You'd think that a bunch of blind, three-legged and wobbly cats wouldn't be capable of -- or have any interest in -- escaping from their nice, safe, outdoor enclosure. But you'd be wrong.
I was in my office yesterday afternoon responding to emails when Alayne came in and said, "Herbie got out again." What?!? We had already fixed the top of the enclosure after his last escape, and I couldn't believe he had managed to get through it again. On my way out to see what was going on, I grabbed the camera to document blind Herbie's latest adventure.
There he was, walking on top of the enclosure, carefully picking his way across the fencing material we lay from end to end to seal it off. Herbie! I checked the edges of the fencing where it meets the wall, because this is how he got out before. Nope, it was tight against the wall. I was perplexed. How did he get out?
I opened the gate to the isolation yard ... that's what is on the other side of the wooden fence in the photo -- and found another cat, three-legged Honey Girl, lounging in the sun. What the @%#?! I walked over to pick her up and she scampered off. Around and around we went, me trying to pick her up, she bolting away. She was clearly enjoying being out. Note: A three-legged cat who doesn't want to be caught is just as fast as a four-legged cat who doesn't want to be caught. I finally got her back in the enclosure and then resumed the inspection.
Finding Honey Girl was the clue, because a week ago we had found her out in the isolation yard, along with wobbly Mink. She had dug under that board fence, in the one short 18" section that isn't lined with 4" x 4" posts. So we had dutifully filled her hole with big rocks and lined that gap with more rock.
I looked over at the original point of escape -- by now I was feeling like Colonel Klink in Hogan's Heroes, trying to figure out how those pesky GIs were always digging out of their POW camp -- and was dumbfounded to see Honey Girl had somehow tunneled her way right past those rocks, pushing them aside and digging a new tunnel. Bear in mind that this cat only has one front leg!
Herbie, meanwhile, being true to form, had no interest in exploring the ground. No sir, he only wanted to go up ... and up he went. So once he followed Honey Girl out her tunnel, he turned right around, climbed up that board fence, and headed for the top of the enclosure. Bear in mind that this cat has no eyes in his head!
If he had just climbed all the way up onto the cottage itself, I could have titled this post, "Cat on a hot tin roof." Dang.
Herbie made his way over to the edge, meowing at me the entire time -- I don't know if he was simply letting me know he was coming over to me, or complaining that the fence material was swaying underneath him. He got to the edge of the enclosure and I lifted him off with one hand. He is so nimble and smart ... and such a world-class climber ... that I didn't for one minute worry about him falling.
We have now lined that gap at the bottom of the fence with a board and about 50 pounds of rocks. If that doesn't keep them in, well, I guess I'll have another "blog moment" to report!
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To follow up on the post about Spinner's seizures: She is doing fine and has not had any more seizures since last week. All of her other tests came back looking good. So we don't know much more right now.
My kitten with no eyes doesn't get along with another cat so we stacked baby gates almost to the ceiling and hooked a bell on the gates in case the sighted cat decided to go vertical. One minute later we hear the bell, go running and there is the blind kitten 4 inches off the ground on the wrong side! The funny part was that the sighted cats were staring at her like WTF!
Posted by: Steve | August 13, 2008 at 08:17 AM
Oh, this is too funny! Perhaps the kitties will enlist the dogs to dig out the bigger rocks for them?
Steve, you should have called this post "The Great Escape"! :-)
Posted by: Kristen D. | August 12, 2008 at 11:46 PM
HA! - Thanks for the laughs :<) -- how about an alternative title --"Cats lead a Wild Goose Chase" - it has the same rhythm. I am SO glad to hear Spinner is doing well!!
Posted by: Angela | August 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM
I think they are trying to tell you, you need to extend their enclosure so they can get some morning sun! As for Herbie...he wants something taller!! HA.
Posted by: Laura | August 12, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Those "disabled" critters manage to keep all of you on your toes, don't they???? LOL, wonderful and inspiring story....where there's a will, there's a way!
Posted by: Debbie | August 12, 2008 at 07:40 AM
Okay, so tell me again, how is it that these animals are "disabled?" BW: It's also known as "quality control testing!"
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | August 12, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Those cats are really keeping you on your toes! It's amazing how they can find ways out!
I'm so glad that Spinner is doing much better & has been seizure free recently. That's great news!
Big hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | August 12, 2008 at 04:15 AM
Steve, I quite agree on the fact that "a three-legged cat who doesn't want to be caught is just as fast as a four-legged cat who doesn't want to be caught"!:-))
Thanks for the update on Spinner (so glad she hasn't had any more seizures so far!) and give a big hug to your "escape artists" for me.:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | August 12, 2008 at 03:47 AM
Oh, also, so very glad to hear the postive report about Spinner.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin - San Antonio TX | August 12, 2008 at 01:38 AM
That is hilarious & what a great story. Cats are cats & true to their heritage blind or disabled they will always, or will always try, to get what they want. I know for a fact that Herbie was complaining to you. How dare you have a place that he likes to climb up to that wobbles under his feet? I know you know by now that you are there only for their convenience, to feed, to love & be their human slave. I have always said, I only live in this house & earn the money. Erin & many cats before him actually run or have run this house. But, for all their demands they bring nothing but joy to our lives!
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin - San Antonio TX | August 12, 2008 at 01:37 AM
oops...I can't believe they haven't been adopted--they are so cute!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | August 12, 2008 at 12:08 AM
Only because everybody is safe--this is hilarious!
Posted by: Shirley * James * Portland, OR | August 12, 2008 at 12:07 AM