Maxwell the Cat
He is the self-appointed Chair of our Hospitality Committee, and the cat most likely to talk his way into snuggling in your tent or on your yoga mat. He was also once a homeless cat who needed help.
I have always had a soft spot for cats who need homes. The very first animal who was “mine” was a calico barn cat that I named Fluffy. Thus began my lifelong love for felines, and a pronounced tendency to fall for the misfits. From one-eyed Laura and obese Louie who shared my childhood bedroom — to three-legged Demelza and snaggle-toothed Cash Cat who now reside in the farmhouse — I have taken in countless cats who were desperately in need of help. Which explains why I currently have an army of 27 cats living at Harrison Farm . .
Photo by Rose Hoffer Photography. Rose is a dear friend of the farm!
One of our most distinguished feline residents is Maxwell. Like all our barn cats, Maxwell is expected to contribute to the farm as a hunter. With 700 animals on-site, we have a LOT of animal feed to store, which inevitably tempts rodents. Thanks to our army of cats, these rodents are kept under control. With 27 cats on the farm, they each tend to stake out their own territory. Maxwell loves our little event space, The Hangar. He is usually either napping in The Hangar, or welcoming guests to it. This has earned Maxwell the title “Mayor of the Hangar”, in his role as the self-appointed Hospitality Committee Chair for Harrison Farm. Maxwell enjoys snuggling on yoga mats, posing for photos, and relaxing in the sunshine. He particularly loves the campers who visit the farm, and Maxwell has managed to talk his way into sleeping snuggled up inside many of their tents!
Maxwell did not always have such a happy life. Years ago, he was a feral cat living with his girlfriend & their kittens in an abandoned house that was being used for drug activity. Thankfully, an awesome rescue group called Angels Assisting Felines managed to get this cat family to safety. Everyone got fixed. Mama got adopted, and the kittens got adopted. Maxwell was living in a foster situation, and was tearing up the inside of the house. It was obvious that he wanted an outdoor lifestyle. The rescue group reached out to ask if we could take him in, and thus Maxwell began his reign as Mayor of The Hangar.
One of my favorite photos ever of Maxwell was taken when he spent a weekend hanging out with a family that was camping at the farm in November of 2020. We started hosting campers that summer, as people began venturing back into the world while mindful of pandemic restrictions. That year, many of our campers were local to Columbus, and were looking for comfortable adventures. This particular family lived near Columbus, and brought their camper down to the farm for the weekend. Maxwell LOVED them, and moved right into their campsite. Despite it being a chilly weekend, I was impressed in particular by the youngest daughter who wanted to meet all the animals. The family left an incredibly kind review of the farm after camping with us, and then reached out a few months later to inquire if their daughter could start volunteering at the farm. This young lady proved capable beyond her years from the very start — and she is now our beloved Chicken Farmer Justine. Justine has successfully raised many chicks & ducklings herself, she continues to volunteer at the farm on a regular basis, and she is the vice-president of our Fearless Farmers 4H Club. Maxwell claims this is all due to his high standards of hospitality for campers!
I had to laugh recently when someone learned how many cats were at Harrison Farm, and rather disapprovingly asked me: “Haven’t you ever heard of spay & neuter?” Our cats are ALL fixed. If I am asked to help a cat in need, I require that it be fixed before it arrives to the farm. And I am incredibly blessed that my friends Debbie and Amanda have stepped up to find vet care for stray cats that have wandered up to the farm. The reality is that there are many cats who need homes in this world. I know that I do not need to take in every cat. But my heart is too soft to say no when an animal truly needs help. We have plenty of space and I have plenty of love to give. I am profoundly grateful to all the friends of the farm who pitch in by donating cat food to the farm. My heart is always bigger than my wallet. I could not provide a home for Maxwell & 26 other cats if it was not for the wonderful friends who help to make it possible!
