outdoors | Bad Cat Chris

Here on the west coast of Florida, it gets pretty hot in the summer. It seems almost every afternoon the temperature is at or near 95 degrees Fahrenheit. There is also a high humidity in the summer that makes being outside during midday quite unpleasant. We try to limit our outdoor activities to the mornings or late afternoons.

Chris and Puck feel that way too. Often they use that time to nap on the sofa or, in Chris’s case, find a human to bother. Frankie is different. I often look out the window to see him napping on the patio during the hottest part of the afternoon. He must be part camel or something because he spends much of his day outside in the heat and does not seem to be bothered by it in the least. Perhaps he still retains some of the traits of his distant ancestor, the African Wildcat.

Chris loves going outside and sometimes he is just downright annoying about asking to go out. The other day I gave in to his demands and let him out.

When I let him out, it is usually for just five or ten minutes while I stand there and watch him. Sometimes he runs out the door when I come home, despite my best efforts to contain him, and I just give him a few minutes before retrieve him.

When he goes outside he usually just eats grass for the first few minutes, unless a lizard crosses his path. I have heard that cats eat grass when they are not feeling good but Chris always wants to eat grass. I hope that doesn’t mean he always feels bad. He sure does not act like he’s sick.

Chris enjoying the great outdoors.

Mmmm. Good grass.

What happened to the catnip plant? (Note: my plants are not always in disarray)

After Chris was outside, I noticed Puck inside watching him. I felt bad but it is difficult watching two cats at once.

Our cat Puck wanting to join Chris outside

What about me?

Finally I couldn’t take that sad look anymore so I let Puck outside too.

Hi Puck. Glad you could make it.

Let me show you around. This is our neighbors door. I think we can find trouble here.

I don’t know about trouble, Chris, but I found either poop or charcoal briquettes.

Letting Puck out proved to be a bad decision because when it was time to go in, he was the bad cat this time. Whenever I tried to pick him up, he would run off to a different location. I must have looked pretty funny chasing him around the yard.