As you may know, mom will be attending her second BlogPaws conference in June. Last year, even though she had planned to take me, she ended up going by herself. My harness training just didn’t go as planned!
For this year’s conference, she really wants me to go with her so she had planned to work diligently on my harness training and getting me out in public. So far, the weather has put a damper on that. It has been raining almost steadily since Christmas. Mom says rain won’t make me melt but she wants my trips out to be pleasant.
Here I am, posing in my harness, hoping for more treats.
On Monday, mom got out the treats and I ran through my tricks a couple of times, so far sit, high five and up. Then the harness went on. No problem. We do this often.
I followed mom around for a while hoping for more treats so I even posed for a couple of photos without being asked.
Finally, it wasn’t raining and the sun was out. We were actually getting a few sun puddles since the sun is getting high enough in the sky that it gets through the trees more. Echo and Ocean were snuggling in to one so I went to look for one of my own.
Then it happened. Mom picked me up, put me in my carrier and zipped it up! I love laying in my carrier in front of the heater but I know what that zipper means. I settled in and waited for the inevitable.
Mom gathered her stuff then picked me up and slung the carrier over her shoulder. Out we went into the cold. She put me in the back seat and securely belted me in this time. While we drove, I sang her a bit of a song but remembered from last time that it was really not appreciated and got me nowhere so I eventually gave up. We made one short trip in the rain a couple of weeks ago, trying out the snug-fitting purple harness to see if it would work like a thunder shirt but it made no difference. I sang the whole time. Mind you, I’m ladylike about it but it was the never ending song.
Mom made a stop at the Feed Barn to photograph kitties for yesterday’s post and left me in the car while she did that. I laid down and tried to relax. Even though it was chilly out, it was quite snug and comfy in my carrier. Mom came back out and we drove another short distance.
This time, when mom got out of the car, she brought back a shopping cart. She unbuckled me and put me in the seat. What the heck? What was going on? We were at Petco. My first time ever at a pet store, or anywhere for that matter. All the other times I’ve been in a car, I’ve stayed in it and only gotten out to go to the house.
Mom rolled the shopping cart into the store. That was kind of an interesting sensation. She rolled me around and I only voiced a concern a couple of times. When she stopped, though, I rubbed on the carrier and silently asked to be let out. No matter how much I asked, she wouldn’t open the zipper even a little bit.
As long as we were moving, I liked that feeling and enjoyed looking around. Mom took me to the treats and picked out another freeze-dried treat for me as a reward.
I liked rolling around in the shopping cart
Once I was safely back in the car, mom opened the treats and slipped one in my carrier. No thanks, mom. Let me out! No go. I had to stay in my carrier until we got home. I was very quiet on the way home, reflecting on my adventure. But I didn’t eat the treat!
Mom said she was very proud of me and was more hopeful that I would come around and be comfortable in pubic by June. She said, “You just may turn out to be an adventure cat like Hollywood after all.”
Baby steps, right? I have a long way to go to become as confident as my pals Summer and Sophie but I think I can do it! Do you know an adventure cat?
Wishing you a day of wonder and excitement.
Christy Paws
This is a blog hop. Click on the badges to see more entries or join in the fun.
Pingback: Best Tips for Traveling with Cats - A Roundup - Christy Paws
Pingback: I Couldn't Fool You - More Car Time - Christy Paws
Ooooops, we commented in da wrong pplace. MOL Mommy’s tured, purrlease furgive us. MOL
Y Dat’s pawsum Christy. We’s so purroud of you. And gettin’ out and ’bout is such fun. We just luv yous harness, where did you get it? Me’s good harness broke and me needs another one. Since eatin’ such good foods me has put on a little more weight and me’s old harnesses don’t fit anymore. Mommy sez sumfin’ ’bout how they don’t meet in da middle anymore. MOL Sorry you kuldn’t get out at da Petco. They have lots of fun fings to play on.
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
Good luck with the harness training – it sounds like you’re making great progress. The Pawesome Cats are all harness trained but we don’t go “out” our adventures are restricted to the garden at home.
Great trip! Mom Paula says she wishes she’d harness trained us.
Your kitty is adorable and really rocking that harness.
That was quite an adventure you had! We’ve never done anything like that but we’ve heard all about Summer and Sophie going to BlogPaws last year. Mommy isn’t going to BP this year but she would have loved to meet you there too! Maybe another time.
Be extra good in your kennel and on your harness. I want to meet you in Phoenix!
Oh you beautiful baby! Here I am to read about the Song of Our People as you sang for a bit on the way out for your small training trip, I haven;t said anything but for me, it always means the v-e-t. Sigh,
We know you can do it! You are very brave…
Noodle and crew
Yes, several people take their cats out on leashes around the neighborhood including to a potluck! I hope your leash training continues to go well.
What a beautiful cat! And terrific that the harness works so well. My old lady cat Seren does very well on harness…the young boy cat is less enthralled.
Kudos to mom for being consistent and diligent about your Adventure Cat training! I know you’ll be an adventure cat by June and I look forward to meeting you and mom at BlogPaws2016! I am loving your animal print harness, it’s so dress-like, it’s So chic!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Woohoo you’ll soon be an adventurer just like Me!And bunnies are supposed to be more timid then cats,xx Speedy
Really? Because of you I thought bunnies were brave!
I applaud you! First of all I can’t imagine either of my cats allowing me to put a harness on them, never mind going to the pet store. Well done!
That’s wonderful and you will be a pro in no time!!!
Keep up the great work, you are doing fantastic!
Keep up the good work and hopefully, we can meet in Arizona!
You’re so brave ! We would never like to go out like this with a lot of people around us ! Purrs
You’re a brave kitty. I would never want to be out in public like that – all those noises and people and strange things are too stressful for me.
Awesome job, Christy! You are a very brave kitty, and we bet you WILL be an adventure cat some day soon. 🙂
No. That doesn’t sound like me. Although the pet store sounds interesting. You are brave.
What a fun adventure, Christy. We’re glad you did well. The mom hopes to meet you at BP.
That is awesome, Christy! And I want to add, your harness is adorable.
Thanks, Summer. Mom has tried to find me a couple more cute harnesses but the pet stores here don’t seem to cater to cats like down south!
What a great first adventure! Maybe next time you will get to come out of your carrier — it’s way more fun that way!!! Hope to see you at BP!!
Thanks! Hope to see you too. I’m trying really hard.
Way to go Christy!
Carmine went to PetSmart with me once, and he seemed to be rather curious about it all. I’d love to take him out more.
I bet you will like going out the more you do it. Your mom is right – baby steps are the way to go. You will get there! 🙂
I know you can do it. And how nice that you got some treats.
Oh, Christy. Sounds like a great adventure. I did not eat on an adventure for the first several times. Even now I will only eat specific moist foods on adventures. Keep working on the adventures. They get easier and better every time.
Thanks! Good to know from such an experienced adventure cat.
my stars christy; you’re very brave and adventurous…I would have sang a song to the great BAST while still in the house in my carrier …..and no amount of cold hard cash would have gotten me out the door….you should be very proud of yourself; I know you will do FABulously in June…hugs from dai$y =^..*= ♥♥♥
Thanks for the encouragement and kind words, dai$sy!
***Hi-5’sss*** on goin fur a ride an to thee store!!! Wee both have purpull carrierss….BERRY kewl Christy! Mee luvss to go inn mee carrier on thee Walker an go ‘zoomie zoomie’ arudn thee building!
Wee are goin to try harness trainin inn a few monthss. Maybee…will deepend on mee 😉
keep on ‘truckin’ mee furend!
~~head rubsss~~ Siddhartha henry~~
Thanks for the encouragement! I hope your harness training goes well. They say the earlier you start the better. I was six!
Mee onlee 19 months old so there mite bee hope fur me….maybee….
Mee tried last year butt mee rolled an freeked an it did not go well. LadyMum hopess me beein more ‘mature’; mee will like thee harness now….
Gotta give LadyMum credit fu beein pawsisitve rite Christy?
**paw kissesss** Siddhartha Henry xxxx