Maggie Goes Walkies....

Methinks Maggie has spring fever...or is just tired of being a cat without adventures..She looks out her window on the world and sees birds, squirrels and rabbits out there that she would like to chase; she sees outdoor cats roaming free..and she wistfully watches this one black cat that goes walking with its owners and their two dogs...Yes..the cat goes too..trots, leash-less, along behind them...( much, I expect, to the annoyance of the two dogs-on-leash) takes little detours to sniff interesting things and then runs to catch up, but always maintains the same respectful distance behind. There is a pecking order, it seems, even in pet-walking! 

Maggie is nine years old and has never had an adventure. I adopted her when she was three and she was an indoor cat then and has been ever since. She has never experienced the great outdoors, let alone the not-so-great outdoors.. and I think it is getting to her...This spring, she has slipped out the door several times...either when someone is leaving and we get chatting on the doorstep, or I step out onto the porch, always shoe-less, to take a photo of a rabbit or a coyote etc that happens to be on the lawn. So far I have managed to catch her before she truly makes an escape! 

Today, whilst I was focusing on a cardinal at the feeder, she did it again - but this time I felt sorry for her and let her explore the deck for a few moments.. she had a great time exploring the secrets of our back deck, as dilapidated as it is, and so much in need of repairs.. 

I have had both outdoor and indoor cats over the years and all of them had adventures..Jasper and Whistler traveled by car and boat to spend their summers at the cottage - on an island - and still managed to get lost in the bush on the mainland?  Georgie, my indoor cat, drove to Phoenix with me for the winter..4 1/2 days on the interstate  each way..you can imagine the CAT-astrophies we experienced on THAT trip...but at least Georgie got to see the American west...Maggie has been nowhere...

I wonder if I should try her in a harness and leash - I still have Georgie's and it just might fit..but then, will I be opening a whole can of worms by introducing her to the joys of the great outdoors?..Will she ever be happy indoors again?