Grounded

Catzee's Mom here. I'm going to write her post today as I am only able to explain the title of this post from my point of view and not hers.

It started at dinner time. Usually both cats supervise dinner preparations, the setting of the table, and sitting down to eat. On this particular night it was only Rascal. I wasn't especially worried because when Catzee crashes for a nap, then she's out!

Both cats follow this routine because they each get a few treats at the beginning of dinner, and neither one ever wants to miss out. It was puzzling that Catzee wasn't there, because she loves her Temptations.

So I called her. No response. I called again, but still nothing. I got up to look. I looked in all her favorite nap spots but she was nowhere to be found.

At this point I had a funny feeling, so I said to The College Kid, "I think we'd better go look outside under the balcony." We grabbed our shoes, ran out the door, and down the stairs.

We both called her but no answer. So I started to look under the bushes and sure enough, she was squatting under a large bush, peering at me with huge amber eyes. I called her and reached to pick her up but she backed away. I almost panicked at this point, trying to figure out how the two of us were going to surround her and get her before anything else happened.

But the second time I called she recognized me and came to me. We quickly brought her in and a good looking over revealed nothing wrong; no cuts, abrasions, limping. In fact she was ready for her Temptations and then another trip outside.

How it happened is easy to speculate because she is wild to jump after bugs. She demolished the resident spider's web early on and catches all manner of flying creepy crawlies, proudly bringing them in to show off. So I can imagine her jumping after one with her usual abandon, only to fall on this (view looking down from the balcony):

As you can see, we fortunately have large dense bushes under our balcony, thick and leafy enough to break a small cat's fall.

Unfortunately, she's not allowed out there anymore. She's been "grounded" in more ways than one.

This is not going over with her very well at all.

She begs and pleads to be let out. And if we won't let her out that door, then she tries for this one:


I feel so badly for her. She is such a hunter at heart. I think she would make a superb barn cat, and both DH and I are sorry that we don't have a few acres and a barn to offer her at this time.

The only solution I can come up with at the moment is perhaps taking her out on walks on a harness and leash. Rascal hates a leash, but I think Catzee is young enough and interested enough to train to one. Does anyone have any experience with this? She's about 6 months old and 8 pounds. Do they make harnesses small enough for her?

I would love to take her out for walks and I think she'd be a happier kitty if allowed to do so.