Freedom Loving Moggy

Last week I gave Moggy his freedom. He wants to be an outside cat and I was tired of fighting it.  I can't continue to protect him from the Big Bad World if he's intent to putting himself out there.

Every morning he escapes, stays out while I'm at work, and returns--usually running to greet me when I arrive after work, but sometimes waiting until Bandit and I go out at 10pm. Thursday  he didn't come back. I decided to accept this and not worry myself sick about his whereabouts.

I wasn't exactly successful not worrying. But I limited my worry time to the time I actively searched for him. Then I limited the active search time. I called his name each time I was outside and I looked at a few of the places he likes to rest.  Moggy was nowhere to be found.  Bandit and I made a trip around the neighborhood to make sure he wasn't hurt by the side of the road. Still no Moggy. We went back inside and I forced myself to settle in for the night.

I dozed in a fitful sleep peppered with dreams of hurt animals and helplessness--both mine and my dream characters. About 2:30am I was awakened by the sound of a horrible cat fight. I shoved on a pair of shoes and went outside to see if I could find Moggy. The neighbors cat was slinking away but Moggy was not to be found. I called his name quietly and looked in the neighbors yard as well as I could--they are new and I didn't care to meet them looking for all the world like a Peeping Tomasina, in the wee hours of the morning, wearing only my nightgown. They have plenty of time to learn my eccentricities.

I looked in a couple other neighbors yards as well.  Nothing. I finally went back to bed.

Around 4am Moggy showed up. Not bloody or hurt as I had feared.  Maybe he observed the cat fight between two other cats; however, the next morning he stayed inside rather than rushing to escape into the world after his breakfast.  Perhaps he was in the cat fight after all...

This weekend I watched Moggy jump into a crouch when he heard an unexpected noise outside of his line of sight. It was not a playful "I'm getting ready to pounce on Bandit" crouch, but rather the scared slink of a "fright or flight" crouch. Soon thereafter, he came to me for a little scratch under his chin. That's when I noticed a little knot on his head and a place near his eye.  Still no blood. But definite evidence he has, in fact, been in a brawl.

I monitored him over the weekend--he won't let me check out the knot--it's a little matted so there may be a slight hematoma or dried blood under the fur.  Moggy has exhibited no neuro symptoms, no nausea or vomiting, no active bleeding, no guarding of tender internal organs, etc.  He's tolerating his diet, his bowel and bladder function remain intact, and he's moving without difficulties. I'm pretty sure the  cat fight did not result in a major trauma or concussion.  He appears subdued, but not majorly worse for wear.

However, Moggy stayed close the rest of the weekend. He ventured out, but returned pretty quick each day.  He was also a little less antagonistic towards Bandit. Perhaps he had tried his aggressive play on the other cat and got put in his place. Or perhaps a territory fight ensued. I probably will never know.

I wondered if Moggy would venture out this morning. I needn't have feared, As I left for work, I spied him watching the world from atop the privacy fence.

When I returned this evening Moggy also returned--meowing to slow my steps until he had arrived as I was getting ready to open the door. Smart cat. He's trained me well in less than a week of freedom.