Cathood

Having a cat has turned out to be a lot like having a kid, or a lot like what I imagine having a kid would be like. The first week we had him he would wake us up every two hours at night. He would meow and walk around the perimeter of our bed until one of us (usually Steve) would feed him or take him out of the room while the other slept. This last week we decided to make the move to let him outside at his new house.

We walked out with him in our arms on Saturday and let his wild instinct take its course. He sniffed around a bit then disappeared into our backyard and our neighbor’s backyards. We still held the power because we hadn’t put the cat door in yet. He was only allowed out during the day during the weekend. We hoped it would teach him to come home at night, we hoped to let him know that home is where he should sleep.

Monday we installed the cat-door. Moose now has free will to come and go as he pleases. The first night he came in at ten and stayed in. Tonight he stayed out until eleven and has just gone out again. We worry about him; alone and outside in the dark. We keep telling each other that this is what he needs. This is how Moose lives, in total freedom of having to come and go. In the end we hope he still comes in when we turn off the lights and go to bed.