Cat Adventures

Sometimes I feel a bit sorry for my two cats, since they are indoor critters. I used to take them out on a leash when I lived at my other house; since moving here, just haven't done that. Every night they sit in front of the doggie door that leads to the back porch/yard, sometimes poke at it, trying to get out. I treated them with Revolution a couple days ago, and felt it was time they got out to explore.

Late yesterday afternoon I let them out to roam in the fenced backyard. I stayed out there, walked around with them, then sat on the porch to watch them.

First they slunk around, sniffing, but all of sudden, both just began racing around, realizing they could run, run, run to their heart's content. Bitty ran up the wood fence, slunk along the top looking over it and all around other yards. Slinky never attempted the fence, but did run up a tree, then shot back down. Missed a pix of that, since she was too fast for me. However, when Bitty came back to the ground, she raced up a tree and paused -- at which time I snapped a picture.

This went on for over an hour, no attempt by either to leave the yard. I went in to get me a tall glass of ice tea, and of course, when I returned Bitty was gone! I figured she'd went over the fence, and called her - nothing. I thought she'd come back in time, so Slinky and I went into the house. When Bitty hadn't come back in an hour, I went out and walked along the fence, calling her. Finally heard her mewling at one corner of the fence, apparently in the yard next door. Coaxing her didn't help; she was stumped, didn't seem to know how to get back over the fence.

I had to go next door, ask for access to their chain link fenced yard, and find Bitty. She was crouched under a big corner bush, but came right to me when I saw her...at which point I put her atop the fence and she went down into my yard. By the time I got back to the yard, Bitty was sitting calmly on the back porch, looking at me as if to say, "What? You knew that would happen, didn't you?!" LOL

At any rate, I will probably be allowing them out a short time in the late afternoon, but ONLY with my supervision, keeping a close eye on them.

Here's photos from the adventure. Click to enlarge.

They spent a LOT of time doing this, sniffing and nibbling on grass

They also checked every inch of the yard, including the back porch, garage and dog kennel

Slinky, preparing to race up a tree

Bitty up a tree, photo not great... I was across the yard, and the focus/distance blurred it somewhat

Bitty enjoying the neighbor's fig tree hanging over my fence

Bitty looking at top of the carport: "Hey, I see a street, more houses and wait! Oh no, stray cats!!!"

They sure were interested in the grape vine

Bitty heading to the corner of fence where she apparently went over later; I found her on the other side under a corner bush

And that's all she wrote, folks!