In an unusual turn of events, Delhi is colder than the Cottage in the Kumaon hills right now. It might be because the sun shines up there as opposed to here, where we suffer a sky of grey sludge, day in and day out. I miss the hills.
The work I need to finish here in this cradle of civilisation doesn’t allow me to go up to the green hills just yet. What is this work? The cats have been ill so that all of January went by in a blur of daily vet visits. This illness (dysentery and worms) was brought on by Rosie’s mad dash for freedom just before I left the capital city for Calcutta for Christmas.
I shoved down the panic, tamped it down tight and told myself it would be alright. My cleaning lady was to come morning and evening to feed the cats and tickle their chins while I’m away so we assumed Rosie would find her way home for both these essential requirements - food and cuddles. She must have eaten somewhere else and human company has never been high on her list of needs. She was out for 8 days, in the freezing cold. When she did come home, she was impossibly wild, poor thing. She also had dysentery. My worry and fear, the time spent ferrying animals to the vet, the expense, the endless litter box cleaning in weather where unnecessary hand washing is best avoided means I have had enough. I’m not going to tolerate escape attempts. The humour has left the situation.
I live in a residential area, there is a park opposite my house but I’d rather my cats were safe at home. My project now is to build a Catio. I live on the first floor and the flat has three narrow balconies. At least one of the south facing ones can be turned into a lovely outdoor space with climbing ropes, my already thriving tomato bushes and splashes of marigold, some steps and ledges and of course, the most important requirement, cat proof netting.
I know exactly the netting I need. It’s 14 gage galvanised iron wire which is firm enough to prevent cats from pushing it apart but not so strong that it will block my view and, just as importantly, bankrupt me.
I headed to Govindpuri hardware stores in my quest for this perfect fencing yesterday. You cannot park a car in Govindpuri, nor will a cab drive you there and wait for you. You need a chauffeur, or a willing partner, or nerves of steel and the attitude of a truck driver. I couldn’t wait for a partner of any kind because my impatience for the catio is at an all time high. Accordingly I plumbed the depths of my personality for the truck driver’s devil may care attitude. I double parked in front of my favourite hardware store, vaulted out of the car and into the store chock a block with plumbers and contractors, waving my phone with the photo of my requirement for fencing. The shopkeeper continued his loud conversation with someone, refusing to look in my direction. His eyelids didn’t even flutter. I aspire to his level of concentration. Eventually, a harried looking lackey raised his chin at me in an unspoken question. I waved the phone at him. After a cursory glance at the photo he asked if I wanted wire cutters. To cut a long story short - they didn’t have the fencing, directing me to go behind the Durga Temple.
Yes, those were the directions. Since I didn’t want to admit my ignorance about this apparently well known landmark I headed in the general direction they’d waved their hand at, and soon came upon a large building painted terracotta red, straddling half the road, as only a temple is permitted to. Behind it I eventually found the store. They offered me chicken wire. They didn’t have it either.
Another store, in another part of town, stocked only 18 gage wire. That’s when I decided to salvage the rest of my day and head home to warm blankets on the sofa and several disgruntled cats.
The contractor who I thought would work with me has stopped taking my calls. I could feel my Catio dreams taking wings.
But the cats keep tripping me up, getting under foot, waiting by the front door for an opportunity to dash out, waiting by the balcony door for a chance to sniff at the rocket leaves. They need some outdoor time. I just couldn’t give up.
I decided I would go to the hardware market in Old Delhi. Chawri Bazaar. Accessible only by Metro. I would find the fencing, pay for it and have it transported to me. I checked on the internet for possible shops in Chawri Bazaar that stock the fencing. And I was directed to Amazon. Today they had exactly what I wanted. I’m not a great fan of Amazon and did feel it would be an adventure to head to Chawri Bazaar instead, but, I have been ill, you can read about it tomorrow at Fine Wine, and so I ordered it off Amazon and soon, very soon, we will build a Catio.