I thought I'd convinced Missy to be an indoors cat, but she's hasn't bought it yet.

Yesterday when I went out to get my newspaper, I saw a streak flash by me, and sure enough it was Missy going for the horizon.  Fortunately the horizon is the next patio, but I was in my jammies, no robe.  And it was chilly out there!

It's a unequal chase when the pursued can go over, under and around and pursuer can only go around.  She'd let me get close to grabbing distances, then shoot off under the porch railing or under the stairs.  By the time I got to the other side, she had scooted under one porch fence and over the other one.  Banshee started to come out a couple times, but I hollered at him and he dashed back indoors.    I wished I could teach him in the next few seconds how to herd Missy back into the house.

I thought I saw a flash heading back through the front door, but a search of her favorite hiding places were negative.  I went back out, but with a robe on now, a went hunting again.  She had gone upstairs.  I was able to grab her as she came back downstairs and carried her struggling back into the house.

So, this morning when I went to get the paper, I figured she and Banshee were playing on my bed, and it would be safe to open the door.  Uh-uh.  She was waiting for me to open the door to come back in, and in a flash she was out.  Back to paragraph 3.

So when Missy "disappeared" I figured she'd gone upstairs again, and sure enough, there she was.  Now I don't climb stairs unless there's no other way to get done what needs to get done.  So I waited.  Sure enough she went from one patio to the other, and I crept half-way up the stairs.  As soon as she peeked out under the porch railing I grabbed her.

I think maybe any time I want to go out, I'll have to make sure my 100-yard dash cat is asleep or locked up in the pantry.

Shalom