Last weekend we cleaned out the garage. (I traded 31 boxes of books to a local New & Used Bookstore -- for credit, of course!) Some stuff went into the trash barrels -- other "stuff" will go up for sale in the "Pennysaver."

The garage is cat-proof. It is large, has shelves for climbing, and boxes to investigate. Visiting the garage is a whole new experience for "inside cats" who have become a little bored with their predictable -- yet comfortable -- inside lives!

Our morning routine now includes breakfast and "toilettes," then they all gather at the garage door, waiting for their new adventure to begin!

We give them an hour or two of playtime, propping the garage door open so that they can come and go as they wish. We keep a good eye on them, so that no one gets into trouble of any kind. Even so, we do manage to "lose" a kitty every once in a while -- making it necessary for us to call and call, to search and to worry, only to find (after 30 or 40 minutes of looking) a yawning little fox face looking down at us from the rafters.

When we call them, they usually come in, albeit reluctantly. They are so much like little kids, tired and "dirty," who nevertheless do not want to leave the playground!

They have a snack, a long drink of water, and then it is time for a nap, where they dream of mountains to climb and strange dangers to confront!

As for us "mothers," we can then relax and kick back, happy that our babies had a good time!

So much for "playtime" in California cat country!

Copyright © Renee Darvin
October 18, 2001