I’ve been going in and out the back doors a lot today, and sometimes the back door between the den and laundry room doesn’t close completely … as in, if one doesn’t give it a pull until it clicks, the cats can claw it open. Now, I’m pretty good about making sure it’s really closed, but since I’ve been in and out a lot, and I haven’t been spending much time either in or out of the house, I neglected to check that the door was completely closed every time I passed through it. Then … I sat down outside to watch Lin work and chat with him for a while (and help, I was helping, really I was).

I must have been out there about 30 minutes, and once Lin didn’t need me to bring him more bricks, I decided to amble back into the house to do dishes (i.e. avoid any real work). I got around the large bush near the back door, and there –looking completely freaked out– was Ronin. Behind him cowered a bug-eyed Myu. I pointed my finger at the door and informed the cats they needed to go back into the house. Myu immediately ran inside, because she’s smart (and very cowardly). Ronin turned to head toward the door, but then he got it into his head he might like to make a run for freedom. I was standing right over him as he tried to decide if he could get by me or not and where he’d go if he did (’cause he’s a coward too). He’s a 22 pound cat. Running isn’t exactly in his vocabulary. He knows he can only outrun me for about five feet. He finally chose to return to the house, after I gave him a little nudge to get him going.

Having gotten Ronin and Myu back into the house, I checked the house for Tora. No Tora. Back out I went, and there she was hiding behind the lawn tractor. She sat up, squeaked at me, and did her best to look completely adorable … which isn’t hard for her to do. She’s really got being cute down. I pointed at the door and said “Inside!” but no … she just squeaked at me again. I picked her up and carried her into the house. I do not have the time or energy to train cats today. I was just thankful she didn’t bolt for a tree, because Tora is a) fast and b) has endless supplies of energy. I’d have never caught her.

All the cats securely back in the house, I went out to laugh with Lin about the cats totally failing to properly escape. It probably took them 30 minutes to get one foot from the door, because “OMG!!! OUTSIDE!!!” Except for Tora, who started life outside. Who knows where all she ambled about while the other two cowered near the back door. I imagine she was looking for that lizard she stares at every afternoon and would very much like to eat. The other two cats think they’d like to be outside, until they are. Tora would probably like to be outside all the time, but I’m not having it, mostly because the outdoor cats are all monsters and excellent fighters. I don’t have the cash for lots of vet bills to sew ears back on, you know?

Then I came back into the house to see if the cats were having a temper tantrum about their plans being spoiled. Years ago after the last escape attempt, there was an evening long temper tantrum. No temper tantrums in progress today. All three of them were lounging on the kitchen floor … casually as though nothing at all out of the ordinary had just happened. I have never seen such a casual collection of cats, and upon seeing me enter the room, they all three yawned simultaneously and rolled over on their backs for belly rubs. As if! It’s not like they don’t know they aren’t supposed to claw open doors or go outside. No belly rubs for you lot (until later, when I won’t be able to resist)!

And of course, I didn’t have any sort of camera on me, because the cats only do silly funny things when I have no camera on me. I’d have loved to have some photos of the wild looks in their eyes when they finally experienced the great outdoors. LOL!