Signs of a healthy cat
I've been leaving the door to the balcony open most days this summer. Merlin loves to lounge around out there, and likes it even better if he has a chair to curl up on (because, clearly, the balcony floor itself isn't good enough for His Majesty). Earlier today, I opened the balcony door without putting a chair out there. I've been tidying up the place a little, choosing stuff to be donated to Community Services for the Blind, not really paying attention to the cats. About 15 minutes ago, I turn around and there's Merlin, king jumper and balance-beam expert, walking along the edge of the balcony railing, a single plank of wood 5 inches in diameter about 3.5 feet high, three stories off the ground. He was clearly completely comfortable strolling back and forth along the length of the railing, looking only a tiny bit shaky when he turned to walk in the opposite direction. That shakiness was enough to make me nervous, so I dragged a chair out onto the balcony, plucked Merlin off the railing and put him on the chair.
My cat Flatbush once fell off the balcony and landed without a problem down in the garden. He was also 3-4 years younger than Merlin at the time, and far sturdier. I have little doubt that Merlin would survive such a fall. Clearly such a fall doesn't even occur to him. Myself, I'd prefer to avoid the possibility.
I think, however, that a) the leap required to get to the top of the railing, b) the balance required to land the jump, and c) the balance required to stroll back and forth on the railing are all signs that Merlin is still a pretty healthy guy. And his fur is so pretty in the sunshine.
My cat Flatbush once fell off the balcony and landed without a problem down in the garden. He was also 3-4 years younger than Merlin at the time, and far sturdier. I have little doubt that Merlin would survive such a fall. Clearly such a fall doesn't even occur to him. Myself, I'd prefer to avoid the possibility.
I think, however, that a) the leap required to get to the top of the railing, b) the balance required to land the jump, and c) the balance required to stroll back and forth on the railing are all signs that Merlin is still a pretty healthy guy. And his fur is so pretty in the sunshine.