Our cat Marnie Loves hanging out in our lanai, but…

Marnie was adopted from a Florida kill shelter. She was there because she previously lived in a hoarder’s house, although we don’t know anything else about her. Marnie is very comfortable as an indoor cat, but she loves being in our screened-in lanai.

Both our cats are indoor cats, for many reasons: it’s safer. But Marnie would prefer to be in the lanai all the time, except at bedtime because she prefers to sleep with us.

We finally decided to give Marnie a chance to explore beyond the lanai. But it would be irresponsible to simply open the door and let her go. Maybe she’d run after a squirrel and get lost. Bad things can happen to outdoor cats.

So we put her harness on, attached to a leash. This was a great first step for her, and for us. She walked slowly and carefully, but she knew she was safe. She was fine and didn’t want to run off or hide.

Marnie settled under this bush, and relaxed. She laid there for a while, quite content.

The next time Marnie goes outside, she will wear her harness, and we will keep a leash on her. Her little adventures will always be supervised; we want to keep Marnie safe and secure. Some people may eventually let their cat loose, or maybe they have a completely enclosed and secure yard. But if your taking your cat outside for the first time, doing it gradually and safely is always recommended — that’s why we suggest your cat wears a harness and has a leash. And as far as Marnie is concerned, she is okay with being near us.