Meet Molly Bolt, the newest member of our family.
NOTE: A molly bolt is a specialized type of fastener with a screw head and expandable sleeve used to fasten objects to drywall. When a molly bolt is screwed into the wall, the sleeve expands, anchoring the bolt in the wall. This really has nothing to do with our cat except he needed a more gender-appropriate name.
We introduced Molly to his new home, the barn, and shut him in for a couple of days so he could adjust to the new digs. The day we expanded his world to include the outdoors, Cricket made a gigantic mistake—she treed him. It took several minutes of coaxing by Bill to get Molly down. Later, when Cricket stuck her nose too close, Molly laced it! He hasn't forgotten and reminds Cricket of that fact often. Cricket gives Molly a wide berth.
Molly Bolt messes with Cricket: He camps out beside the communal pet water bowl because he knows she won’t come near it while he’s there!
Our intent was for Molly to be a barn cat and earn his keep by controlling the mouse and rat population in both barns. However, he makes numerous attempts to upgrade his living accommodations. At some point in his past, he was apparently granted house privileges and free run of the premises, including the kitchen counter-top. Cats are not allowed in the kitchen in this house! Rule enforcement has led to a few alpha male confrontations between Molly and Bill. Molly is a smart cat and knows the boundaries, but obstinate enough to push those boundaries when he’s in the mood. We eliminate temptation by not leaving food out.
We grant house privileges when we are home during the day, but he is fed and sleeps in the barn. Among his favorite places to sack out in the house are:
my chair,
For all his arrogance, feistiness and stereotypical cat attitude, as Bill frequently comments, “Molly Bolt, you’re quite a cat!”