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.
The nature of the problem
June 25 2011, 11:01:55 UTC 6 years ago
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
June 27 2011, 15:10:01 UTC 6 years ago
Yay, Princess Grace!