Clothesline?? What's that? Do have lots of trees in the backyard, though; hmm, I need to think on that - might work. In the commotion, Mordred had disappeared; since he can't jump, I figured he'd gone into the basement thru the pet door. After a while, I decided to check on him - no response. Called and called. Neighbors' dogs at the bottom of the hill heard me (we're in the country - lots of space), so obviously Mordred could hear me. Used the leaf blower to clean up some debris - thought that would scare him out of hiding. Nope. Finally came into the house & waiting quietly for a while, called him - no immediate response, but a few minutes later, he was sitting patiently at the back gate - which I'd forgotten to latch. Old and befuddled here. I guess he wandered through the gate; when I'd found it unlatched, I latched it, so the poor boy couldn't get back in. However, he's cuddled in his heated cuddler now, content to be inside. Blue hasn't asked again to go out; gee, I wonder why?