When we moved to our new home the cats gained some indoor space but lost their outside catio. Before we built the catio I would take Frankie for a walk on the harness once or twice a week then let Chris out for 10 or 15 minutes while I watched him.  Since moving, and before last week, Frankie has only been outside a couple of times and only because he escaped.

Frankie hangs out under vehicles when I am close so I can’t catch him.

Chris escaped a couple of times too and I let him out once or twice because he has been much more demanding (and annoying) about going outside.

I hesitated to let Frankie out because he didn’t make a big fuss at the door like Chris and I wanted to keep it that way but I also wanted him to have some outside time. In addition, I wanted him to get used to where our house is in case he escapes again and loses his way. This will be important because we will be on vacation next week and I don’t want the cat-sitter to have problems.

I let him outside for the first time on October 1 and he was so happy.

Of course, he has to stop and smell the bushes.

Getting him home was a nightmare. He tends to walk in one direction so I have to pick him up to get him home but he has learned to be more aggressive and he hisses, growls and struggles to get out of my grasp. I couldn’t hold on to him for more than ten seconds at a time. I just tried to get him to walk in the right direction. When He changed course I would pick him up again until he broke free.

As usual, when Frankie returned, Chris went outside. 

And also, as usual, he did his happy roll where everyone could see him.

That scene repeated the following week but I haven’t downloaded the photos from my phone yet and I am a bit too rushed to do it now but I’m sure you get the idea. Frankie has now become like Chris and both have become extremely annoying about going outside.