Cats Training to Do Nothing

A sheep farm in Kansas has a working situation that has now escalated to two cats. Along with the border collie who actually moves the flock, there is a senior barn cat named Duke who long ago appointed himself assistant herder, and as of this spring a young cat named Petey whom Duke appears to be personally training in the role. The farmer says neither cat contributes anything and the flock regards both of them as scenery. Duke takes the far flank in his usual crouch, and Petey now crouches a few feet behind Duke, copying him exactly, learning a job that does not exist from a cat who cannot do it. The dog, per the farmer, "has simply accepted that there are two of them now." FARM'S SELF-APPOINTED 'HERDING CAT' IS NOW TRAINING A SECOND CAT TO ALSO NOT HELP

A sheep farm in Kansas has two barn cats, Duke and Petey, crouching behind a flock of sheep while a border collie does the actual herding. Duke has appointed himself a herding assistant and is training Petey to imitate him, even though neither cat helps at all. The joke is that the cats are earnestly learning and performing a completely useless job, while the dog has resigned itself to their presence. EN: A sheep farm in Kansas has two barn cats, Duke and Petey, crouching behind a flock of sheep while a border collie does the actual herding. Duke has appointed himself a herding assistant and is training Petey to imitate him, even though neither cat helps at all. The joke is that the cats are earnestly learning and performing a completely useless job, while the dog has resigned itself to their presence.

• @memetutorial / 20809 2026-07-08