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
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  • 220 comments

jenrose1

June 23 2011, 05:28:22 UTC 6 years ago

I have a child like this. Her primary playspace has no doorknob installed. We use the lever and put it up out of her reach every time. She has been known to climb high places, get the lever down, carry it over to the door, and use it to open the door. She's once gotten out the front door that way. It's a huge amount of problem solving for a kid who can't say her own name or walk more than 8 feet without falling down.

seanan_mcguire

June 23 2011, 13:27:35 UTC 6 years ago

...you're right. That's IMPRESSIVE.

jenrose1

June 23 2011, 18:48:52 UTC 6 years ago

Don't forget the terrifying... but you know that.

Once, at a hotel, we woke up to the sound of the door closing, and found her halfway down the hall, waving spoons around.