty a kiss and hug. They also said they would send a representative to visit our farm in the next two weeks. Oddly no one ever came to check out our farm or Barn Kitty.
A few weeks later our veterinarian came to do some routine work on the ponies. He wanted to meet Barn Kitty since he was the veterinarian the animal shelter had called. He was instantly charmed by Barn Kitty and happy that he had a great home. I thanked him for his help. He couldn’t give us a firm diagnoses of why Barn Kitty couldn’t meow but his guess was that someone had choked him and damaged his voice box.
Five years later Barn Kitty is still with us and the king of the barn. His meow has gotten a little bit better but will never be normal. But we love him just the way he is.