And in one bound he was free

This is an extract from the book Cats with Purrsonalities

As Freddie became older I thought he needed to do more exercise particularly as he had recently been diagnosed with diabetes. We needed to try every possible way to reduce his blood sugar to levels where he didn’t need two injections of insulin per day. I decided that I should try and take him for a walk around the garden and along the back alleys of the neighbourhood.

I tried a lead normally used for a dog, but this didn’t work as Freddie just sat down on the ground and invited me to pull him along, which I didn’t want to do as he could have been easily hurt. I decided something more sophisticated was required, so I went to a specialist pet store and sought their advice. They provided me with a proper harness with three loops and two areas of leather that would provide comfort for his back and chest. I went home and thought I would try the harness straightaway.

Freddie always enjoyed any attention, so putting the harness was quite straightforward. He was purring as I placed each of his front paws through separate loops and his head through the third loop. One of the pieces of leather fitted comfortably against his chest and the other one on his back, so he looked like he was wearing a saddle. Freddie then realised he felt trapped and started to roll around on the carpet, but he couldn’t get out of the harness.

I pulled on the lead and dragged Freddie across the carpet. He started to yowl. I stood him up and he immediately sat down. I stood him up again and pulled the lead so that he couldn’t fall down again. He swiped the lead with his paw and tried to bite it. He did walk a few paces and then sat down again. I picked him up and carried him down to the lawn, which would be a softer place to start practising taking Freddie for a walk.

I placed Freddie on the ground and pulled the lead. He stood up and miaowed and walked a step before sitting down on the ground. I pulled the lead and he stood up and took two paces. He then shook his head. He raised his left front paw and shook it. He placed this paw on the ground and then raised his right front paw and shook it. He then miaowed and raised his back before diving down on to the grass.

He miaowed a couple of times and then in a blur of movement he divested himself of the harness and left it lying on the ground. He took a couple of shortish jumps and then miaowed whilst looking directly at me as if to say “And in one bound he was free.”

This is an extract from the book Cats with Purrsonalities