after having an unpleasant fight with #mochi the #catstr last night trying to put on his harness, i decided that it's just simply going to stay on him now, so he gets used to it being there, and so when i need to open the windows or it's sunny and i want him to get some rays i can just catch the hook of the extending leash i have and then work on getting him to follow me outside if that's what is in the offing.

it doesn't bother him at all, except when he's trying to clean his fur where the harness is. obviously i won't leave it on him all the time, and when it's off he'll get his clean.

he's not gonna be stressed, he simply isn't stressed about having the harness on, except at first, but the more he gets used to it, the less he is bothered. it reminds me of the scene in the game Stray where the b12 robot puts a harness on the cat's back to orb back into, and for the first 30 seconds or so the cat is skulking and posture low and nervous and then he gets over it.

that's how it is.

it's not mean or cruel, the cat doesn't really care either way. but i have to pay the bills for him getting an infection from a cat fight or picking up endless ticks (which happens all through summer here in madeira) or, i can just put the harness on him so that i can open the windows or give him some sunshine. no ticks, no scratches, no sorrowful boy operas. just a happy, shiny kitty who fights the rug and chases bits of plastic around.