I have decided that my new little barn cat, who turned up a few days ago, is not feral. After only five days of feeding her, she purrs like crazy when she sees me and rolls over and rubs herself all over the walls as soon as I turn up with her food, and eats with me only a foot away from her. She is still nervous, but sniffs my fingers if I lie my hand by the bowl and does not flinch if my hand moves slowly up and just ruffles her fur. Today I actually petted her ears. I can only think she was dumped on the top road, about a half mile from my barn, and somehow made her way down to it. It is across two fields but would be the first building she would come to. She is in good condition too, not like a feral would be after the weather and conditions we have had. So now I have to decide whether to keep her in the barn (I do need a barn cat and she already likes being with the ponies as she is often sitting above their stall) or take her into the house and introduce her to the others. I am going away at the end of the month for three weeks, and I am not sure what will be easier for the cat sitter either!