We have never let any of our cats outside. Most of them have been content to stay
inside and observe the outside world through window screens and screen doors.
The only cat I ever let outside was my late Rocket. He was just a perfect gentleman.
He came to me when I called him, and we walked around together.
He chased chipmunks and ate grass, and when he was done, he would walk over to
the man door at the side of the garage and stare at the doorknob until I let him in.
Egad, but I miss that cat. There is definitely an empty hole in my heart the size
and shape of my Rocket.
Sometimes at night, I swear he’s sleeping on my hip like he used to do. I still cry.
I’ve never let my cats out, either, and in this area, it’s more of a safety thing than a preference. There are some coyotes in the arroyo to the south and west, and they prey on cats and small dogs, both of which are plentiful because people just don’t care.
It sounds like you miss Rocket about as much as I still miss The Late Great PV. *hug*
If you live a long life, and have a lot of pets, you probably end up with so many holes you look like SpongeBob.