Indigo

So I got a cat about a year and half ago. Some friends worry that I am turning into a cat lady, a not entirely unreasonable concern given that I took up crocheting again a few years ago and I also have a vintage fur coat. Not to fear, however. I am not really much of a cat person; I am simply an Indigo person. He makes me laugh, even when I am not doing well and want to hide from the world. He is also a pain in the ass, as I tell him regularly.

I am far more tolerant of Indigo's shortcomings than I would be of a person living with me. Maybe by being more tolerant with him I am learning how to build tolerance toward myself and others. It is possible.

When I come home in the evening and he hears the keys in the door, he crouches on the other side. If I am really late, he sometimes mewls a bit. Once I open the door, he launches himself outside, skids to a halt, and starts sniffing everything--the dying potted plants in front of my house, the pavement, the wheels of the neighbor's car. Of course if it is pouring rain, he immediately shoots back into the house.
Neither the cold nor light mists put him off.

Indigo is not a hardy adventurer. I leave the front door open and usually sit in the doorway while he is exploring the street. When he first started going outside about eight months ago, the littlest noise or appearance of a person scared him silly. Back inside he would go and cower in fear. Now he is more casual about his returns and is willing to venture out again once the coast is clear.

After a while I try to get him to come back in. Sometimes shaking a plastic container of his treats works. Sometimes he ignores me. If it is really cold and I get impatient, I chase him back into the house. He gets a treat then once inside.

My cousin convinced me to get a lead for the cat. It is really more of a toy we use occasionally inside the house for giggling purposes. Indigo would be mortified if I tried to make him wear it outside.