Spice the wonder-cat, the head of security, the lead tiger of the house, is an indoor cat. He has no front claws, very few teeth, and when we adopted him at age 11 I signed a declaration promising to keep him inside. It’s for his own safety. I’m not a fan of roaming felines anyway, so it was a no-brainer.Â
But ever since we started spending more time outside within view, on our new deck, he’s been itching to join us. He yells at us, paces back and forth, and stares out at us with eyes that say, “you don’t love me anymore, and it hurts!”
We researched the best ways to allow him to join us while ensuring his safety. There are kitty playpens and invisible fences. Derek suggested chicken-wire or some sort of mesh along the bottom of the railings, which I quickly rejected for aesthetic reasons. After consulting with our local pet-care professional, I purchased a harness and a long line. We tried it for the first time on the weekend.
He wasn’t too enthused about having a collar on, but once I carried him outside, his interest grew. He stretched to his full length and explored, as cats do in new situations. His tail flicked back and forth and he soundlessly tested the limits of the line. It allowed him to go down the side staircase, but only to the bottom and no further. After pacing and crouching across the span for several minutes, he decided it was pretty cool and assumed the lounging position.
I checked him regularly to make sure the harness hadn’t tightened, and he was purring loudly. Of course, this is a cat that even purrs during a veterinary exam. When it was time to go in, Derek had to carry him. He didn’t fight. He wasn’t fussy. He didn’t even seem too disappointed that it was over.
We have agreed to repeat this routine occasionally, and only when we’re going to be on the deck with him. It’s a compromise. He gets some fresh air and new smells and under our watchful eyes, he won’t get hurt. Coyotes, foxes and even a bear have been sighted in Byron over the years. A toothless, clawless senior could be vulnerable to the great outdoors without his pet parents and a little bit of vinyl and metal to keep him safe from harm.