Wednesday, May 4, 2005

The Cat Tent

In my last entry I promised I’d explain the comment I made about building a tent for a cat. Okay, here it goes.

As I have traveled through J-Land, I have sat on more than one back porch listening to you tell me a story about a beloved pet. Yes, there are so many pet stories here in J-Land that I would not have believed it a week or two ago had you told me that I would be adding one more to the mix. No, I am not tiring of your pet stories, I just didn’t think I would be writing one.

Many of you know that we moved into a new house shortly before I started this journal. One of the best features of the house we moved from was the screened porch in back. It was perched over the pond behind us and we loved to sit and watch the wildlife from our protected vantagepoint.

My wife’s sister lives with us these days and she brought with her a little friend whom we have all grown to love. He is a black cat named Blanca. Yes, we do know Blanca means white, LOL!

Blanca loved the screened porch and would spend hours sitting out there soaking in the scenery and watching the critters through the screen. It was his favorite place.

The new house has a concrete patio slab out back, but no screened porch. After exploring and getting to know his new environs, Blanca would see us go in and out the back door, but was not allowed out. Blanca has been an indoor-only cat since he was a little kitten. He is fourteen now.

Thinking that this back door led out to a porch like at the old house, Blanca started sitting at the door begging to be let out on what he thought was a porch. I have to admit it broke my heart not to be able to let him out.

So, Sister and I put our heads together and came up with an inexpensive solution. I went shopping and found a screened tent enclosure that would fit over the concrete patio slab. We got some industrial strength velcro and velcro’d the bottom of the tent to the slab so Blanca could not get out under the sides all around.

I spent one full evening after work last week putting up the tent and positioning it over the slab. The next night was spent putting down the velcro and securing it properly. Sister then got some carpeted mats and laid them down and put our patio furniture inside the enclosure. Voila… instant-screened room for the cat right out the back door. He loves it!

   

I must confess that after sitting with Blanca in his new screened room, I really like it, too. The bugs can really be bad in these parts this time of year and sitting in the screened enclosure has allowed us to really start enjoying our new back yard every evening. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!!

 

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's a lot of trouble to go to, for a cat.  You must really like him.

Anonymous said...

i think it sounds like a great idea to have made that...this summer u are going to be so happy u did...this way u can enjoy being outside in the evenings and not be eaten alive by mosquitos...and bianca looks like he is loving it also! hey, we all love pet stories here in j-land! have a great wednesday..

linda
http://journals.aol.com/lindainspokane/LifewithLinny
http://journals.aol.com/lindainspokane/LinnysLuciousLickings

Anonymous said...

Genius I say!!!!!!    Very, very, cool....the things we do for the ones we love, even the furry ones. Awesome Sam.  Robin

Anonymous said...

Never mind the cat.   That spot looks suitable for ME!

Anonymous said...

Ahhh ... cat tent? Riiiiiiiiiight!
Nice story though. If I were you I's stick to it too.
Enjoy your ah, I mean the cat's, bug free evenings on the pond!
       
            *** Coy ***  


 

Anonymous said...

lalalala...  Boatman told a pet story lalalala....  welcome to J-land.. where sometimes you'll say things you swore you never would!  lol,  but the screened in porch was a great idea for everyone!  

Anonymous said...

this is VERY sweet and very loving and entirely delightful!!! You gave me a chuckle this a.m. Sam!!!!! judi

Anonymous said...

brillian idea!

Anonymous said...

Yea cat tent. Huhuhh LOL Love it! The velcro was a great idea! The bugs are going to be bad this year! The winter was too easy on them. Enjoy your tent. I mean I hope Blanca enjoys his tent.

Anonymous said...

Now that is a great idea~  Lucky Blanca inspired a place that you can all enjoy.  Cats are great for prompting such ingenuity, sometimes  :)

Betting many a summer day will be spent in the safety of the cat tent.... I know I want one, now  ;)

Cat

PS~Did you get my email for my other journal?

Anonymous said...

What a great story and the pic with it!  I construct little houses made of cardboard and line it for our cats in the winter.  Everyone laughs but the cats keep warm.  They love their boxes.

Anonymous said...

That is so sweet! (and what a beautiful cat) I see my ferret isn't the only spoiled one out here in J-Land :) I thought it was going to be a small tent, just for him, but now you can all enjoy the outdoors together. Very cool. ~ Lori

Anonymous said...

awwwwwwwwwwww how sweet!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

That is so cool!!!! LOL the things we do for pets!!!! nice!
~Julie~
http://journals.aol.com/joolsinwa/randommusingsofmymind

Anonymous said...

A very creative solution!  That's one lucky cat!

~Laurie

Anonymous said...

WOW! I am so impressed. That is one lucky cat.
*Barb- http://journals.aol.com/barbpinion/HEYLETSTALK

Anonymous said...

Aww Sam!  What a great idea!!!
Connie

Anonymous said...

Awww...very cool!  JAE

Anonymous said...

Blanca's own sitting room.  She is very lucky indeed.  :)
Tami

Anonymous said...

LOL! The things we do for the 'furkids' in our lives... however, this one at least looks like it will offer benefits for all of the human types as well! Very ingenious of you all...
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind

Anonymous said...

Very clever!   It must be lovely out there in the evening.  Pennie

Anonymous said...

Sam :)

What a great idea! I better not let Elvis read this! :) Great entry my friend!

Always, Carly :)

Anonymous said...

It's like a condo.  I love it!

Anonymous said...

O gawd...that is toooooooo cute..by the way I have a kit that looks just like Blanca...green eyes and all....they are a hoot!

E

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful idea! Our cat loves to be in the fenced in area but once in awhile he will escape to the front yard. His front paws are declawed and this worries me. I am actually thinking this might be a solution for him. He loves being outdoors. He watched our birdfeeder with his teeth chattering! I love animals. Nelle

Anonymous said...

ROFL - I am laughing that someone as obviosly handy as you needed a cat to make this step! I LOVE IT! It's a perfect "tent" ~Sooz

Anonymous said...

Aww! What a nice thing to do for the cat! Mine is 14 also. When he was a kitten, I lived in a place with a 3-season porch (screens and windows). He loved it out there. We haven't had an "outdoor" spot for him ever since then. I have a deck now, but I worry he'll go for a bird and end up falling off the 2nd story railing. I would love to convert the deck into a 3 season porch or a sun room...maybe one of these days.

Anonymous said...

My friend built a cat house...Lil Miss White Cat loves it!:)

Anonymous said...

awww .. now you've gone and made me cry !!  i wish more people were like you !! sniffle sniffle :)
pamela

Anonymous said...

You're on to something with this, Sam!  And, the pictures of Blanca in her Cat Tent are the cat's meow!  ...ahhhh, the things we do for our pet's comfort!  Reminds me of the time I put my little dog in my neighbor's child's stroller because I thought she was too tired to make it home.  : )
Best,
Judith
http://journals.aol.com/jtuwliens/MirrorMirrorontheWall

Anonymous said...

I have a giant playpen oops tent just like this almost only I use it to contain my little ankle biters. Of course you would have to go back into my archieves to view it. I saw this and thought about my tent, lmao. Brandy