Tuesday, July 19, 2016

The Not So Great Outdoors

Hi Everyone,

Fo the cat here.  I had such a big scare recently. It was so scary that I think it cost me one of my nine lives.

The door to the outside of our house was accidently left open.  I was walking by and the sounds and smells coming in from the garden were so interesting, I followed my nose out the door and into big trouble.

It started out as a wonderful experience.  I loved feeling the grass under my feet and the sun on my back but remember I’m blind.  I wasn’t outside long when I realized I didn’t know where I was and I could hear other animals all around me. I panicked and ran and ran.  I don’t know how long or how far but it was suddenly night time.

Meanwhile my girl was at home crying because I was gone.  It was too late to come looking for me but early the next morning her Dad did come looking.  He looked and looked and then a nice lady told him she heard a noise coming from a grate in the street.

He looked in the grate and saw that was where I was hiding.  I was so happy when he brought me home again.

As much as I liked being outside at first, it is too scary and I will never, ever go outside again.  There are lots of dangers for cats outside but there is a way for humans to let us experience the outside while keeping us perfectly safe.

All they have to do is get a catio.  In case you hadn’t heard, a catio is an enclosed space that lets cats enjoy fresh air, exercise and simply sit in the sun and watch (or listen to) the birds and other animals.  It’s just an escape proof screened in box but with a little imagination, it can be a really wonderful place.

A catio can be small, fitting in a window, or a big, set in the yard or on a deck.  There are lots of ideas for catios on the internet.   If they are handy with tools a human can build one with a little bit of lumber and some chicken wire.  They can find plans on line or can buy kits that have all the material so they only need to be assembled.

For those who aren’t very good with a hammer, catios can be bought fully assembled.

Add a scratch post, soft pillow and water bowl and your catio can be a vacation paradise for your cat.

I have had enough of the outdoors for the time being so I think I’ll just sit in the window and soak up the sun.

Love,

Fo

Blatant self-promotion  check out the huge selection of cat gift baskets at our website pawpalsboutique.com  My favorite is Cat Nappin' because it comes with a super snuggly blanket that would be nice in a catio.

4 comments:

  1. Hey Marie and Z,
    Nice write up. You are right,; Fo thinks twice about going out these days!
    B, P and M

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  2. Poor Fo. At least her experience can be an example to other cats

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  3. Oh, Fo....you poor baby. I keep telling Meeko and Joshua they don't want to be outside, but you can't convince them. Still, I watch them whenever I open a door. They aren't blind like you, but they don't have any sense. LOL! Take care and stay inside where it is safe.

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  4. Thank you Lali. It would be very scary for any cat. Please tell Meeko and Joshua from me to be very careful and that goes for Jasper too. He could get lost too.
    Love
    Fo

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