scaredThomas 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.
June 23 2011, 13:10:00 UTC 6 years ago
June 23 2011, 13:45:35 UTC 6 years ago Edited: June 23 2011, 13:56:02 UTC
Oh, bears are another good way to lose a pet. Also foxes (in my neighborhood as well -- come to think of it, so are deer), badgers, and many more.
There's a huge park (Rock Creek Park) inside DC that's mostly left wild. Trouble is, the critters don't always observe the boundaries. On several occasions I've seen deer cross 16th Street less than a mile from the White House.
Edited for typo.