Fortifying the Wall

I had always figured we had a fairly impenetrable wall around out patio, but after the recent kitty escape I had to admit there may be a few chinks in its armor. Still I figured it must just not be tall enough and that he had finally realized that he could clear six feet.  I mean he can jump on top of our dresser and get to the top of the fridge so he must be able to jump the fence. So the only solution was ban him from ever going outside again. However, Kristin (ever more astute than I am) quickly discerned his true point of egress.

The newly repaired gap in the fence

There is a small gap in the fence where the side going one direction butts up against a 2x4 support beam laid horizontally across the back of the side going the other way. When we first moved here that gap was filled by a stack of landscaping pavers and I never gave it any thought. I wouldn't have even thought a cat could fit through anyway. Well the next door neighbors when we moved here had 4 cats so obviously they had figured things out and closed the gap. Anyway, Kristin had been out on the patio and let Flint come out while she kept watch kind of like a prison work release. She noticed that he kept sneaking over to that corner and standing up on his back legs looking into the space.  When she walked over there she saw the pavers were gone. I was still dubious that his fat little body could squeeze through so I decided we needed a test. I picked him up and set him on the 2x4 while still holding him around his belly. Sure enough he took off scampering through the gap and I had to drag him back by his gut.

Immediately after writing this blog I looked outside to see this

So now to re-secure our domain. My first thought was to stuff some more pavers in there, but if the new neighbors pulled the old ones out maybe they'd take these too, and if they fell out on their own it wouldn't be secure enough anyway.  I decided the only solution was to cut a new 2x4 to length and screw it in tight. I felt like Nehemiah trying to rebuild the wall and being harassed at every turn. Except my nemesis was just a little gray cat pawing all over me while I tried to work. Despite his best efforts the fence is now repaired and he must resign himself to weeping and wailing and gnashing his teeth wishing he could be on the other side.

Obviously not as insurmountable as I had assumed

 P.S.
Well as the pictures show this cat is undaunted. He has seen the world on the other side of the wardrobe and will not rest until he has returned. I had just finished typing this blog and was feeling generous so I decided to let the kitty out for a roam. Who doesn't like to see their adversaries have to view their defeat? Well that confidence got kicked out of me pretty quick when I looked out to see Flint doing his best impression of Wilson from Home Improvement. He then flaunted his abilities in my face by walking the tightrope. This round belongs to you Captain Flint. Time for me to up the ante.