Austin on the outside...

Oh dear... this boy cat of mine, Austin... Last week I left a window open while I was gone for the whole day, without realizing that the screen was open too. When I came home, my cat Austin was nowhere to be found inside and when I realized that he had gone out the window, I was so upset. I ran back outside then, and it was dark, but there was Austin, looking like he'd been on a trek all day -- a very happy boy. He came right in. Through the door.

Fast forward to this morning.... he slipped out the back door without permission (he never has permission, by the way). In my bathrobe, in the rain, I went out after him, but he danced away down the yard. Oh he was so happy with his freedom. By the time I put on jeans and actual shoes, he had scampered into a good hiding place. I couldn't find him anywhere. Kind of upsetting. I don't let my cats outside unsupervised. I went back outside several more times, shook the food bag, clinked on the food tin... nope. Austin was on his own.

Five hours later, this is what I saw... naughty Austin had come to the window he went out of last week, calling out for me to let him back in. Within 5 minutes he was sound asleep on the couch, his adventure was over for today.

"Hellooo?! Can I come back in?" ( photo / image / picture from daisybeans's Garden )

Kids!

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Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence

Well, I must tell Austin about your comments about him. Yes he looked cute and innocient and I ahd to laugh, but Dooley and Sjoerd, yup, it's guilt and worry on his face too! I thought it was funny that he came to the window and peered in instead of to the door. So he came in with a pretty bad limp and a tender front paw. He is not the most agile of cats (don't tell him I said that)... I may need to take him to the vet if he is still not walking on it this a.m.

Sjoerd, I know you weren't happy to see your kitty outside. What if she darted away from you... oh, I hate that feeling. Maybe your loud voice was enough to remind her that the outside is bad, bad, very bad for kitties. Mine are both inside kitties too. Missy has no interest in the great outdoors (and her previous owner declawed her so she cannot be outside). I got her at age 11. Austin just came to me last December and he's about 4. I found him sleeping on one of my porch chairs one evening. He was still there a week later and it was about to get very cold, so he had to come in. I tried to find his owner but to no avail. He's a wonderful cat so I'm sure someone missed him. Since he'd had a taste of the outside before he came here, it's harder to keep him from slipping out the door when I go out or in. Maybe since he hurt his foot, he'll be more inclined to stay inside. But regardless, after yesterday, I put his collar with tag and phone number on him in case he escapes again.

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Daisybeans/MaryAnn

"Once the relation between poetry and the soil is well established in the mind, all growing things are endowed with more than material beauty." -Elizabeth Lawrence