When Scamper and Junior first started coming around on a regular basis, we built them an outdoor cat tree and shelter. Junior used the shelter, especially when Mom Cat went running off and told him to STAY. She was weaning him and he’d just sit in that little castle and look very frightened. Then, as you know, he moved into the Big Castle when he learned about how the humans had beds and chairs and couches. No, Junior is not a dummy. He moved up, and he’s pretty pleased about it all.

So right before winter, we thought about dismantling the castle since it wasn’t being used. Well, Scamp must have heard about our plans. She started sleeping in the little shelter part. Then, when the weather warmed up, she decided the tree part wasn’t so bad either:

Of course when the human goes outside to take a picture of her using her castle, she wants nothing to do with any of it:

She hasn’t changed much. She came in on the coldest nights and learned that the humans leave her alone if she tucks herself under the couch. She even got pretty used to the door being closed and accepting she couldn’t get out until the humans opened it again. (Except for when she could get her paw under it and pry it open, but that’s another story.)

She hangs out much more than she used to, but I don’t think we’re in danger of her becoming a lap cat.