Kitty Dilemma

Our weather is beautiful and warm at the moment, and it's easy to believe that Spring is in the air!  One of things that I'm enjoying most about our warm weather is watching Tugby and Huck react to their first Spring.

Well, technically Tugby will be a year old next month, but I don't believe he was aware of his surroundings this time last year.  On Saturday we had several birds flying around the house and it was funny to watch both cats sit in the living room window.  You can see from their ears that they are absolutely fascinated by what was going on outside.  As the birds flew over our house, both cats turned their heads to watch them fly over the roof, even though they couldn't actually see anything.

Later on Sunday afternoon, we sat and enjoyed the sunshine on our back deck.  We left the door open with the screen door closed, so that the cats could sunbathe and enjoy the view.  Again, they were mesmerized by the scene, as you can see from this photo.  It's interesting to see the personality differences between our two boys.  Tugby is far more laid back in his approach.  He's a little worried about going outside because he spent last summer in a pet store.  He is happy to come outside and sit on our laps and watch the world go by.  Huck wants to be outside.  Right.  Now.  There are flies to catch, and things to chase, and birds to stalk.    It's far too tame in the house for him, he wants to be out in the middle of the action.  


I don't know what we're going to do about letting them outside.  We are on excellent terms with the neighbours on both sides, and don't want to have to worry about anyone's garden because of the boys. Furthermore we lost our last cat, Roxy, because she refused to stay in the house and loved to hunt.  Something she ate disagreed with her, and there was nothing the vet could do to help.  There are a lot of outdoor cats in our neighbourhood so our boys would have to establish their own piece of territory.  Although Roxy was spayed she had several gentlemen callers, and from the way our bushes were sprayed some of them were not neutered.  I don't want to worry about our boys fighting the dominant toms.  But I also love to see cats playing outside, chasing leafs and having dirt baths on the patio.  


As you can see, I'm making a list of pros and cons.  I'm very conflicted about what to do.  Maybe we can find some kind of a kitty cage where Huck and Tugby can play safely and watch everything happen, but where they are protected from the other cats.  We could have them outside when we're in the yard, and bring them in at night.  It may not be entirely to their liking, but it might be an acceptable compromise.  Although Chester enjoyed being outside on a leash this is a very rare for cats.  Because cats are so flexible, it's very difficult to find a harness system that will actually stay on them.  It would be easier to confine them in a cage than to leave them on a leash, I think.  I know that if Huck was consulted he would vote for total freedom, and Tugby would be happy to hang around the yard.