Spooky you Bad, Bad Boy!
So I have spoken in the past that I have let my cat Spooky be an in/outdoor cat as he feels his wild side. After he physically opened the door himself I decided he deserved to be allowed out in the world to run wild when he wants, but I may have overestimated his intelligence to know what the parameters were.
As my life usually goes according to MY plans, I don’t like bumps in the road and lately I’ve been coming upon as many as you would in a parking lot here in Arizona and I don’t appreciate it!
I just assumed Spooky would come home when called, he did in the beginning, and now he isn’t. How dare he!
First my little shenanigan with BC, then this stupid surgery on my shoulder, and wouldn’t you know, my cat has decided to be a dirty stay out!
I usually let him out in the morning for a while, then he comes home looking for me, food and a place to nap. Then in the early afternoon he goes out carousing again and comes home by the late afternoon, early evening. Well, Mister Dirty Stay Out decided to disappear last week until midnight and scare me silly. I had to stay up waiting for him to get home like a recalcitrant child. The only thing is I don’t think you can send him to bed, ground him, take away the TV, or any other of that stuff that really works with children. The only thing I did was grab him when he came in the door and make sure he had all his eyes, limbs and almost cry with happiness that he was fine, and hug him.
So, thinking I’m so smart, of course I can outsmart a CAT! Yeah, ok…I won’t let him go out after about 4-5 pm…well, he did it again. Damn. Yesterday, I let him out before 3, and at about 3:30 I needed to go lay down, so I tried to get him in, to no avail. He wouldn’t answer me. Who the hell does he think he is? I figured ok, it’s early enough…he’ll come home, I’ll let him play and when I get up in a few hours he’ll be ready to run in. Wrong. 11:30 I’m still waiting for him on pins and needles. All the monsters are out at night, the coyotes the javelinas…he still has his claws but I don’t think he stands a chance.
What I don’t understand is he can’t have a girlfriend or boyfriend, he’s been fixed, so what’s he doin? Maybe he’s mad because since I’ve had my surgery, I haven’t been making a big fuss over him, after all, it’s all about ME! Now what do I do? I don’t think he’ll “get” a one on one conversation. Hmmm. I’m working on it.
The Oracle Of Ahwatukee . . . 
I have two black cats. They don’t go out at night alone. People with black cats see another black cat in the dark. We’ve trained our eyes for black blobs in the dark.
I know the stress of letting my cats outside. One reason I love it when it snows in the winter is that I know my cats won’t go very far.
Anyway, here’s what you do. Cats don’t need an introduction to the world. We cat owners do, so that we can lessen the stress of letting them outside on their own.
1) Put the cat on the leash and go outside with your cat for 15 minutes, three times a day. Do this for about a month.
2) Take your cat outside without a leash for 15 minutes, three times a day. Do this forever. If the cat runs away, watch where he/she goes, so that if you ever have to go outside and look for your cat, then you will know where to look.
3) If your cat happens to go under a stationary car and won’t come when you call. Then walk past the car about 10 feet. If you have a close relationship with your cat and likes to go on walks, then she will follow you.
4) If the cat doesn’t follow you, get a neighbor to help you. The cat will be curious enough to walk towards the neighbor.
5) If this fails, use the toy on a string and bounce it in front of her. Be ready to pounce when she sticks her neck out to grab the toy.
6) Teach your cat the words, “home” and “come” You’ll have to say “come” a thousand times, literally, before she move towards you. When you use the word “home” point towards home, when he goes out of bounds.
7) If your cat must fend herself from a neighborhood dog, let her if she is feisty. If she is not feisty, then pick her up and take her inside. Always back your cat up when there is a dog around. Mine knows I will be there in a split second to protect her.
8) Never let a stray come near your cats. As much as it breaks my heart to run a stray away, I will do it. Strays have diseases and my feisty female is hell on four legs when she fights, which is why I don’t allow her to roam. It’s not a pretty sight for either cats. Strays have a hard life anyway without being injured by a tame cat.
Well, those are my eight. I’m sure I will think of more, but these I will add to my blog. Good day!
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Thanks for the advice…now I have a way to go… Evie
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