June 4, 2012

Yo Riley

It appears that Riley has abandoned his housecat duties. He prefers to be outside.




Oh, he still comes in the house, 2 or 3 times a day. But only to eat and then he wants back out. Even if it's raining, he still wants to go out.


If he sees one of us outside, he's happy to see us. He'll usually tag along and hang out.


But he no longer naps in his basket by my computer, he no longer snuggles in my lap, he no longer curls up at our feet at night. Instead he's on the prowl.




I certainly miss him as a housecat, but he's doing an excellent job of catching mice, chipmunks, shrews, rats, and rabbits. This in turn keeps the snake population down. And that is his job after all.

34 comments:

Dani said...

Bless him. Oh, btw, are there any females in the vicinity...?

Anonymous said...

Well done Riley:) Tig is going out all the time too, but so far he is just catching bugs lol.

DebbieB said...

Oh, he's grown up and has found a steady job! You've raised him well. :)

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Man with a job and does it well; I like that -smile-. If Riley has been cut, he'll do a better job as his focus will be solitary.

Leigh said...

Dani, he's been neutered so females are of no interest, except to chase away!

Stephanie, that's what our Katy used to do, catch bugs. I still miss her terribly. She was my main lap cat. 1st one I'd had in all my years of cat keeping. It was a heartbreak to lose her.

Debbie, LOLOL!!!

Sandra, he is that, focused on his hunting. Then again, there are those long naps on the cabinet in the carport......

Nina said...

Really, it's what you want for a working cat. I daresay when the weather turns wintery, he may want to spend a bit more time inside. He is a handsome boy though, for sure.

Sunnybrook Farm said...

That is what has happened to our cats, they moved out doors and do cat things all day and night. The 17 year old comes in and sleeps on the screened in porch at night. I think they are happier outside.

Renee Nefe said...

I have to say that I was a bit worried at this post at first because of all the pictures of Riley lazing around. He seemed to be slacking on the job instead of just taking a break.
Glad to see the later pictures of him hard at work!

Cassandra said...

What a happy, handsome boy! He certainly looks like he is enjoying his job. That little question mark tail is a sure sign of a happy cat.

Doug Pitcher said...

We just got a dog and fashioned her a really nice dog house. Spent the better part of an afternoon doing it. The dog hasn't slept in it yet. I guess if I was an animal with more fur than I already have I'd like to sleep out under the stars as well.

Tami said...

You know in his head, he's a lion of the Serengeti...@;)

Crustyrusty said...

We found "Horatio" on our back deck, in 7 degree weather, leaning on the glass trying to suck whatever heat out of the house that he could. We brought him in, had him "fixed" and figured he would be content in the house snuggled up and purring away.

Yeah, right.

Every chance he gets, out he goes, sometimes for days, once in a while leaving "presents" on the sidewalk. Even in crud weather, you can't get him to stay in longer than a couple of hours.

On the other hand, there are 3 others who are SUPPOSED to be outside who sneak in every chance they get and who are nearly impossible to evict. Go figure.

Benita said...

I agree with Nina - just wait until the weather starts getting cold this fall, then he'll be happy to curl up with you again.

Prairie Cat said...

Since moving to our farm, one of our housecats decided he would rather be a barn cat, spending his time hunting mice and sleeping in the dirt. After 5 years of being confined in a house in the city, his dream of roaming free has finally come true!

Our other housecats are still lazy layabouts, though. :)

Leigh said...

Nina, there's no doubt that he loves a comfy nap by a warm fire. Of course, there's little to hunt in that kind of weather. :)

Sunnybrook, I agree. They get to do what they are meant to do. Our last cat Rascal, actually became depressed when we had to live in an apartment for several years and couldn't go out. It was a heartbreak.

Renee, he still stays up to date on his naps! Fortunately he's got a good spot, one that affords a little height as well as good views. :)

Cassandra, if I had to describe Riley in just one word, it would be "mellow." He's just pleased with life in general, which makes him a most agreeable cat.

Doug, LOL. They just don't appreciate what we do for them. :)

Tami, oh my yes. The Mighty Hunter.

Crusty, we tamed a feral cat once (Dan's 1st cat, the one who converted him from an official cat hater), and it took a long time for him to want to stay in the house. I reckon it's just what they're used to.

Benita, I agree. I wonder too if the extreme heat of summer won't bring him in for a cool nap!

Prairie Cat, it's really great, isn't it? Barn cats are a necessity so it's nice at least one volunteers for the job. :)

Carolyn said...

I've had the same issues with our indoor / outdoor cats. I feel like they SHOULD like it better in the house where it's warm, dry, comfy & snuggling by ME. But then I have to remember that they still have some of that wildness in them that they just have to listen to. I have had a few miserable times when one of the indoor / outdoor cats haven't shown themselves in a day or two, but so far, so good. And even if they were to have their "final" hunt outside and never come back to the house, I have to keep telling myself that it is what THEY wanted and they were happy.

Thanks for the kitty story & pictures!

Mama Pea said...

No doubt Riley has a more natural and healthy life spending so much time out of doors. And if he should have the misfortune of losing his life while doing what makes him happiest, I know you wouldn't want it any differently. You'd never want him spend his life being confined when he didn't want to be. Plus, as you say, look at all the good he does being Head Groundskeeper outside!

CaliforniaGrammy said...

My husband always had cats as a child. I was raised with a dog as our family pet. After having to say goodbye to our 14-year-old Golden Retriever I've not wanted another pet. BUT a cat has adopted us. And I'm amazed at how he's like your Riley. She (we call her GiGi, short for Gopher Guard) just loves to hang out with us when we are outside. She just likes being with us, no matter what we're doing. Pretty darn cute! She'll always be an outdoor cat and she does a good job earning her keep!

Susan said...

Funny, when I briefly had my lovely barn cat, Gigi, she wanted in! I was in the process of changing her to an indoor cat when she disappeared. So, he's a good ratter? Can I borrow him???

Leigh said...

Carolyn, we lost a cat to the great outdoors. She just disappeared. I was really attached to her so it was devastating. She'd never been out before and absolutely loved it. She was the best mouser ever. Once day she didn't come home. We hunted and hunted. I suspect a hawk got her. Still, I wouldn't have done things differently. She was so happy being out and that counts for a lot.

Mama Pea, I agree. They say the safest cat is an indoor cat, but we've lot too many cats to disease to agree with that sentiment. Plus, we need somebody to do the job!

Janice, cats will do that! We had a stray try to adopt us last year. He wanted desperately to be an indoor cat. Riley though, despised him so off to the shelter he went.

Susan, there's no telling with a cat! LOL

trump said...

I grew-up with cats myself, so I still get a kick out of watching them play around. Richard

DFW said...

All our animals have been outdoor ones. We provide shelter and have a really shaded lot so it isn't too hot in the summer. They have always done their jobs well like, catching moles, guarding, warning, etc. Riley looks like he's having a blast!

Sherri B. said...

Cats can be very odd. Our Frederick has times when he just hangs out in the house and other times I start to worry a bit because he doesn't show up until late. I guess that's their job too....always keep us guessing.

xo

GrannyAnnie said...

He sounds like a wonderful, fun and loving cat. We miss them inside, but they are healthier outside this time of year. As soon as it gets cold, again, though, I am betting he will be back inside, snuggled up soundly against those feet once again.

Madness, Trouble, Squish and Milkbone said...

We think Riley needs a cat buddy. Maybe even a girl friend cat? Of course we think everybody needs more cats!

Sue said...

My 2 cats are the same way. I try to enforce an "in at night" policy, especially with the black boy, but they don't always listen. At least they haven't been bringing in live catches to release in the house lately like they did last summer. I joked that they were refreshing the gene pool of the house mice! They are both great hunters, which I greatly appreciate. The male even caught a packrat in the barn a couple of weeks ago. It's good that Riley is doing his job.

Leigh said...

Richard, they are fun, aren't they? We had both a cat and a dog while I was growing up. Cat had to stay in the house though because my dad didn't want it catching birds.

DFW, Riley is one happy guy. He's the only of our critters who has house privileges actually. Dogs, goats, and chickens all stay outside!

Sherri, it's hard not to worry, but you're right, it is their job. I know he's happier hunting than being a couch potato. :)

Anna, not only that, but there's no hunting when it gets that cold!

MTS&M, LOL. I would love another kitty, but Riley has always thought he should be the only cat. He didn't even care for his own sister!

Sue, we tried that too, but he yowls until we get up and let him out. Saw him this afternoon, chasing a tailless rat. He got distracted when he saw me so I told him to go get it! I left so he'd get down to business again. :)

Farmer Barb said...

Oh, how I would love a little help with the rodent population! My family has two with severe cat allergies, so no hunters until we have a barn to house it. I have to say, it would be a VERY fat cat. In my traps, I've already caught nine chipmunks, two mice and a very large rat. Yick. Cats are better.

Reasonable Season (Me) said...

What a cutie Riley is!

We have two housecats (we live in a small city), but one likes to go for walks with us in our fenced in back yard on his kitty leash. He's a riot.

So glad I found your blog today, Leigh! Looking forward to reading more posts. :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Riley....Sounds like our Tiger...he just loves to round up our girl's, but they don't think too much of it...lol! :)

Leigh said...

Barb, it's tough when there are allergies in the family. Sounds likeyou are doing a very find job of cat duties though. :)

Reasonable Season, thank you! Love it when a cat doesn't mind going for walks on a leash. :)

Pam, LOL on Tiger!

Unknown said...

"Keeps the snake population down" ...Yikes!

Ours have been hunting outside as well but they're mainly going after baby birds :(

Leigh said...

Tanya, I hate it when he gets birds too. Of course, hawks get more birds than Riley. I find piles of feathers here and there to let me know they got one.

chris said...

i'd say he's living the dream.