More gripping drama on “Catio Nights”!
Do you see what I see?
Cat at 12 o’clock high!!! (Zeke and Scooby)
I have seen this collar-less grey and white long hair cat more than once. I saw him once sitting just on the other side of the catio wire in the grass by the two boys. He runs when he sees me.
Tonight’s episode of Catio Nights: “Vigil”
Scooby Zeke
Scooby Zeke
This post is about catio nights.
I only let the cats out in the catio in the dark when I am awake. When I go to sleep every one must come in. Sometimes some coaxing is required, but all in all, they are pretty good about coming in on command. There is a wooded area in the back of my lot, which is of great interest to the cats, because of the birds and other critters that like it out there. Many hours is spent in surveillance. Additionally, Scooby is the only cat that looks up to watch the airplanes flying over the house. The other cats take no notice. Sometimes they hang out until after sundown. Early in the morning when I get up before sun up, they go out again. It is primarily the boys–Scooby and Zeke–who are interested in staying out after dark.
Scooby
Scooby and Zeke
This post is about life in the catio then and now.
THEN: I rummaged around my external hard drive, and pulled out some old catio pre-digital photographs. The catio photos are taken at my previous house, where I originally built the thing. Aside from a few repairs, it is still the same catio. The cats shown are Peep (Maine Coon), Data–long hair orange and white, and Verty–a tabby like Scooby. All crossed over the bridge quite a while back. They can be read about on my In Remembrance page. Interestingly enough in both locations, the catio faces East. My next door neighbors had cats, rabbits, and geese. When coyotes killed them all, I decided my cats were going to be indoor cats from then on. I could not bear losing them. And thus, the catio, or catrun, as I called it then was created.
Old Polaroid of me and cats checking out the new catio for the first time 2001
The above featured photo is a polaroid from 2001, which I repost today as it is the only one I have like this.
Catio closed!
Is it an earthquake? Is it a tornado? Is it a lava flow? No, we are getting a new roof. I do not want pieces of the old roof falling upon your heads along with other dirt. So, we have the catio covered to keep debris out. I do not want to have to go inside to clean it either. You still cannot go out in it. It will be too noisy and scary. And so it was, for some, but not for others. Scooby, who should be retitled Scooby the Fearless, took no notice of the hammering and banging at all, only occasionally looking upwards toward the sound of the occasional big thump. Marigold as well would just as soon sleep until it was over. On the other hand, Opie skulked about, and would sit by me for my magic protection from all scary things. As long as I was serene, no worries. Zeke burrowed into the back of the closet underneath the stairs, and had to be coaxed out. Then he went to his safe home under the bed, where he stayed all day until they quit for the night. It was only two days, and normalcy has resumed as though nothing has happened.
Is this blue bin our new litter box? How will it fit in the door?
Catio Closed! Covered to protect from roof debris. There was a work crew of four
Scooby the Fearless sleeps
Marigold is not disturbed
Opie resting in a somewhat worried fashion
Back to normal
Feline Café 