"Messalina" <second@duelingoak.com> wrote :

Never underestimate the power of noise. A great big NO! is something
my cats hate enough to learn to avoid. I hardly ever raise my voice
for
any reason, so when I do, I get their attention. I think I may have
mentioned
that when I first brought her home, Cheeky darted out the front door.
I already
loved her so much (and there is a very busy street out there) I
SHRIEKED
"Cheeky, NO! John, help me, Cheeks just ran out front!" As soon as I
hit
the door Cheeks ran back in. She had merely circled the shrubbery in
front
of the big window, and run back in when she heard me scream. I then
clutched
her to my breast and wept, and damn if she doesn't stay far, far away
from
*all* the doors now. :) She is one of those polite and grateful little
rescues
who does not WANT to upset her mama. Earlier still, she loosened the
cardboard
we had over the hole where the washing machine lines went, and escaped
to under the
house, where there is a dirt "floor" and lots of bugs and other fun
stuff. There is a door to the outside, so we can crawl under and
change air filters and such. The first time is was open and there was
a hilarious chasing match around the fenced back yard. (She could have
jumped that fence.) It ended with her darting back in the back door,
because although my husband caught her over and over, she was all
muscle (no claws, she is so amazingly sweet) and kept wriggling away.
Then, after we *thought* we had the hole
covered she did it again. I had made sure the door to the outside was
closed and locked, just in case. I went out there and opened it,
squatted down and called her, and she gave me one of those, "yah,
right, you so funny. I'm not coming out of here it's FUN under the
house!" I felt so hurt, she was still new, so I thought, "she doesn't
want to BEEEE with us! Oh no!" So I pulled out the big guns. Went
inside, got my secret weapon, and unleased it on her. I wish you could
have seen me squatting down by that little door, talking to Cheeks
sweet as I could and scooping tuna from an open can into my mouth,
going "mmm, this is just WONDERFUL," and sobbing the whole time. She
got interested--licked her chops--and made that high-pitched little
cry like she does when she *just knows* it is a trap but cannot
resist. Sidled into grabbing distance and I got her! Meanwhile my
husband was standing back marveling at the crazy woman. It was before
breakfast, even!

I wish that worked for us!  But I found out she liked the doorbell :-).  My
mother sometimes rings the doorbell when she comes home, so Kitty has come
to associate the doorbell with us rather than freaky scary strangers!
Sometimes (but very very rarely) I wish it would stay cold all year round so
she wouldn't even try to run outside!  Unfortunately, temperatures where she
stops wanting to run outside are -25C and lower (she didn't even come close
to the door when it was -40C)!  I think she's more afraid of the cold than
the average cat because she was out fending for herself during the coldest
months.  She was a stray and was not picked up until March, and by then she
had frostbitten ears!  Poor Kitty!

She can also tell when our car (as opposed to our neighbours' cars) drives
up because she runs to the door whenever she hears it.  She's much like a
dog that way.  Too bad she's not afraid of cars!

BTW, how's Shadow doing?  Is he still getting bullied?

rona

Yes, I thought of this solution right after I sent my last message.
Intentionally let the little buggar catch himself half in and half out
of the door. The rest of should come easy if you can make it that far.
The first time should be the last time.

KOOL..!!

                               IBen G.