Indoor/Outdoor carPets

Right from the "git go" our parents decided we were not going to be allowed to roam free in the great outdoors.. They had lost their last dear kitty, Figgy, to the mean streets of the mountain and weren't going to take any chances with us. (For which we are most thankful. It can be a big cruel world out there for little kitties.) However, after a few months of our running thru the house at top speed and longingly staring out the windows, our dad took pity on us. He gave Mom the choice of building her the pond she always wanted or building a huge cat pen for us. Well, there was never any question as to her answer to that one! Our house already had an 8 x 20 foot over hang behind it that Dad was just using to store his unimportant junk under. (Two by fours and stuff for his job, sheesh.) But being the great guy he is, he moved everything and framed in our pen, adding carpeted runs at different interesting levels, a spiral staircase going to the ceiling, a bungee cord with a feather attached, soft cedar shavings to walk on. It regular palace! Of course we love it. Only problem was getting to it. Dad installed two pet doors, one from the kitchen into the garage, the other from the garage door into our pen. Well, I wasn't about to be the first one to put my nose up against that plastic! Mom and Dad made complete fools of themselves, crawling around on their hands and knees, coaxing us to go through the pet doors. Where's a video camera when you need one? Finally Mr. Whipple stopped laughing long enough to push the door open with his paw and go through. Once I saw that it was safe, I gave it a try using the same paws first method. It worked, but drats! That just got us into the garage. We had to do it again to get out to our kitty kage. Looking back at it now, I wonder what all the fuss was about. Now we go flying in and out of those doors like the Hounds of Baskerville were on our tails. However, our favorite way into our play pen in the summer is still through the kitchen window above the sink that our parents so thoughtfully leave open and unscreened for us. (Good thing we live in Oregon where the bugs aren't too plentiful. Altho, it is fun trying to catch the few flies and moths that get into the house.) We spend many satisfying hours out in our kitty kage getting fresh air but remaining safe. Next time I write I'll tell you about all the kewl woodland friends we have made while out there.