A trip to the cottage - Luna time...

When we decide to wend our weary way to Wales for the weekend Luna the cat comes with us. Well, she deserves the break and enjoys a couple of days away from it all. Not that her routine differs too much when we are there. She sleeps, eats, sleeps some more, and generally lazes around - it’s what cat do I suppose.

She travels pretty well once she is safely in her travel box, though getting her in it can be quite another matter. It’s almost that she seems to know when we are going and as soon as she gets a whiff of ‘going away’ activity she’s off to hide. We’ve taken to packing the night before and spending the hour or two before we leave whistling and looking casual so as not to drop her the hint. Even so she still seems to know. The funny thing is that she settles to the journey immediately and once we are there seems perfectly happy, so why all horse (or should that be cat) play?

At home Luna roams free outside as long as there is someone at home to look after her. She generally pops back every hour or so, mainly to get a treat stick I think. But the cottage is surrounded by countryside, so when we are there and to avoid her getting lost in the woods or attacked by wild beasts, we keep her on a harness. Again she doesn’t seem to mind and every morning jumps up on her chair and purrs until we strap her harness on. We secure her to the chair on a long leash and then she strolls outside to watch the birds all day.

The leash is long enough for her to have a stretch, but not quite long enough for her to reach the birds on the feeders. She never gives up trying though. The birds for their part seem to know that Luna can’t reach them so happily feed with Luna sitting only three feet away on the roof of the car. It's almost as if the birds are taking the piss. Sometimes she falls asleep there, stretched out to catch the sun, other times she sits on her chair and snoozes the day away dreaming of catching a sparrow or two.

It’s such a hard life for a cat on her hols.