Since we've adopted tiny Tabitha Fluffybutt we've had to make some adjustments to our outdoor procedures. We used to just open the back door as soon as we got home, and the girls would wander in and out at will. Now, though, we have to be careful - tiny Tabitha is small enough to walk out through the openings in the chain link fence, and isn't street-smart enough to realize that's not a good idea.

Consequently, we now slide a barrier across the door. It's a couple of feet high, so Amelia and Cleo have no trouble leaping over it.

Tabitha doesn't like the idea of being excluded from anywhere. When one of the big girls meows for the barrier to be slid aside (as they sometimes do when they're too lazy to jump), Tabitha will try to squeeze through and gets quite incensed when I block her way.

I decided one day last week to let her get a small taste of the outside. I slid the barrier aside, and stood to watch what she would do. She was thrilled initially, and went bouncing out to the back porch. Once she got about 9 inches outside the door she stopped - looked around - looked overhead - looked around again - and darted back into the house. I guess the Out was a bit bigger and scarier than she anticipated!

Copyright © Dan Mahoney
June 27, 2003