And Then There Were Nine (temporarily)!

Tuesday night last week the drive home from work was very slow because of a snowstorm that began in the afternoon and lasted through the next morning.  It is usually a 45 minute commute for me, but that night it took about an hour and 10 minutes.  I took all local highways and stayed off the Interstate.  For those who took the Interstates, it was a parking lot and there were tales of being stuck for hours moving at 5 or 10 miles an hour the entire way home or else not moving at all.  When I got to my house, there were a few inches of snow on the ground, and upon opening my car door and getting out, two of the stray cats came out from under my house expecting dinner.  Since there were forecasts for possibly a foot of snow and then bitter cold weather following the storm, I brought them both inside.

Both Romeo and Spot have been inside the house before - running in a few feet from the door, looking around, and when confronted by my crew of cats, making a break back outside.  The previous snowstorm I managed to bring in Romeo for the duration of the storm, but then let him back out again because we had a string of 40+ degree days afterward and the snow immediately disappeared.

This time, of course, Romeo issn't here by himself.  He has his buddy Spot to keep him company and lend him moral support when my cats give him the evil eye.  None of my cats have gone after either one of them, but Tanya lets no opportunity pass to hiss at them and tell them what she thinks of interlopers.

After bringing them in Tuesday night, we've had all days of temperatures only in the teens and 20s.  The first couple of days they pretty much hung out under my bed, but then they finally realized that they could lie ON TOP of the bed. I think they've got the hang of it now!

Saturday was the first day of above freezing weather so when Romeo started meowing and acting like he wanted to go outside, I opened the door and let him out.  I also wanted to impress upon him that he was free to come and go as he pleases, and that I hadn't kidnapped him! 

When Romeo went back outside after the first snowstorm, he was afraid to run the gauntlet of my cats that were in the living room where the front door is so I let him out the back door.  The only problem is that there are no steps at my back door and he had to jump a couple of feet to get outside.   Saturday was the same situation.  He was in and out several times and even though he went out the back door, he would come in the front door.  He's used to hanging out on my front porch.  The second or third time he tried to come in through the front door, two of my cats were right there blocking his way.  He backed out the front door and ran down the sidewalk.  I thought he'd just changed his mind so I shut the door.  A few seconds later I heard meowing and there he was wanting in at the back door.  Pretty smart kitty considering he'd only been out that door a couple of times.  And never before come IN that door.

Spot still hasn't been back outside.  Every time Romeo has gone out, Spot has lost his nerve and gone back under the bed.  He hasn't even seen an open door to walk out of.  After going in and out several times on Saturday, Romeo opted to spend the night outside.  He could still get under my house and there is a hole near the main water pipe that comes in where he can get between the floor and the sub-flooring and get next to the heating ducts and keep warm that way.  Not too luxurious but practical. Whether that's actually where he stayed is another question.

Romeo finally came back inside several times on Sunday because of much colder temperatures and with snow still on the ground not too many options of places to lie down outside. About 6:00 pm he decided that inside was a much better option and settled down for the night.  Today we're back to above freezing temperatures, but then go back in the deep freeze tomorrow before we finally hit a string of 30+ degree weather.  The one day when Romeo could have gone outside and been out all day until I came home, I couldn't get him to come to the door!  He was meowing and wanting out earlier, but I wanted to give him breakfast first. After he'd eaten (and used the litter box), he wasn't interested.

We reached our high of almost 50 degrees at 12:30 and the temps started heading back down again around 1:00.  Rain and wind were expected later this afternoon but never really developed.  Snow showers possible tonight  When I got home, Romeo was anxious for dinner but so far has not asked to be let outside. This story is still evolving.  Stay tuned!