CHANGE OF SEASONS AFFECTS TOM

We are having the first real change to chill October weather.  Warm in the daytime to a chill after the sun goes down.  Tom sits down at the patio door to go out a little before the light fades down to a near-dark twilight.  It is his habit, first of all, to look out the double lighted exit from the glass that does not open to assess the wild life in his sights.  When he is sure it suits him, he moves to the door and sits patiently.  It isn't always that he is patient.  If I am in the same room watching TV and am en-grossed in the program, he rears up and claws on the back of my upholstered chair.  He knows this will get a roar and a rise from me, and I will move to DRIVE him out.  Then he moves to the door and is put out. 

Every pet needs to be, mostly, an outdoor creature and not lose contact with his freedom in nature and the ability to protect himself.  I've had to compromise with Tom, because his first owner worked in the daytime; and the only time the owner was at home was at night, so that was when Tom had his outing.  There is a bandit cat that steals Tom's food, if I put the remainder of his early dinner out to early the scruffy gray cat steals it.  Timid Tom seems to let the bandit get away with it.  I have better luck if I wait until I close down for the night.  Setting his food dish out then, he is hungry enough to finish it off himself.