Norman the Lovable, Fluffy, and Friendly OUTDOOR Cat

For those of you who are not aware, we are blessed with several adorably fluffy barn cats at our barn on campus. These cats live in the equestrian center and their

Photo by Kerri Bennet '17

Photo by Kerri Bennet ’17

daily activities include lounging in the sun, occasionally catching mice, and providing overall entertainment for staff and students.

Recently it has come to my attention that one of these delightful felines has made his way over to the residence halls. A small tabby cat who is commonly referred to as Norman (or “Feather duster” as I know him due to a past incident with his tail) has been hanging around the outside of Disert Hall.

Norman is very friendly, adores belly rubs, and will cuddle with you for as long as we capture your attention. Norman himself is not the problem. The problem is students are allowing him inside, feeding him cat food, and encouraging his presence in the hall.

Do not get me wrong, I love Norman! But Norman being near the residence halls is a big issue. He lives outside and as much as I love him, also has a huge chance of carrying parasites and germs into the dorms. He also runs a huge risk of getting hurt by constantly crossing the parking lot. I know the speed limit is 15 mph but you and I know that everyone flies around the parking lot at around 30 mph at minimum. There is a huge likelihood that a student could run over Norman by accident and he could be seriously hurt. Norman is not the brightest bulbs and will run across the lot without concern.

So please, for the sake of Norman and not breaking any policies, return Norman to the barn if you see him hanging around. There is plenty of food, water, and heating for all of the cats overnight. I promise the barn staff takes great care of Norman so visit him at the barn, not in the sun-lounge.

Leave a Reply