Butt naked
Dear Patches,
This has been an extremely cold winter and I’ve been wearing my favourite jackets for warmth and comfort every day. Now that the days are warming up, my mom keeps removing my jacket during the day. I feel so naked! Mom says that my skin has to breathe and that I should stop being such a sissy. She then brushes my lush coat and smiles at me. How am I supposed to appear in public without a jacket?
Freezing Freddy
Patches: Surely there must have been a time before winter when you didn’t wear a jacket? Think back to the last summer when the days were warm. Did you wear a jacket then? You most probably got used to the comfort of a jacket and it now feels like a protective layer. But now that the days are getting warmer, you need to shake off the winter fluff and jackets, or you will start sweating like a pig. Lift your head and strut your fabulous, newly groomed coat while enjoying the sun’s rays on your back. While you’re at it, don’t forget to wear sunscreen
Trapped inside
Dear Patches,
Why doesn’t my mom allow me and my sibling cats to venture outside the house or catio? There is so much space to play and run outside. I can run very fast, and I want to show my siblings. And I can use my hunting skills to catch the birds who tease us by playing on the lawn. The neighbourhood cats, Felix and Thunder, also come visit us and laugh at us being all ‘caged up’. All we want to do is to explore the garden and climb a tree or two. Our dog, Fido, gets to play outside. That’s not fair!
Zesty Zorro
Patches: You might not see the dangers lurking around the garden, neighbourhood and streets, but your mom can. Besides the dogs next door who could injure you, there are cars passing by in the street that could run you over. There are also nasty people who don’t like cats and who might want to cause you harm. And what if you chase a bird and get lost? Once you start to explore, you might venture off and, before you know it, you’re lost.
Your mom is very wise to keep you inside the house. But you sound like very lucky, spoilt cats for having your own catio. There are many cats who are kept inside the house but who don’t have a catio to play in. So, count your blessings and stay safe inside where no disease, neighbourhood dog, dangerous people or crazy cats can harm you.
