Just when you think you’ve got a routine going, everything changes and suddenly there’s daytime walkies, double walkies and a week full of outdoor fun.
You all know that I love walkies and being out and about in our new garden but it takes me a little while to get used to all the noises that I can hear when I’m out and about. Its all very different to where we used to live, instead of the planes that I used to hear, there’s a multitude of birds. We had birds before but here there’s just so many, flitting about in the bushes and trees, tweeting away and tormenting me as I hunt them and try to play with them. Just when I think I’ve got one pinpointed and I leap into the bush to get it, away it goes off into another bit of the hedge. There’s also these things called cows which I can hear moo-ing away in the distance and mummy and I went down the street the other day and I met something called sheep, they make a funny baa-ing noise. There’s also loads of other noises that come from the other people living around us, where we lived before had other people living there but the noises all came from one side, not all around and they were mostly people noises. Here there are little bangs and thuds and until I’m a bit more settled I’m not quite sure what these all are. Then my in built street cat kicks in and if in doubt, get away from any noises you’re unsure of, you never know what it might be.
Mummy knows me very well and she can tell when theres something just not quite right. She keeps asking me what’s wrong and tells me that it’s all OK, it’s the same noises that I hear during the day which aren’t scary at all. The noises sound different at night though, they sound louder, closer and more scary. There’s nothing else to occupy my mind and distract me as all the birds go to bed early so theres nothing to play with. Of course mummys always there to play with but she can’t hide in a bush like the birds can! Well, maybe she can but I haven’t asked her and she hasn’t crawled in there yet.
So this week mummy did something extra special for me. One morning she got up but didn’t go to work, she said something about having to work late so she stayed home in the morning. I was a bit worried because working late means no walkies at all, whilst I’m not really up for evening walkies, I still like a quick venture out with mummy, it’s good for her and I need to make sure she gets some exercise during the day. I needed’t have worried though as mummy had a cunning plan, I could feel the sun shining through the window and then I heard the sound of the cupboard opening, this is where mummy normally keeps her coat and work shoes so I didn’t really think anything of it but its also the place where mummy keeps my lead. Then I hear its familiar sound and then the sound of my bandana box opening, now I was really excited, the bandana box only opens when its walkies time. Mummy had a surprise morning walkies for me. She said that by the time she came home from work it would be far to late for walkies and so she would take me for a morning walkies instead. Well, this is just the best surprise, off we went outside, the air was cool and crisp and the grass was ever so slightly crunchy under my paws and made them tingle. I didn’t care though I was out and about on a weekday with mummy, the birds were tweeting and when we found a patch of sun it was warm on my fur, making up for having cold paws. We had great fun and ran around and just enjoyed ourselves. Then all too quickly it was over and it was time for mummy to get ready and go to work.
We headed indoors and that’s when the noise started, there were people doing work in the house (again) and again we were confined to the bedroom with daddy. I think this is mostly due to me being a bit naughty before and going adventuring in the loft, daddy says were not allowed up there again but as soon as that ladder came down we were there ready and waiting to scale up it and go exploring again. It was OK though as I warmed my cold paws on mummys pillow and kept it warm for her whilst she was off working. Mummy was right too as she was very late home from work, so late in fact that we were all already put ourselves to bed and left daddy watching the tv when mummy came home. It was a bit confusing but as soon as we heard the door opening we grudgingly got up and welcomed her home but now were up, surely it must be playtime now mummy.
I thought one morning walkies was fun enough for one week but then later in the week mummy didn’t go to work in the moning. She got up at the normal time, gave us our breakfast but instead of putting on her boots and letting me play with her laces like normal she sat on the sofa with her typing machine. Yey, more playtime this morning I thought but mummy was focussed on her machine and resisted all my attempts to have extra playtime.
“Hang on Jen” mummy said “This isn’t playtime, I’ve got to work but if you’re very good then I’ll take you for a walkies at lunchtime before I head into the office”. Walkies – at lunchtime – on a weekday – now that is a special treat and one to be good for. So, OK, I’ll pester daddy until you’re ready to take me out. Mummy was true to her word, when it got to lunchtime the cupboard opened and out came her coat and my lead and off we went for a lunchtime stroll around the garden. I can easily lose all track of time when mummy and I are out and about and I was having such fun that before I knew it mummy was telling me it was time to go in. “Jenny, I’d love to spend all day out here with you but I’ve got to go to work sweetie” I was sad that our walkies was over but it was such a special treat to be out with mummy during the day.
To finish off an extra special week I also got two walkies every day over the weekend too, I think mummys trying to make up for any that I don’t get at night. I’m such a lucky kitty to have a furramily that loves me so much and does everything they can to make me happy, give me the best quality and as much time as possible outside to enjoy myself as much as I can. Whilst I’m not yet fully settled and confident about going out in the evening with the noises sounding so different to during the day mummy is doing everything she can to make sure I get out during the day instead. It’s quite tricky as it gets dark so early but as mummy says where there’s a will there’s a way. If we can’t get out whilst the sun is still shining we still go out at night as mummy says that it’s the only way I’ll be able to build my confidence and learn that there’s nothing that is going to harm me, specially when mummy is there by my side. She says the noises are nothing to be scared of and with a bit of time and patience I can be as confident being out at night as I am during the day.
That is of course as long as the ground doesn’t get too cold, it’s already colder here than it was in our old place so I hope it doesn’t get too much colder and if theres any of that stuff mummy calls snow then that’s it – I’m becoming and indoor cat like Millie and Angelin! Until then though thank you mummy for helping me get out and about as much as possible, I pawromise that I’ll try not to be scared of the dark. That’s a blind cat joke just in case you didn’t realise 😺
Jenny’s Story 