The BB's wild hair

[cimorene]

I bought little harnesses and leashes for each of the kitties to take them outside with years ago, but because they responded poorly to their first attempts, we never got that far with it until last year when we moved here - first time we've been on the ground floor and had a private yard. So last year I took each of the kitties out on their leashes sometimes, and they got a bit more used to it, but they both remained fairly cautious for most of the year.

Because they were both so cautious initially about going down the steps and into the yard, and moved around the yard so slowly, waxjism was of the opinion that the leashes were superfluous, and would occasionally let one or both cats out in the yard with her while she was in the garden, and do other gardeny things not really paying attention to the cats, which until yesterday mostly went fine. Snookums got intrigued by the driveway a couple of times and started off in that direction at a trot, but I was always able to go after him (at a brisk walk) and call him and pick him up. Every time I thought I couldn't see one of them it turned out they were still right there within a foot of wherever I last saw them, just hidden behind plants or tall grass.

Unlike Snookums, the BB never showed any inclination to trot off. She mostly sat on the stoop or right in front of it, she'd take five minutes to traverse the two meters to the gazebo, and she would spend the whole time in the gazebo munching grass from the edges of it instead of out in the sun. So yesterday when she weaseled out between my feet while I was grabbing Snookums's leash, I let her, and I just took both leashes out and grabbed Snookums to put his on him. But when I looked up again to put hers on her she was nowhere to be seen! I looked behind the tall grass and under the gazebo furniture and started calling her, then I called Wax outside and we locked Snookums up and spent five or ten minutes looking all around the yard calling her. I went and got the can of treats - when I rattle it she'll usually come downstairs at a run to get one.

Wax had just convinced herself the BB was hiding inside and had snuck past me when she plopped down out of the enormous yew bush and started at a brisk clip for the gardening compost heap, and I only saw her because I was looking that direction! Wax had actually been under the apple tree and behind the yew bush calling her part of that time, but because the BB is tiny and black and a little ninja, she didn't find her even though she'd been inside the yew (high up??? it's like two stories high) the whole time.

So she was put inside and now both the cats are only going to be let out with a leash already on them and one adult per cat from now on, like I initially wanted to do based on growing up with cats who would park by the door and try to dart out and run into the yard whenever they got the chance.

ETA:

Comments

[torachan]

Argh! Glad you found her quickly.

I think cats on leashes are so cute and I think at least Jasper would enjoy it, even if the girls might not, but right now all three of them have zero interest in going outside (they don't try to go out when the door is open at all) and I don't want to get them interested in it lest they start trying to dash out without a leash. So I will just have to content myself with admiring the cuteness of other cats on leashes.

[cimorene]

This is a good consideration! Snookums was prescribed outdoor exercise - or, rather, it was suggested - by the vet though because he's diabetic and he doesn't spend as much time playing by himself as the BB. It's been pretty successful in that.