My cat is always trying to squeeze past us and run out the door whenever we open it, so today I figured I'd carry him with me to the mailbox and let him get a little taste of outside. I thought it would make him happy. As usual, all I had to do was go over to the door to get his attention and he came running. Picked him up--which he tends to enjoy btw, so I know being held wasn't the problem--and walked out to the parking lot with him.
As soon as we got a good distance from the front door, he started crying. Then he saw a car sitting idle in the parking lot and cried even louder, trying to squirm away. I checked the mail real quick and turned around, and he whined until we got back to the door. I guess actually being outside was a little more than he bargained for!

Your pets (or kids, friends, whoever) ever REALLY INSIST THEY NEED THIS THING, only to find out it's not what they wanted at all? It's kind of hilarious.

@MaxIsConfused: there, there... at least after your harrowing adventure, you can come inside and curl up for a well-deserved nap! that's what the cat did, anyway. he thinks he's earned it.

They do have harnesses; we just haven't spent much time trying to get them used to those since the first attempt. We took the cats in the back yard, since the gaps in the fence are wide enough they could easily escape, and they didn't really care for the harnesses but liked being in the yard. I've been cutting down vines and spraying grass killer to try and prep the yard so we can start decorating/planting, and when that's done we'll probably just staple some chicken wire or something around the bottom half of the fence so the cats can go out there and explore. Would still like to try taking them on walks at some point, though I don't know if they'd enjoy being out around the neighborhood if our parking lot test is any indication lol.
I wouldn't want them roaming around the neighborhood on their own, though; lots of stray cats, kids, and dogs around here.