Nefer's Big Adventure. Not actually worth reading, really.

[telophase]

Today we are making short ribs on the grill. That is not particularly relevant to Nefer's Big Adventure, except that it meant we were both outside for a while, after the cast iron smoker box filled with wood chips caught fire (wood chips from last time we grilled, which we forgot about changing out, oops). We filled it with salt to smother the flames, and then manhandled the small box to the pavers that the grill is parked on, flipped the lid open, and decided to watch it for a while to ensure that it wasn't going to blossom back into flames.

Toby went back inside to get something, and noticed Nefer standing near the door, interested, and said "Do you want to go outside?" Nefer indicated that yes, she would like to go outside. So he got the harness, and Nefer indicated that yes, she would like to go outside but that she would prefer not to wear the harness. As this was not an option, we gently wrestled her to the ground, her protesting, and fastened the harness on. Once we got the back door open, she more-or-less forgot about the harness and slunk out. And proceded to spend the next 20 minutes or so exploring the porch, the side of the back yard where the bird feeders are (the bushes right under the feeder got a really thorough sniff), and then led us--we switched off holding onto the leash--around the north half of the yard, beahind every bush she could, especially if it was prickly. She laid down on the stone tiles in front of the deck, on the deck, and on the concrete of the covered porch portion. And in the dirt once, although she didn't go so far as to indulge in a dust bath.

And that was Nefer's big adventure today. Sora is slightly jealous, and wanted to sniff her feet, but Nefer squawked at him, and he left off. I told him to sniff my shoes, as I'd been in the same places Nefer had been, but that wasn't an acceptable substitute.

Now, wasn't that story thrilling and exciting? It was the highlight of your day. I'm off to make cast-iron skillet cornbread now.

Comments

[ashenmote]

Was actually worth reading.

[telophase]

:D

[lrodell.livejournal.com]

Yay for kittyventures, and yay for cornbread! (That's my favorite way to bake it, too--it's just *better* in a cast-iron skillet!

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Yeah--getting the sides nice and crusty is awesome. :)

Nefer thought she might like to go outside again, but neither of us is up to wrangling the harness on her, then standing around as she sniffs everything, so we are disappointing her. :)

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

"Why yes, I *would* like to go outside."
"But, but what is that buckle-y thing in your hands?"

Ah, I have to move soon so I can surrender to have a cat again. ;-)

Poor Sora. But he jumps at the movement of the sun, no? (Given my sib's dog barks at stop signs, this does not seem odd to me.)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Eventually Nefer shouold associate the harness with getting to go outside, and at least not complain too much. We hope.

We have a harness for Sora, too, but we got it right about the same time he had his tooth out and was Horribly Traumatized by the whole thing, so we opted not to traumatize him further with the harness. But it's been long enough, we should probably try it on him.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

The black cat loves her harness and will walk around forever with it. Gray cat will walk about three steps and then lay on her side and REFUSE TO MOVE further. REMOVE ME FROM THESE SHACKLES!

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Hee! Nefer slinks reeeeally low to the ground until she's distracted by a bunch of new smells and sounds!

[lady-noremon.livejournal.com]

I loved this :} It really made me smile.

Sora should be able to get used to a harness after awhile, once he realises it doesn't mean vet & instead is for ouuuuuuuutsiiiiiiiiide. All 3 of my brats are harness trained, and I used to use the harness to take them to the vets. But when Nicolas had his urinary troubles, he associated the harness with OH GOD THE OVERNIGHT BUSINESS, so he got to be terrified of just hearing the harness' jingling. Now he goes to the vets' in the cat carrier, and after months of work Nick gets excited for the harness again, because it means he's going outside. Of course my brats pretty much just eat grass, and Minnow rolls in the gravel.

Did Nefer graze like a goat too? Have you considered getting a lead & just tying them out? I tie mine out, with a bowl of water, and keep checking on them.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Hopefully! But Sora is our SPESHUL SNOWFLAKE and there's no telling what he'll do!

We have too many local cats coming into the yard for me to be comfortable with tying them out, because they wouldn't be able to get away if they got attacked.