Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hi Barbara, could you guess I'd be the first to reply?
    
    Well, seeing as it's only T.K. and Nikki who go outdoors now, they,
    too, are upset because of the cold weather and snow we've had lately
    - and of course it's MY fault for not changing the weather patterns!
    They have a routine now, beg to go out first thing in the morning,
    they sit on the deck, walk around the backyard for a few minutes,
    then sit in front of the slider beggining to be let in.  By the
    time I'm ready for work they want another round outdoors but I keep
    them in until I get home.  Then they go in and out until about 9:00
    p.m., like a revolving door.  The rest of the cats think they're
    crazy when they feel the rush of cold air come through the slider.
    I teased them the other day -- brought snow into the house and they
    put their precious feet on it and almost hit the ceiling!!  Especially
    Murdock -- I think that cat has built-in springs on his feet when
    he gets jumpin' around in a playful mood.  One of these days, I'm
    gonna pull out my trampoline...
    
    Anyway, that's our winter routine.  Every winter, I put towels on
    the couch so Nikki and T.K. can bag out there.  They shed lots and
    the towels help catch all the fur.  We've got towels down now... and
    I'm sure they're sleeping away until I get home.
           
    If it weren't for the indoor cats, we'd install a cat door.  There
    is a cartoon with a woman tied to a slider with a ball and chain...
    and a cat sitting in front of it.  That's what I feel like this
    wintertime!!
    
    --Roberta
    
    

    Barney REFUSES to go outside.  "What! Do you think I'm crazy?" he says. 
    Gonezo goes out for a few minutes, wanders around the back yard, and
    comes back in.  Ben, who loves to be outside more than anything, is
    the most frustrated.  He'll go out the back door and sit on the deck
    and then look at me with this pathetic look on his face.  He also comes
    back in within a few minutes, or wanders around to the front of the
    house and wants to come in that door.  God forbid if it's windy out and
    the breeze rushes in the back door.  I then look at Ben and ask him if
    he wants to go out the front door... he immediately runs to the front
    door, goes out, and turns around to come back in again.  He's ok,
    though, if we're outside with him because then he has someone to play
    with and is not the only crazy one to be out in the cold.
    
    Mary
    

    Hi!!
    
    Scruffy --- my Main Coon (1/2, anyways) -- refuses to use a litter box. 
    She was a stray in our neighborhood and she does handle the cold well. 
    When it blows out though!!!!!!!!!  It's not long that she's at the
    door.  But there have been nites, like the past two, where she has stay
    out day and nite.  There is a barn next door - behind us, and I know
    that's one of her spots.
    
    Might know me by now, everyone, I'm the lady with all the outdoor
    strays.  I have an old dog-house I've fixed-up with blankets and hay,
    and a box full of hay on the otherside of our back stairs, and for the
    most part -- they all cuddle together different ones at a time, and
    they do keep warm.  When I come out in the morning to see if anyone is
    there, and needs a feeding I pat tham and they are pretty warm.  I had
    to decorate the box to make it look Christmasee, or my husband wouldn't
    let me have it.. Thought it look shabby, so now it looks (with the
    hay), like a small mainger....  I worry when the wind blows, but they
    do pretty well now..........
    
    Yes...........it's cold!!!!!!
    
    They shake their paws --- grab the food and head back to sleep.
    
    This is:  CAT/KITTEN PINE STREET INN..............Berlin,MA.
    
    

    ....aja simply burrows as far down into the waterbed as possible.
    
    Nothing more pleasant than lifting a corner of the blankets and
    being greeted by a surprised "bbddddttt!" and the smell of 8 hours
    of condensed cat breath....
    
    Edd