Get a dog they said ...
Before lockdown I had actually, finally, found a counsellor who was I making headway with. I was starting to do the 'social' thing in a small way.
Of course, that all went to crap and unfortunately for therapy, I can now absolutely justify avoiding folks.
One of her suggestions, early on, had been to get a dog. Walking a dog is good exercise and sociable. You have to stay alert and in the moment. 'Yeah but no,' I said emphatically, 'Do you have any idea how many times I have been bitten by dogs? And they smell. And are annoying. Even the pub dog, Khalifa, who I love, I would not consider walking regularly.'
That was that. Except ... remember Mitzi?
She isn't keen on going far alone.
So twice a day, we take off around the block together for ten minutes at a brisk pace and these days she 'heels' even without her harness on.
She's a good cat so in her spare time she is interested in reducing homelessness. Specifically cat homelessness. Some of you may know that she brought in the community feral cat over lockdown, to share food and shelter. Said cat was having a medical emergency and required a vet stay and weeks of treatment. He is left on a permanent low grain diet and must give up feral life if he is to stay healthy and survive. So, um, yeah. No longer a community cat. Our cat.
Rogue is sweet and calm in the house but an absolute fighting machine outdoors. Having been stray for many years he is also a dustbin. He will snaffle any and all food he can find, whatever damage it might do to him. The choice we have with him is that he becomes entirely an indoor cat or we harness train him. Now, I am not a fan of his singing about being wild and free at 4 am every day. So...
Who needs a dog to walk anyway?
Rogue is actually a very quick study. It isn't really about a walk in the way that dogs walk. He likes to patrol a little, rub favourite trees and bushes, roll in dust, outstare enemies and slow blink at certain girl cats. What Mitzi walks in 10 minutes will take him at least an hour. But, he now asks for his harness because he knows it means he can go out, and I am spending a little less time each day standing suspiciously around bushes and street corners waiting for his temper tantrums over not being allowed under cars or into gardens, to subside. He now walks straight past a lot of these places and can be convinced to walk away from growly enemies on occasion too.
And now - I am meeting folks. Because a community cat has more friends than me - yup, seriously. And they have all been super worried about him since he disappeared the day he came in to me, sick. So far, Sheila, Ian, Jan, Debbie and the lady on the corner with the black cat have all rushed out to see him, and find out if it really is the cat that used to drop in on them. It's the first time I've ever met any of them but these are all people who fed him, tried to shelter him as much as he allowed and talked kindly to him. And he remembers them! He has insisted on stopping by their houses! He is happy to see every single one of them. They introduce themselves to me and have a gossip - they are happy to see him, chuffed to see how shiny and well adjusted he looks. (Clearly they have not witnessed his major meltdowns the first days of training which required the blanket burrito tactic to carry him home.)
Anyhow, dear flisties, I have had to interact and communicate with friendly local folks and no dog was required! My counsellor will be thrilled.
How are y'all with this continuing plague state? Are we donning jaunty masks? Or barricading the doors?
Whatever it is. I do hope everyone is finding little survival techniques which work for them.
Of course, that all went to crap and unfortunately for therapy, I can now absolutely justify avoiding folks.
One of her suggestions, early on, had been to get a dog. Walking a dog is good exercise and sociable. You have to stay alert and in the moment. 'Yeah but no,' I said emphatically, 'Do you have any idea how many times I have been bitten by dogs? And they smell. And are annoying. Even the pub dog, Khalifa, who I love, I would not consider walking regularly.'
That was that. Except ... remember Mitzi?
She isn't keen on going far alone.
So twice a day, we take off around the block together for ten minutes at a brisk pace and these days she 'heels' even without her harness on.
She's a good cat so in her spare time she is interested in reducing homelessness. Specifically cat homelessness. Some of you may know that she brought in the community feral cat over lockdown, to share food and shelter. Said cat was having a medical emergency and required a vet stay and weeks of treatment. He is left on a permanent low grain diet and must give up feral life if he is to stay healthy and survive. So, um, yeah. No longer a community cat. Our cat.
Rogue is sweet and calm in the house but an absolute fighting machine outdoors. Having been stray for many years he is also a dustbin. He will snaffle any and all food he can find, whatever damage it might do to him. The choice we have with him is that he becomes entirely an indoor cat or we harness train him. Now, I am not a fan of his singing about being wild and free at 4 am every day. So...
Who needs a dog to walk anyway?
Rogue is actually a very quick study. It isn't really about a walk in the way that dogs walk. He likes to patrol a little, rub favourite trees and bushes, roll in dust, outstare enemies and slow blink at certain girl cats. What Mitzi walks in 10 minutes will take him at least an hour. But, he now asks for his harness because he knows it means he can go out, and I am spending a little less time each day standing suspiciously around bushes and street corners waiting for his temper tantrums over not being allowed under cars or into gardens, to subside. He now walks straight past a lot of these places and can be convinced to walk away from growly enemies on occasion too.
And now - I am meeting folks. Because a community cat has more friends than me - yup, seriously. And they have all been super worried about him since he disappeared the day he came in to me, sick. So far, Sheila, Ian, Jan, Debbie and the lady on the corner with the black cat have all rushed out to see him, and find out if it really is the cat that used to drop in on them. It's the first time I've ever met any of them but these are all people who fed him, tried to shelter him as much as he allowed and talked kindly to him. And he remembers them! He has insisted on stopping by their houses! He is happy to see every single one of them. They introduce themselves to me and have a gossip - they are happy to see him, chuffed to see how shiny and well adjusted he looks. (Clearly they have not witnessed his major meltdowns the first days of training which required the blanket burrito tactic to carry him home.)
Anyhow, dear flisties, I have had to interact and communicate with friendly local folks and no dog was required! My counsellor will be thrilled.
How are y'all with this continuing plague state? Are we donning jaunty masks? Or barricading the doors?
Whatever it is. I do hope everyone is finding little survival techniques which work for them.