It IS good to have your cat back uneaten! A true Christmas blessing.

We live on 33 acres of trees and rocks -- full of all sorts of critters from coyotes and fishers to black bear and great horned owls. (Lost a grizzled canny old tom once to a great horned owl.)

Our Rufus has never been allowed out. He's way too curious, would get distracted, lost and et.

Sabine spent the first 10 years of her life going outside (and inside) at will and being a very very savvy cat in the ways of the wild (including cars on Priest Road). Then she got trapped in our up-the-hill neighbor's cellar for five days...after which Curmudgeon spotted a fisher just off the corner of the quarter deck. Sabine became an inside cat.

Tickle Smokey behind the ears for me, Bobert! Happy Christmas!

Linn