Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: scared
  • Music: Counting Crows, "Murder of One."

Oh sweet Great Pumpkin cats are hard on the heart.

Thomas can open doors.

Thomas has been able to open doors for a while now.

Thomas has never previously opened the front door. So this was new.

I got up to get ready for bed and discovered the front door of the house standing open, and an utter absence of cats. This, naturally, triggered INSTANT HYSTERIA, and lots of frenzied cat-calling, which probably frightened the neighbors.

Lilly came immediately, looking faintly ashamed of herself, and limping slightly. Thomas was in the yard, sniffing things, and came when called. I closed the door and turned to inspect Lilly's paw...during which pause Thomas OPENED THE DOOR again and let himself back outside.

I retrieved Thomas, called my mother, put on trousers, went outside, locked the door, and began searching the neighborhood for Alice. I found her halfway down the block, investigating someone's garden. I got her to come by clanging a can of wet food with a fork. She's mad now because she didn't get treats. I'm mad because, well. ESCAPING ISN'T COOL. Poor Vixy got me calling her in hysterics, wailing about how they got out.

All three cats are fine and uninjured. I cannot sleep. I have notified work that I'm going to be in late tomorrow, because there's no way I'm sleeping in the next hour. And from now on, the front door is locked even when I'm in the house.

Stupid cats.
Tags: alice, cats, freaking out, lilly, thomas
  • Post a new comment

    Error

    Anonymous comments are disabled in this journal

    switch
    default userpic

    Your reply will be screened

    Your IP address will be recorded 

    Help
  • 220 comments
Previous
← Ctrl ← Alt
Next
Ctrl → Alt →

herewiss13

June 23 2011, 16:18:09 UTC 6 years ago

I have never been so glad our cats will only open folding closet doors...even though they like to do it at 3 in the morning to hide behind the dryer.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 16:33:18 UTC 6 years ago

Trust me, that's the better option.

starmalachite

June 23 2011, 16:20:23 UTC 6 years ago

Belated chiming in with the hosannas of relief that All Is Well in the end. Sorry; I got distracted by comments upthread, then had to leave (ironically, to take Vir to his annual checkup). But ye gods, you must've been *that* close to a stroke.

I remember that feeling. Shortly after we rescued your furry godchild Dorothy (in pic), she got loose when I took something out to the car after midnight. She cased the neighborhood, then dodged back to our yard & hid under the car, I took the risk of running inside to wake Steve up so he could help. As I expected, the little stinker was *waiting* when we came out & took off again.

Normally, we'd just have waited there for her, but she'd only been with us 2 weeks & we weren't sure she wouldn't wander off & not come back. So the chase resumed, through the lightless backyards of all our Republican (& likely gun-owning) neighbors. We finally bracketed the SUV she was under & got her.

None of my cats had ever had a collar, tag, or microchip. None of them ever needed them. She got all 3 the next day.

PS: Been meaning to email you -- the other day I found the note I wrote to remind me I promised to email you pics of her, still in my wallet. That probably means I never sent them. True/False? If True, I hang my head in shame & will send them ASAP.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 16:33:37 UTC 6 years ago

I'm so glad she was okay!

And yes, you sent me pictures. :)

fezabel

June 23 2011, 16:59:30 UTC 6 years ago

Smart kitty! I'm so glad they came home unhurt.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:50:45 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too.

vettecat

June 23 2011, 17:19:02 UTC 6 years ago

That is really scary. So glad they're all home safe!

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:50:50 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too.

lunalelle

June 23 2011, 17:24:22 UTC 6 years ago

Excuse me while I marvel at the fact that your front door isn't locked all the time. Two locks. With the alarm on. And I don't live in the city.

I'm glad all your cats are okay. I've had that panic when I thought a cat had gone outside and I can't find her.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:51:09 UTC 6 years ago

I live in a very rural area, and I often don't lock the door when I'm home. Well. I do now.

starmalachite

6 years ago

  • New comment

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

  • New comment

newroticgirl

June 23 2011, 17:39:18 UTC 6 years ago

I'm glad the kitties are home safe!!!

My Moosedog also can open doors, but he reserves his power for opening the bathroom door when I'm giving my other dog Lally a bath, letting her loose to run around the house spraying water like a little tan sprinkler.

<3

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:51:20 UTC 6 years ago

How kind of him.

hasufin

June 23 2011, 17:53:35 UTC 6 years ago

You have them chipped, right? Please tell me you have them chipped.

I remain amazed at your preternaturally intelligent Maine Coon cats.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:51:27 UTC 6 years ago

Yes, of course.

cailleuch

June 23 2011, 18:13:50 UTC 6 years ago

Ted and Eoin (pictured) could also open doors but were more inclined to rearrange closets than romp in the great outdoors. Mostly is not never so I did spend a number of evenings chasing a black cat in the dark which is very unfun.

Romy, my current Maine Coon, will sit in front of an open door taking it all in but not going out. She does exhibit MC traits with water and supervises me in the shower every morning however.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 18:51:46 UTC 6 years ago

Good girl Romy. She needs to make sure you don't drown.

tygerversionx

June 23 2011, 19:22:09 UTC 6 years ago

"But MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM."

They love you. They do. There's just always a few cases of willful misunderstanding.

Hope you get some good rest. Them too.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:57:04 UTC 6 years ago

They slept like the dead, little jerks.

gwynnega

June 23 2011, 19:29:45 UTC 6 years ago

Glad they're okay! Your kitties are evil geniuses.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:57:12 UTC 6 years ago

Yes, they are.

Oh GAH!

biomekanic

June 23 2011, 19:52:24 UTC 6 years ago

I had this happen when Shiro (my Russian blue/mutt) leaned on the window screen in my ground level bedroom and he and Kachiko got out.

Both my cats are indoors only.

I was alerted when newroticgirl's dogs were barking like mad at her bedroom window where Kachiko was staring with this "Oh fuck! It's the big black room and not the big blue room!" look on her face.

I picked her up and locked her in my office and when I went back for Shiro, he skulked away. Dark gray cat in poorly light parking lot at night is no fun.

His next stop was the industrial trash compactor which he hid under, and then ran from.

I spent the next hour with 2 of our neighbors, and newroticgirl in a panic looking for him. I was shaking their can of kibble, fork on gooshy food, and everything I could think.

I went inside, to the closet to get one of his bell toys and found him; he was hunched up in a wide eyed ball on his favorite perch in the closet.

I don't know if I've ever been so upset and happy at the same time in my life. I didn't get any sleep that night.

So I definately understand what you went through; also, Shiro can open doors, but I'm lucky in that the only door he chooses to open is the bathroom door.

FYI: You've got a bazillion replies, don't feel obligated to reply. :) I just wanted to let you that I sympathize.

I'm glad everyone is home and safe.

Re: Oh GAH!

setauuta

June 23 2011, 22:44:01 UTC 6 years ago

Ramses (in the icon) did that at our old apartment - he tore a hole in the window screen, and would jump down. Black cat + night = hard to find. He always came back once we would make a noise like a treat, and once he helped me get rid of our door-to-door Scientologist by escaping, then hissing at the man until he fairly ran away. :)

Re: Oh GAH!

seanan_mcguire

6 years ago

  • New comment

Re: Oh GAH!

biomekanic

6 years ago

  • New comment

kyburg

June 23 2011, 20:52:01 UTC 6 years ago

*remembers Sarah of the sexy tail* Oh hells.

My front door? Locked, me inside or not. Back door? Locked, me inside or not. Habit habit habit and oh yeah, I've locked everyone out of the house that way by accident more than once.

Added chain locks when kid came home. Shit you not. Escaping is not cool. No treat and no heart attack? I call it a draw.

tenaya_owlcat

June 23 2011, 21:12:08 UTC 6 years ago

Oh wow... I had escapee cats once, and I reacted pretty much the same way. Thought not due to the CAT opening the door. (Merlin opened everything else, from cabinets to closets to the toilet, but never the door...)

Glad to hear that they're home safe and sound!

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:57:41 UTC 6 years ago

I'm so relieved.

matociquala

June 23 2011, 22:28:02 UTC 6 years ago

so glad all four of you are okay.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:58:22 UTC 6 years ago

I was terrified.

matociquala

6 years ago

  • New comment

bookblather

June 23 2011, 22:37:54 UTC 6 years ago

Sweet baby Jesus I do not blame you for your hysteria at all. My cat once got out, and while he got no further than the tree in the front yard and I found him immediately, I was still shaking for hours afterwards. I can't imagine what that must have been like. *hugs lots and lots*

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:58:57 UTC 6 years ago

ALL THREE OF THEM.

Geh.

setauuta

June 23 2011, 22:40:57 UTC 6 years ago

Good Lord, that's scary! I will admit, we made sure that when we moved into our current apartment, we made sure all the doors had knobs, not handles - we don't trust the DamnCat (in the icon) not to open them. Now he just body-checks the doors until they give in - it's only worked on the bathroom door so far (and let me tell you, THAT'S a treat, to be in the shower and suddenly have 20 pounds of black cat jumping up on the shower door).

Either way, I'm glad you found them all, unharmed.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:59:20 UTC 6 years ago

I just leave the bathroom door open. No sense fighting.

phoenixrave

June 23 2011, 23:12:26 UTC 6 years ago

When I first read the tweet, my heart jumped. Now that they're safe, I can smile at the irony. Of course YOUR cats are going to be brilliant and mischievous and keep Mom on her toes. In your honor, I present a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8&feature=player_embedded#at=24

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 14:59:28 UTC 6 years ago

Bastard cats.

pameladean

June 23 2011, 23:18:22 UTC 6 years ago

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH.

You'll be way too tired to reply to this so don't worry, but I so know that awful feeling. I once took the screens out of three windows so I could plant stuff in a window box that ran along them all, and I got distracted before I had rescreened and closed the last window. I jolted awake from a very sound sleep at five a.m. thinking, "WHERE ARE THE CATS?" I tore downstairs, and the morning breeze was wafting the white curtain in and out, in and out, of the open window. I yanked the front door open, setting off the security system, and bolted outside. The cats were sitting on the frong steps in High Dudgeon. Apparently jumping back up onto the window sill was beneath their dignity. They went huffily inside and immediately jumped back up onto the windowsill from that side. Obviously I was just supposed to let them leap out and then let them in again, lather rinse repeat.

But there is nothing like that horrible realization that cats are out. When they do it themselves, I don't even know.

P.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:00:12 UTC 6 years ago

They still don't understand why I was so upset, or why they didn't get treats for being good and coming when I called.

batyatoon

June 23 2011, 23:52:02 UTC 6 years ago

Oh honey. D: *hugs you so much* What an awful scare. I am glad they're okay.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:00:21 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too.

paksenarrion2

June 24 2011, 01:14:24 UTC 6 years ago

I am very glad that all three cats are okay. Thomas is quite the ring-leader, isn't he?


Where I used to live was rural so Roarke was an indoor/outdoor cat (no worries of coyotes/racoons/being run over/etc) but when I moved to my new apartment, it was in an urban area so I had to make him an indoor only cat. He was very disgruntled at first and kept trying to sneak out the front door. He got loose once and I had to chase him around the apartment complex.

It's been four years and I think he has finally settled into it now though. He will join me when I am sitting on the balcony and watch everything but not try to jump up on the railing and escape.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:00:38 UTC 6 years ago

Alex says he's being a teenage boy. I think this is accurate.

scholarinexile

June 24 2011, 02:13:17 UTC 6 years ago

Oh, Gods, I sympathize. I am grateful beyond all measure that Eris, the more curious and troublesome of our two sister cats, has not learned to open the back door, because I suspect she'd be out and exploring the neighborhood in a twinkling, taking my heart along with her. She and her sister getting out and lost is pretty high up on my list of greatest fears. I'm so glad all of your little ones are home safe.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:00:50 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too.

kitrinlu

June 24 2011, 02:36:41 UTC 6 years ago

Omg! Glad everyone is okay, but that must have been terrifying. *hugs*

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:00:59 UTC 6 years ago

Scariest thing this year.

gwyd

June 24 2011, 06:20:26 UTC 6 years ago

We have to keep our front door locked all the time because of Hector, who is a possessor or similar door opening skills. I sympathize. (Hector pictured in icon.) Birmins and maine coons, busy, busy animals.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:01:08 UTC 6 years ago

Yes. ZOMG.

aliciaaudrey

June 24 2011, 13:40:57 UTC 6 years ago

Ugh. We had a cat that could do that. It resulted in him falling off a balcony. Small Alicia was playing outside underneath the balcony where her Mommy could keep an eye on her. Small Alicia was then very surprised when Jake-the-kitty came prowling up and then sat in her lap when she had seen Jake-the-cat in the apartment just a few minutes before.

Thankfully, it was just a second story one, and honestly, I'm not sure if he fell or if he jumped. While that's not great for cats, he was okay.

seanan_mcguire

June 24 2011, 15:01:16 UTC 6 years ago

Good.

The nature of the problem

l_holcomb

June 25 2011, 11:01:55 UTC 6 years ago

The nature of the problem is, obviously, not stupid cats, it's that cats are not stupid.
Neither are horses. I once owned a horse that could open doors. Stall doors, pen doors, pasture gates, driveway gates. Chicken coop doors and kennel doors when seeking new playmates.
Horses run much faster and farther than cats. And they jump fences. I would not have been surprised if this particular horse had at least contemplated climbing trees.
I still have nightmares about waving a halter in one hand and a carrot in the other while chasing a red horse through star-lit night across the deep snow drifted cornfields and muddy gravel roads, with the clouds of our breath falling as frozen casts of glitter.
I finally had to invest in a set of long-shanked locks with the same key.
Horses enjoy many ways of exercising their human partners. That particular mare (named Princess Grace because she was pretty as a princess and very graceful at throwing me off) is still exercising my heart rate and adrenal glands, on occasion.

Re: The nature of the problem

seanan_mcguire

June 27 2011, 15:10:01 UTC 6 years ago

Cats and horses suffer a lack of long-term attention span and thumbs, not a lack of brains.

Yay, Princess Grace!
Previous
← Ctrl ← Alt
Next
Ctrl → Alt →