Stitch Doesn’t Like Rain

Stitch takes a cat nap after his rainy day experience.

Stitch is an indoor cat. The last couple of places I’ve rented have been near very busy streets and I’d prefer to keep my kitty inside where it’s safe instead of seeing him end up as a flattened kitty. This includes the most recent apartment that we’re renting.

I’ve tried to explain to Stitch that I’d prefer to keep him safe inside. I think he’s torn on the issue. Before he was brought to the shelter he was the owner of a couch and lived in an alley way. He was left behind by his past owners. After I brought him home he took some time to get used to the idea of being an inside kitty. I made sure to get a lot of toys and made room available for him to perch near the windows.

He doesn’t try to run outdoors nearly as often as he used to. I’m not sure if he’s getting used to being an indoor kitty or if he’s just plotting for the perfect moment to run out the door. I think perhaps he’s trying to get outside so he can go find his squirrel friend. The one time he has gotten outside for more than a couple minutes he came home meowing (demanding I let him in and feed him) at 2 a.m. I’d say he’s transitioning to being an indoor spoiled cat.

Since Stitch and I have moved in with the boys, we’ve had to remind them to close the front door. We don’t have a screen door on our current apartment, so we can’t leave it open without the risk of having Stitch dart out. Sometimes, however, we’ve found that the door has a mind of its own. Just the other day, during a break in the rainstorm I ran out to get the laundry out of the dryer, and I came back to find that the door had decided not to stay latched closed and was wide open.

My heart raced because I knew there was a good chance Stitch had probably run outside. Inside the house my suspicions were confirmed. No Stitch. Instead of panicking like I have in the past, I grabbed his treat bag, went outside to look around for him, called his name and shook it. No Stitch. Then I grabbed his food container and shook it. No Stitch. So I closed the door in hopes that he would come back when he got hungry.

I didn’t have to wait long. About a minute later the rain started pouring down again. Kevin called me to ask if Stitch had gotten outside because he could see him pondering whether to run underneath the van or stand out in the rain.

Upon the sight of Kevin coming home, Stitch must have known that was a good chance to get inside where it was dry and warm and he ran for the front door. I opened it just in time for him to dash up the stairs and into the warm and dry house. After he had dried off a bit I found him curled up on a blanket on the couch taking a cat nap. I guess the adventure was a bit too much excitement for one day.

Later that evening one of the boys left the door open when they got home from school. As soon as I felt the draft I ran over to the door. Stitch stood inside the door staring out at the rain. He looked at me and ran over to the couch. I guess the rain serves as a barrier between our front door and the great outdoors.

My lessons from that day: 1) Make sure the door is really closed behind me if I’m running out really quick, and 2) Stitch doesn’t like the rain.

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