Cleo has no interest what-so-ever in leaving the her home. Every time she has left in the past something terrible and traumatizing has happened. She's been to the vet multiple times. She's moved twice. She's been on four airplanes. NOTHING good happens when she leaves her safety bubble. And she has no interest in meeting strangers from the outside.
Lilah however has probably only been outside once in her memory - the day I brought her home from the shelter when she was six months old. She had probably been outside before that - every cat you adopt comes with a tragic back story (left taped inside a cardboard box on the side of the road; tossed in a river; thrown from a car window - not exaggerating here).
Anyway, every time I open the front door she makes a beeline. She doesn't try to run outside, but she does hover nearby and try to see out and I'm afraid that one of these days she is going to try to make a break for it. I always have to shoo her back when I come and go. Does she make the connection that what she sees outside the window can be accessed through that magic portal? I'm not sure.
I'm sure Cleo has sat her down and tried to explain to her multiple times that there is nothing good out there, but she wants to learn for herself.
Her first trip to the vet is going to be a very rude awakening.
10 comments:
I have outside cats and they rarely try to get inside. I think they love the freedom and they pay me back by killing all the mice in a one block radius. But even though I don't know how they feel about the outside/inside thing, I do get the feeling that they think they are smarter then me. Maybe they are :)
My one cat, Angel, always tries to escape and roam the hallway when I come home. Blair on the other hand just doesn't care - she seems pretty happy to stay indoors.
So cute!! Best of luck with Lilah's first vet appointment!
Cat's are really amazing creatures. That's why I've included some in my WIP. Two years ago I had to put one down because of advanced diabetes. The insulin shots I was administering twice a day seized to work. Right now I have dogs cause I'm crazy about the nasty little wildness of dogs, but am still trying to talk hubby into getting another cat. Glad you're following me. Will see you around. :)
A very good description here! My friend moved with her two cats from an aprtment that she had for 15 yaers to a house in the burbs. her cats were 15 and 16 years old at the time. one ventured out all the time and the other was more than happy to just hang out inside. The trip to the vet should be a very telling experience for sure! Your cats are adorable.
Blessings, Joanne
I am still stinging from the loss of my little siamese. She didn't really have an outside/inside preference but she loved to sit on the toilet and meow at me while I showered. Which was a little creepy. BTW, gave you a couple blog awards to enjoy if you are so inclined!
I love that theory, that they think you're just going into another room they're not allowed in. I will go with that for the rest of my life. And tell future animals to their faces - hey yo Imma just head into this TOTALLY SECRET ROOM ...but then I'll feel guilty and buy them a treat.
ANYWAY, can't wait to hear about the vet trip when it happens...I know your wry humor will make it a great story.
Also, congrats on the blog awards! I was all excited when I saw you on the list, I was like ZOMG NO WAY! And happiness abounded out of me. Because you're awesome and definitely deserve them.
My cats don't like the vet more because of the nausea-inducing car ride than anything else. I can't imagine what they'd do on a plane!
When they're let out every once in a while, for a few minutes at a time, they explore very slowly...
My cat likes to meet everyone. She runs outside to meet people walking by and flops on her side so they will pet her. I think she gets it from me.
Our cat used to spend more time socialising outside than inside, sometimes I used to think she only came home to eat inbetween her hectic schedule, lol.
And, I'd like to present you with a Versatile Blogger Award. Please stop by www.clairerobyns.com to check out the post
I had a tabby cat I'd rescued who constantly tried to escape outside. He always came home, but he loved to have adventures. He'd disappear for a couple weeks and I'd be devastated, only to find out months later he'd been living with someone else. He loved riding in cars, so people would return him after he jumped in through an open moon roof and took a ride.
I had two other cats who were happy to laze about on the back porch and not go anywhere. Go figure that it was one of those cats who got out one day and was taken. He'd been out front before and always waited patiently on the front porch until I figured it out and let him in.
I do think they know what's outside and where the door leads, whether in an apartment or a house. But maybe I attribute too much brain power to them? Nah, we're talking about cats, not dogs here. ;-p Any critter that can plot revenge has to have some manner of brains, even if they're just used for evil.
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