The cat on the deck began to roam. He soon realized he could roam far away from the deck and the essentials would still be there when he returned.His brief excursions away from the deck perhaps were tests for him to try for more. Each time he went away, the food and water bowls were still there on his return. Surely, that added confidence to his sense of security.
The cat on the deck learned that his new found security gave him a confidence that allowed for greater boldness.
Anyone who has any experience with cats knows that fully equipped male cats are prone to adventure. Unlike our surgically altered formerly male cats who have no longing for extended adventures, the fluffy cat on the deck eventually decided that his sense of security afforded him the luxury of taking an adventure.
Consequently, one morning the cat on the deck was not on the deck. He was nowhere to be seen. He didn’t return that evening. And, his scoop of food remained untouched – except for the occasional nibble snarfed by one of the resident cats.
Days went by without any sighting of the cat on the deck. As days stretched into a week or more, the bowl of food remained undisturbed.
The cat on the deck had headed out for adventure. Perhaps his adventure had gone wrong. There are foxes, coyotes and even an occasional dog roaming the woods. A fluffy cat, even equipped with claws, would be no match for a wily coyote. As days stretched on, there was greater potential for the cat on the deck to become a fleeting memory.
Then, one morning, the food and water bowl had been disturbed in the night. But, it is a raccoon that would put the kibbles in the water bowl and make a total mess of eating dry cat food. No self-respecting cat would make a mess like that. It was time to take the bowls away.
But, when the fluff ball was all but forgotten he was back on the deck early one morning. It was a morning when Ms. Natalie had overslept and had not a minute to spare for his care. But, there he was, demanding his ration of cat food like it was an inalienable right. The cat on the deck was back.
Lesson #4 from the cat on the deck:
When you are confident in your sense of security, you are willing to follow adventure that may take you away from your comforts for an extended time. Don’t let the comforts hold you back from seeking adventure.
