The boys have issues with my open-door policy

One night last week when I went outside to tuck in the herd, Johnny CashCat emerged from the feed room and took a tour of the barn and general vicinity. I was shocked, amazed and thoroughly delighted. The herd was nowhere in sight, and I think Johnny saw it as a safe opportunity to explore. I was wearing my headlight, so it was easy to follow him around. I didn't have my camera to document the momentous occasion, but it looked alot like this:

Johnny kept his eyes on me and I kept my headlight on him. After 15 minutes or so, he went back through the cat door and called it a night. It's hard to know whether he's been on the prowl since then. He gifted me with a fresh pile of entrails one morning last week, so there's a possibility that he's been out hunting. During the day, though, he seems very content hanging out in the feed room with June.

I don't think he's afraid of Lucy and the boys, but he's not very confident when they're around. 

I thought it might be helpful if he could watch them from a distance and get used to their comings and goings, 

so yesterday I parked my chair at the open feed room door and let him observe.

What he saw was a hungry mob willing to do anything to get past me and steal some hay off the floor.

George: How can we grab a snack if you're blocking the door?

Alan: This has lost cause written all over it. I'm outta here.

George: Come on, mom, be a sport.

Me: Forget it. You're not coming in here. 

George: It will only take a second. I'll get some hay, the cat can experience my cuteness up close – it's a win-win.

George: Geez...and they call me stubborn.

As I went back to the house, the boys were trying to convince Johnny to slip them some hay through the cat door.