Miss Duchess Cat scares herself

Duchess is 9 years old.  She was born at an animal shelter on June 26, 2013. and her Gotcha Day was just a few months later, on September 3.  

She is most definitely a house cat.  Except for her annual well cat visit to the vet, Duchess never, ever, ever leaves the house.  

She rules over Drew’s house in a manner befitting her name.

  

  

She can often be seen in her favorite perch, surveying her kingdom.  (Though, being a Duchess, I think the correct word is “duchy”).

As far as we know, Miss Duchess’ delicate paws have never touched grass.  She does not play in the yard, and she certainly does not wander about the neighborhood.  Drew lives near a busy highway and doesn’t feel that it’s safe for his cat to go wandering.

And it’s not like the cat whines to go out.  She’s perfectly content to plant herself in front of a window and watch “the backyard show”.

Until one night last week.

Drew and I came home one evening to find his roommate’s ex wife on the patio.  Drew opened the screen door to talk with her for a few minutes.  

And Duchess walked out the door.  And walked across the patio.  And realized where she was.   She was OUTSIDE!

She let out a meow like I’ve never heard from her before.  A terrifying sound. A terrified sound. 

I could see Drew’s muscles tense, as if he were about to run over to the cat.  That would have been a bad thing, she would have interpreted his movements as being chased.  And she would have run further into the yard.

But when I stood in the doorway and sweetly called her name, she came to me.

For the first time in her life, she came when called.

I think she was relieved to be called into the house.

I don’t think she’ll be walking out that door again anytime soon.