I am about to go out for the evening but

I allowed Prince in when I heard the distant rumble of thunder. He has eaten from both cats' plates leaving them disgusted again with him. There is some unspoken cat etiquette he just cant get- plus he has a twig stuck in his side fur. Luna has left the room and sits by me as I type. Puma goes thru his cat door into the garage. This always leaves Prince agog with wonder: how did Puma disappear through the wall? Where did Luna creep off to without a backward glance at me?

Sometimes Luna gives him "the look." Dont even try to walk past me.

Now he howls and calls. I answer where I am. I think he wants Luna or Puma to answer but they get amazingly quiet. Then he cries. On and off this goes for as long as I can bear. I say OK (he understands this) and open the glass door onto the porch to let him out. He pauses at the screen door: should I go or should I stay? (If you have heard that song on the radio, it was written by a feral cat who made a fortune on it but in typical feral behavior, squandered the money immediately and recklessly- they really dont change.)

He goes outside. Click, I lock the door. This routine is repeated night after night- with variations. Much patience is needed adopting such a cat. On his side as well, ofcourse.

Prince, waiting to be let out, again.