The Cat Pen

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Recent conversation on Facebook about a cat raised in the outdoors and his owner who’s given up keeping him indoors, made me think about the cat pen I constructed ten years ago.

Before the pen, I had two cats who were unable to escape from our back yard: One was too clumsy and one was too old to get over the six-foot fence. They had full use of the great outdoors through a cat door in the back wall of our family-room.

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After the senior cats passed, we acquired two young felines who were much more inquisitive and agile. They could jump over any height fence or even the garage to escape from their perceived prison.

I did some research and discovered cat pens on the internet. They looked like a good solution, and since I had the tools necessary for the construction, I set to work. With a few two-by-fours, recycled rolled plastic fencing, deck screws and some serious elbow grease, I built the cats a spacious, safe, entertaining oasis they could access using the existing family-room cat door.

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The cat pen is roomy enough to allow for a human visitor to sit in a deck chair and is shaded by an adjacent wisteria. As time went on, I added ramps and upper levels, so the beasties could get exercise, and look down on the great-wild-world from above. I eventually moved the litter box outdoors, as well, contained in a weather-proof deck box with another cat door installed for access.

All these years later, Louie – our only remaining cat – goes in and out, day or night, all-year-round, safe from other predators and without annoying the neighbours.

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I thoroughly believe that a cat pen is the only way to go when you have a feline friend who truly adores the call of the wide wild world. No doubt about it, you’ll both love it!

150 Years

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Memories from our 5th Annual

Canada Day Street Party & Fireworks

This Canada Day, the 150th anniversary of our country's confederation, friends and neighbours gathered for a 5th annual street party and fireworks display.

For years we had celebrated Victoria Day with a neighbourhood fireworks send up, until someone wisely suggested that we might find the weather better more often in July.

This year's big day was the first since the date switch that we've had to contend with a two-hour rain delay. But, we didn't let that stop the festivities.

Games and music started mid-afternoon, before Doug and I had to nip out to fulfill our part-time work commitments. When we returned, the rain had stopped; so, the games continued while the barbeque was fired up for hamburgs and hotdogs to go with the pot-luck salads, munchies and desserts.

With dusk, came the much anticipated fireworks display and sparklers for the children to cap off another fun neighbourhood Canada Day celebration.

This year's party was extra-special for me because all of my three daughters were in attendance, something that doesn't happen every year. I'm happy we were able to get a photo of the four of us together on the occasion of Canada's 150 years as a country.

I'm also glad we have such great neighbours, with whom we can spend quality time, whether it's a special occasion or not.

Happy 150th Canada!