Smudge, unfairly denied the right to go outside in 2 degree (Fahrenheit, -16 Celsius) weather, looks reprovingly at those who would deny him his freedom
@scalzi I see that he’s prepared to do his Braveheart impression.
@scalzi He’s probably more used to the tropical volcanic island climate, so you’re doing him a favor.
@scalzi strong same. Ours is demanding to know why the outside is broken. Sitting on the doormat full of snow....and blame.
@scalzi
Our mistreated animals have been crying at the door, begging to step out on the snow into -7 degrees weather. The cruelty.
@scalzi It's clearly your fault for not having a door that leads to where it's not 2F. I hear Heinlein had that issue as well.
@scalzi The Dude has similarly chastened us, but it's "only" in the teens (℉, -10 ℃ give or take) here. We remain steadfast.
@scalzi Wait. You've got a Smudge too??
@scalzi Human, you make light in the darkness, you have your living room at a cozy temperature. Now make it spring outside for me, you selfish.

@scalzi

He's a real cutie. <3

I've got my own Smudge (and Suki) attached here. (Smudge is the grey tabby.)

@scalzi Our Oliver also keeps wanting to go out, despite not having his front claws (he was already declawed before he was adopted) and not knowing the neighborhood (he moved with his Daddy). I keep trying to explain to him that the other cats roaming the neighborhood would probably rather fight him, but....
@scalzi sounds like the beginning of Heinlein’s The door into summer.
@scalzi At this point Mastodon is 75% cat pictures😍
@scalzi Smudge? He didn’t happen to come from Tenneessee, did he? My cat has a brother named Smudge, they both came from there.
@scalzi you who deny me my joy earn not your peace
@scalzi yeah, my guys went out yesterday at -20C came back in in 5 min. Today, brave boi wanted out… smart girl sniffed the cold -17C, and she backed away from the door. Brave boy is in 2 minutes later. “I’ll use the litter box, thanx.”
@scalzi Wow, he's got very similar markings to my buddy James!

@scalzi I'm with Smudge on this.

It may be coloured by coming from Norway (and Northern Norway at that), but keeping a cat indoors at -16°C seems excessive.

At least if that cat wishes to go out.

(If the cat stops dead in the door, doesn't want to go out and doesn't want to come back in and keeps the door from being closed... then I see the point)

@scalzi he wants the freedom to go outside and protest that it's too cold to go outside. 😼🐾 💖
@scalzi We have a sun room that is downright frigid, maybe a bit less than the outside but still super cold. Kayla, our little opinionated puss, decides she wants to go outside any time we are in the kitchen that leads to that sun room. The other day I let her, yesterday when it was -23 out, I did not. She grumbled about it but she would have simply turned her tush around and sauntered back in almost immediately had I spared the time to allow it. Silly fur butts.