-[I]- Cat door
Lesley Weston
newly-installed cat door? For complicated reasons, this is now
necessary, but she's not co-operating. We've tried showing her how it
works and saying things in an encouraging voice, which scared her. Next
we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
door she isn't. After that, we're out of ideas, bearing in mind
Heinlein's maxim "Never try to outstubborn a cat". We thought that the
doors (both ways) being transparent would make it a piece of cake, but
no way.
--
Lesley Weston
The addy above is real, but I won't see anything posted to it for a long
time. To reach me, use leswes att shaw dott ca, adjusting as necessary.
Reader in Invisible Writings
> Does anyone have any tips on getting a mature cat to use a
> newly-installed cat door? For complicated reasons, this is now
> necessary, but she's not co-operating. We've tried showing her how it
> works and saying things in an encouraging voice, which scared her. Next
> we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
> door she isn't. After that, we're out of ideas, bearing in mind
> Heinlein's maxim "Never try to outstubborn a cat". We thought that the
> doors (both ways) being transparent would make it a piece of cake, but
> no way.
>
so that it was then on the other side of the door than it wanted to be,
and then ignored it. I did not take long for the cat to 'find itself'
back on the inside of the house (well it was drizzling this being Wales
on a fine day).
* With an older cat I would advise gloves be worn for the forcibly
holding and pushing head first stage referred to as guiding in the above
text.
GaryN
$k0d$1...@news.eternal-september.org:
I would have to agree with this method. It certainly worked with the SO's
cat. My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open top
window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
gary
--
"History is written by the winners which is why French history books are
blank from cover to cover"
The Pub Landlord.
Lesley Weston
> Lesley Weston wrote:
>> Does anyone have any tips on getting a mature cat to use a
>> newly-installed cat door? For complicated reasons, this is now
>> necessary, but she's not co-operating. We've tried showing her how it
>> works and saying things in an encouraging voice, which scared her.
>> Next we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side
>> of the door she isn't. After that, we're out of ideas, bearing in mind
>> Heinlein's maxim "Never try to outstubborn a cat". We thought that
>> the doors (both ways) being transparent would make it a piece of cake,
>> but no way.
>>
> Although done with a young cat, we 'guided'* the cat through the flap,
> so that it was then on the other side of the door than it wanted to be,
> and then ignored it. I did not take long for the cat to 'find itself'
> back on the inside of the house (well it was drizzling this being Wales
> on a fine day).
We have made some progress: if we hold the door open she'll go through
it (either way), with much hesitation and comment. We even saw and heard
her batting at it with her paw, but the magnets cause it to fall shut
with a snapping sound and I think that's what scares her.
>
>
> * With an older cat I would advise gloves be worn for the forcibly
> holding and pushing head first stage referred to as guiding in the above
> text.
Yes, we plan to try this today, including the work-gloves bit. It's
encouraging to see that this has been known to work - thank you. We'll
persevere; this being Vancouver on any day, the sheeting rain will
probably drive her to overcome her fears.
Lesley Weston
Ours [1] is used to having the luxury of having a window left open for
her while she's out, on a special device that won't let it open more
than a cat-width. She's supposed to be kept in at night, because that's
when coyotes and raccoons do most of their hunting, but this means that
she harasses my father to open the window at first light or long before.
Until now, he's been meeting her demands [2], but he's about to get his
new hip, after which there's no way he can indulge her whims until it's
healed - 3 months.
We can't let her near our bed, since my husband is allergic to cats; he
can handle normal contact, being fond of her, but not the in-your-face
(literally) stuff that cats do when they want you to get up.
Hence the cat-door, which we've put in the basement door. She'll have
to take her chances with no more curfew, but there's no other way, and
anyway she's always considered the curfew an imposition.
[1] Who is actually my father's cat - we live in his basement, but she
considers the whole house to be hers, which is fine by us.
[2] She's a cat...
Nigel Stapley
> My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
> across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open top
> window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
>
<Tries (and fails) to banish the image of GN sitting on the bog when he
suddenly acquires a furry hat. With claws.>
--
Regards
Nigel Stapley
<reply-to will bounce>
GaryN
news:heook0$38m$1...@mud.stack.nl:
> Reader in Invisible Writings wrote:
>> Lesley Weston wrote:
>>> Does anyone have any tips on getting a mature cat to use a
>>> newly-installed cat door? For complicated reasons, this is now
>>> necessary, but she's not co-operating. We've tried showing her how
>>> it works and saying things in an encouraging voice, which scared
>>> her. Next we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever
>>> side of the door she isn't. After that, we're out of ideas, bearing
>>> in mind Heinlein's maxim "Never try to outstubborn a cat". We
>>> thought that the doors (both ways) being transparent would make it a
>>> piece of cake, but no way.
>>>
>> Although done with a young cat, we 'guided'* the cat through the
>> flap, so that it was then on the other side of the door than it
>> wanted to be, and then ignored it. I did not take long for the cat
>> to 'find itself' back on the inside of the house (well it was
>> drizzling this being Wales on a fine day).
>
> We have made some progress: if we hold the door open she'll go through
> it (either way), with much hesitation and comment. We even saw and
> heard her batting at it with her paw, but the magnets cause it to fall
> shut with a snapping sound and I think that's what scares her.
His Furriness does this. We can tell when he's going in or out because of
the tapping on the cat flap. It's probably the being 16 years old and
having arthritis.
Speaking of which I'm running late. The SO does choir practice on Friday
(Ruddigore this time) so me and the cat have a "Boy's Night In"
CCA
wrote:
> Next
> we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
> door she isn't.
That sounds logical. Especially if it's a particularly tasty treat,
like tuna.
It may require you to move out of the way a bit once the food has been
shown, so the cat isn't going "But you're right there - open the
door!"
CCA
CCA
> On Nov 26, 7:40 pm, Lesley Weston <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
> > Next
> > we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
> > door she isn't.
> That sounds logical. �Especially if it's a particularly tasty treat,
> like tuna.
Some catnip might work too
CCA
Gid Holyoake
generously decided to share with us..
Snippetry..
> Speaking of which I'm running late. The SO does choir practice on Friday
> (Ruddigore this time) so me and the cat have a "Boy's Night In"
When the night wind howls through the chimney cowls and the bat in the
moonlight flies?
--
Gid
Current Project: Bragdy'r Ddraenen Wen
(if it ever stops raining for long enough)
Lesley Weston
> On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:07:05 -0800,
> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> She's supposed to be kept in at night, because that's
>> Hence the cat-door, which we've put in the basement door. She'll have
>> to take her chances with no more curfew, but there's no other way, and
>> anyway she's always considered the curfew an imposition.
>
> would be desolate to lose her to a predator at her time of life
> and his, especially as I'm sure he'd feel responsible because of
> being laid-up.
That's why he and we have always insisted on the curfew, but for her
entire life (around eight years) he's been getting up at 3 or 4 in the
morning to open the window for her and leave it open with the locking
bar thing holding it at a full cat-width, even in the Canadian-type
winter we had last year [1]. He also lets her out in the evening and
sits with his living-room window open until she feels like coming home.
So the curfew has always been a bit of a joke anyway; coyotes are most
active at dawn and dusk. Of course it would be devastating for him (and
us) if she got killed, but there's not much more chance of that than
there was before. Especially since coyotes are also around in daylight,
just not so busy.
Anyway, the whole question is academic, since we're still at the stage
of stuffing her through the cat-door against her vigorous protests, and
she may well win this argument as she's won all the others. She is,
after all, a cat.
[1] Vancouver is more like southern England normally, but last winter
was a savage reminder of which country we're part of. This winter
there's supposed to be an El Nino, which will ameliorate some of the
worst of it; so far so good.
Lesley Weston
But does he then go through it? Whichever way?
>
> Speaking of which I'm running late. The SO does choir practice on Friday
> (Ruddigore this time) so me and the cat have a "Boy's Night In"
Hope you all enjoyed it.
Lesley Weston
That's what's happening so far. She seems quite happy about going
through a small space at the bottom of the door rather than the whole
door, but only if we hold the flap open for her. She can't understand
why we won't - we've always been so obedient before.
GaryN
news:iNidncqMPqxWbJLW...@brightview.co.uk:
> GaryN wrote:
>> My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
>> across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open
>> top window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
>>
>
> <Tries (and fails) to banish the image of GN sitting on the bog when
> he suddenly acquires a furry hat. With claws.>
>
And you think you're joking! The bloody animal did actually jump in from
outside with a (very dead) rabbit in her gob and landed on my head,
dropping the rabbit. Furry hat and a Merkin for the price of one!
Much as I love her she can be a pain at times (of course the same goes for
the SO;-).
gary
P.S. Don't try flushing rabbits down the toilet - it doesn't work...
GaryN
> GaryN wrote:
<snip>
>> His Furriness does this. We can tell when he's going in or out
>> because of the tapping on the cat flap. It's probably the being 16
>> years old and having arthritis.
>
> But does he then go through it? Whichever way?
He does indeed go through it, both ways. It's just that he has to bat at
it a bit with the paws before actually climbing through.
>> Speaking of which I'm running late. The SO does choir practice on
>> Friday (Ruddigore this time) so me and the cat have a "Boy's Night
>> In"
>
> Hope you all enjoyed it.
Absolutely. NCIS is on Friday night and Furface fancies Abbi more than I
do, heusually wanders off when Law and Order starts but that's only natural
as he's a cat.
Nigel Stapley
> Nigel Stapley <un...@judgemental.plus.com> wrote in
> news:iNidncqMPqxWbJLW...@brightview.co.uk:
>
>> GaryN wrote:
>>> My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
>>> across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open
>>> top window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
>>>
>> <Tries (and fails) to banish the image of GN sitting on the bog when
>> he suddenly acquires a furry hat. With claws.>
>>
>
> And you think you're joking! The bloody animal did actually jump in from
> outside with a (very dead) rabbit in her gob and landed on my head,
> dropping the rabbit. Furry hat and a Merkin for the price of one!
>
> Much as I love her she can be a pain at times (of course the same goes for
> the SO;-).
>
> gary
>
> P.S. Don't try flushing rabbits down the toilet - it doesn't work...
>
Hares don't go down plugholes, either.
Rgemini
> Don't try flushing rabbits down the toilet - it doesn't work...
Methinks you have a very good candidate for a new sig there!
Rgemini
SteveD
>P.S. Don't try flushing rabbits down the toilet - it doesn't work...
You end up clogging the drain with hare?
Lizzy Taylor
No it gets bunged up.
Lizzy
GaryN
2b0a08...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com:
This is, of course, the problem. Your average cat will use the cat flap if
left alone but if there is a human around to open the door then said cat
will sit staring at them until they do open the door.
steveski
Bungee-jumping lagomorphs - cool!
--
Steveski
Alec Cawley
> CCA <sphir...@aol.com> wrote in news:1e1b35dd-3b50-4eab-94df-
> 2b0a08...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com:
>
>> On Nov 26, 7:40�pm, Lesley Weston <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Next
>>> we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
>>> door she isn't.
>> That sounds logical. Especially if it's a particularly tasty treat,
>> like tuna.
>>
>> It may require you to move out of the way a bit once the food has been
>> shown, so the cat isn't going "But you're right there - open the
>> door!"
>>
>> CCA
>
> This is, of course, the problem. Your average cat will use the cat flap if
> left alone but if there is a human around to open the door then said cat
> will sit staring at them until they do open the door.
Indeed so. There is a cat-flap in our kitchen, which the cats know
perfectly well how to use, but prefer not to. I was reading in the
conservatory (next door to the kitchen), and the cat came in and sat
looking fixedly through the (glass) conservatory door, waiting for me to
let her out. The conservatory door has a key, to which we have attached
a tassel to make the key easier to find when it is removed at night.
When I had failed to performed my door-opening duties within a couple of
minutes, the cat started batting this tassel to and fro. She could
hardly have been more explicit in saying "Do your job and open this
door, you lazy blighter". No way would she use a cat flap if there was a
human available to open a door.
Lesley Weston
> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in
> news:herg50$550$1...@mud.stack.nl:
>
>> GaryN wrote:
> <snip>
>>> His Furriness does this. We can tell when he's going in or out
>>> because of the tapping on the cat flap. It's probably the being 16
>>> years old and having arthritis.
>> But does he then go through it? Whichever way?
>
> He does indeed go through it, both ways. It's just that he has to bat at
> it a bit with the paws before actually climbing through.
She does that too. We've made enormous progress. She now comes into the
house without any problem (after batting with her paws), but going out
still requires that we hold her and use her nose to push open the flap.
Then she takes over and puts the rest of herself through. We removed one
of the magnets, so now when it closes you get "rap!" instead of
"rap-RAP!", and that seems to be less scary.
Lesley Weston
> On Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:31:37 -0800,
> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> A.Reader wrote:
>>> On Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:07:05 -0800,
>>> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> She's supposed to be kept in at night, because that's
>>>> when coyotes and raccoons do most of their hunting, ...
>>>> Hence the cat-door, which we've put in the basement door. She'll have
>>>> to take her chances with no more curfew, but there's no other way, and
>>>> anyway she's always considered the curfew an imposition.
>>> Oh I hope you can find a way to keep her in curfew! Your dad
>>> would be desolate to lose her to a predator at her time of life
>>> and his, especially as I'm sure he'd feel responsible because of
>>> being laid-up.
>> That's why he and we have always insisted on the curfew, but for her
>> entire life (around eight years) he's been getting up at 3 or 4 in the
>> morning to open the window for her and leave it open with the locking
>> bar thing holding it at a full cat-width, even in the Canadian-type
>> winter we had last year [1]. He also lets her out in the evening and
>> sits with his living-room window open until she feels like coming home.
>>
>> So the curfew has always been a bit of a joke anyway; coyotes are most
>> active at dawn and dusk. Of course it would be devastating for him (and
>> us) if she got killed, but there's not much more chance of that than
>> there was before. Especially since coyotes are also around in daylight,
>> just not so busy.
>
> in at night?
It hasn't worked for the last eight years or so, so I don't think we
would be much more successful now.
> Admittedly my cats all learned in kittenhood that
> they could go out through the day, but I expected them to stay in
> during the hours of darkness and half-light. But when I retired
> and had to move to cheaper, unsafe space, my last one, 20 at the
> time, learned easily that she was now strictly a House Cat.
Everyone has their own way of dealing with proxy danger on behalf of
their cats. My father says he would rather let her live her life fully
even though it's less safe, so none of his cats have ever been house cats.
Anyway, I am able to report complete success - and it only took a week!
She now uses the cat door both ways with aplomb, all she needs us for
now is to admire her cleverness after she has come in and loudly
announced this achievement, whatever the time of day or night. Oh, and
to provide food, warmth, laps and affection.
GaryN
"You have now upgraded to CAT3.5.006"
"All of the previous features of CAT 3.5.005 have been retained and this
release simply means that FUSS(tm) will be required to ensure that CAT
continues to function correctly. An upgrade to PURR(tm) is available at
a reasonable cost (your life savings) on application"
"The providers of CAT do not take any responsibility for you being woken
up by your pet trying to snuggle under the duvet at 2AM, small rodents
in a dishabille/disembowelled state being left just where you can tread
on them whilst blurriedly-eyed walking down for your morning coffee. We
also don't change the litter in the box"
"We hope you are happy with the new operating system and look forward to
your continued custom"
Kind Regards,
Clare
> Lesley Weston <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote innews:hf60bv$1alq$1...@mud.stack.nl:
My two have always been fine about the cat flap, but the other night I
had just sat down to eat my dinner when there was the most unearthly
yowling cat-talk from the kitchen. Mustrum was standing by the cat
flap, staring out of it with his tail looking like a bog-brush and
alternately growling and humming as only a cat can. Esme was doing
her "I've drunk too much coffee" prowl around the floor, eyes like
saucers, trying to get a glimpse out of the cat flap without getting
in Mustrum's way.
This would usually indicate a cat or dog in the yard outside.
However, there was no such problem. I think that what was unnerving
Mustrum was a discarded tin can, visible across the yard in the
ginnel, which was reflecting the bright moonlight into the line of
sight.
I moved the can, but they are still carrying on as if there is some
suspicious activity in the yard, although happily the horrible yowling
has ceased.
Both the cats are confined to downstairs, because I have developed an
allergy to their fur when they get too close to my face. I used to
have a cat who slept on my bed, but that could never happen now.
This also avoids having to wake up next to a dead rat, which at the
rate Mustrum keeps catching them would be far too often for the most
understanding of owners!
Lesley Weston
> Lesley Weston <brightly_co...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in
> news:hf60bv$1alq$1...@mud.stack.nl:
<snip>
>> Anyway, I am able to report complete success - and it only took a
>> week!
>> She now uses the cat door both ways with aplomb, all she needs us for
>> now is to admire her cleverness after she has come in and loudly
>> announced this achievement, whatever the time of day or night. Oh, and
>> to provide food, warmth, laps and affection.
>>
>
> "You have now upgraded to CAT3.5.006"
>
> "All of the previous features of CAT 3.5.005 have been retained and this
> release simply means that FUSS(tm) will be required to ensure that CAT
> continues to function correctly. An upgrade to PURR(tm) is available at
> a reasonable cost (your life savings) on application"
>
> "The providers of CAT do not take any responsibility for you being woken
> up by your pet trying to snuggle under the duvet at 2AM, small rodents
> in a dishabille/disembowelled state being left just where you can tread
> on them whilst blurriedly-eyed walking down for your morning coffee. We
> also don't change the litter in the box"
>
> "We hope you are happy with the new operating system and look forward to
> your continued custom"
Nice! But I have a feeling she runs on Vista, judging by her recent
behaviour.
Lesley Weston
<New cat door>
> My two have always been fine about the cat flap, but the other night I
> had just sat down to eat my dinner when there was the most unearthly
> yowling cat-talk from the kitchen. Mustrum was standing by the cat
> flap, staring out of it with his tail looking like a bog-brush and
> alternately growling and humming as only a cat can. Esme was doing
> her "I've drunk too much coffee" prowl around the floor, eyes like
> saucers, trying to get a glimpse out of the cat flap without getting
> in Mustrum's way.
>
> This would usually indicate a cat or dog in the yard outside.
> However, there was no such problem. I think that what was unnerving
> Mustrum was a discarded tin can, visible across the yard in the
> ginnel, which was reflecting the bright moonlight into the line of
> sight.
>
> I moved the can, but they are still carrying on as if there is some
> suspicious activity in the yard, although happily the horrible yowling
> has ceased.
You have a UK address, so it's probably not a raccoon or coyote - a fox,
perhaps? But then I have a UK address for newsgroup purposes too, though
I live in Canada.
>
> Both the cats are confined to downstairs, because I have developed an
> allergy to their fur when they get too close to my face. I used to
> have a cat who slept on my bed, but that could never happen now.
My husband has that problem too, which is why we were reluctant to give
the cat the run of the house at night, necessary now that the cat door
is installed in the only place possible for it. So far, she's taken to
sleeping on our bed but only at our feet, so it's all right. She
normally sleeps on my father's bed in the upstairs part of the house.
but he's in hospital now recovering (very nicely) from a hip replacement.
>
> This also avoids having to wake up next to a dead rat, which at the
> rate Mustrum keeps catching them would be far too often for the most
> understanding of owners!
We'll be dealing with that one quite soon, I expect, she's an amazingly
effective huntress. She usually eats her rats apart from the tail and
one hind foot, so that's what we'll be finding in the mornings.
Large Dave
--
Large Dave
This space accidentally left blank
Bri Tze
wrote:
>
> - Show quoted text -
What about the green wobbly bit?
Bri Tze
GaryN
news:lumdneGIPZ14hIXW...@bt.com:
<snip>
> Vista, scmista! You need an upgrade to Cat Door 7
>
Unfortunately we may be needing an upgrade to NEWCAT. A visit to the vet
yesterday showed that his heart rate is down and his renal functions aren't
(functioning). Pretty much a case that an expired cat may be the Christmas
present.
I'll miss the obnoxious little sod but reality has to be faced.
Lesley Weston
> On Dec 3, 3:39 pm, Lesley Weston <brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:
>> Clare wrote:
>>
>> <New cat door>
>>
>>> This also avoids having to wake up next to a dead rat, which at the
>>> rate Mustrum keeps catching them would be far too often for the most
>>> understanding of owners!
>> We'll be dealing with that one quite soon, I expect, she's an amazingly
>> effective huntress. She usually eats her rats apart from the tail and
>> one hind foot, so that's what we'll be finding in the mornings.
>
> What about the green wobbly bit?
That's never there, so presumably she regards it as a delicacy. We
haven't checked whether it's consistently the the left or right hind
foot or either at random, being too busy fetching gloves etc. and
disposing of it. I wonder if there's a connection with the odd (human)
feet in shoes that keep turning up on the shores of the various islands
around here? I wouldn't put it past her.
Lesley Weston
Lesley Weston
> Large Dave <Da...@nospam.invalid> wrote in
> news:lumdneGIPZ14hIXW...@bt.com:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Vista, scmista! You need an upgrade to Cat Door 7
>>
>
> Unfortunately we may be needing an upgrade to NEWCAT. A visit to the vet
> yesterday showed that his heart rate is down and his renal functions aren't
> (functioning). Pretty much a case that an expired cat may be the Christmas
> present.
>
> I'll miss the obnoxious little sod but reality has to be faced.
I hope it goes easily for him (and you). Renal failure is supposed to be
one of the less horrible ways to die if you let it go that far, so
that's something.
Daibhid Ceanaideach
wrote:
> GaryN wrote:
>> Large Dave <Da...@nospam.invalid> wrote in
>> news:lumdneGIPZ14hIXW...@bt.com:
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>>> Vista, scmista! You need an upgrade to Cat Door 7
>>>
>>
>> Unfortunately we may be needing an upgrade to NEWCAT. A visit to the
>> vet yesterday showed that his heart rate is down and his renal
>> functions aren't (functioning). Pretty much a case that an expired
>> cat may be the Christmas present.
>>
>> I'll miss the obnoxious little sod but reality has to be faced.
>
> I hope it goes easily for him (and you). Renal failure is supposed to
> be one of the less horrible ways to die if you let it go that far, so
> that's something.
Likewise. We lost Schroedy last July from thyroid failure. The vet told
us he wasn't in any pain, so we just left him until he fell asleep and
didn't wake up.
--
Dave
"All those with psychokinesis, raise my hand."
The Room With No Doors, Kate Orman
Paul Jamison
"GaryN" <ga...@scaryriders.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9CD79E5D3976Ag...@212.23.3.119...
> Large Dave <Da...@nospam.invalid> wrote in
> news:lumdneGIPZ14hIXW...@bt.com:
>
> <snip>
>
>> Vista, scmista! You need an upgrade to Cat Door 7
>>
> Unfortunately we may be needing an upgrade to NEWCAT. A visit to the vet
> yesterday showed that his heart rate is down and his renal functions
> aren't
> (functioning). Pretty much a case that an expired cat may be the
> Christmas
> present.
>
> I'll miss the obnoxious little sod but reality has to be faced.
>
In the little pretend world that I've dreamed up, the ferret named Sammy is
a respected Rabbi for a ferret synagogue here in Wichita. He will say
prayers for your obnoxious little sod during Evening Services.
Paul
Bob Larter
> Nigel Stapley <un...@judgemental.plus.com> wrote in
> news:iNidncqMPqxWbJLW...@brightview.co.uk:
>
>> GaryN wrote:
>>> My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
>>> across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open
>>> top window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
>>>
>> <Tries (and fails) to banish the image of GN sitting on the bog when
>> he suddenly acquires a furry hat. With claws.>
>>
>
> And you think you're joking! The bloody animal did actually jump in from
> outside with a (very dead) rabbit in her gob and landed on my head,
> dropping the rabbit. Furry hat and a Merkin for the price of one!
>
> Much as I love her she can be a pain at times (of course the same goes for
> the SO;-).
>
> gary
>
> P.S. Don't try flushing rabbits down the toilet - it doesn't work...
Useful advice!
--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------
Lesley Weston
so you have to keep going through this. It's worth it though, on balance.
Robert Carnegie
> Reader in Invisible Writings <markfo...@aim.com> wrote in news:hentja
> $k0d$1...@news.eternal-september.org:
>
> > Lesley Weston wrote:
> >> Does anyone have any tips on getting a mature cat to use a
> >> newly-installed cat door? For complicated reasons, this is now
> >> necessary, but she's not co-operating. We've tried showing her how it
> >> works and saying things in an encouraging voice, which scared her. Next
> >> we'll try kitty-treats held just out of reach on whichever side of the
> >> Heinlein's maxim "Never try to outstubborn a cat". We thought that the
> >> doors (both ways) being transparent would make it a piece of cake, but
> >> no way.
> >>
> > Although done with a young cat, we 'guided'* the cat through the flap,
> > so that it was then on the other side of the door than it wanted to be,
> > and then ignored it. I did not take long for the cat to 'find itself'
> > back on the inside of the house (well it was drizzling this being Wales
> > on a fine day).
> >
> >
> > * With an older cat I would advise gloves be worn for the forcibly
> > holding and pushing head first stage referred to as guiding in the above
> > text.
> >
>
> I would have to agree with this method. It certainly worked with the SO's
> cat. My cat, OTOH, just wanders into the downstairs toilet, climbs up
> across the cistern and let's herself out through the permanently open top
> window. Left open for her convenience in the convenience.
My parents used to have all of the above. It was quite a jump on the
outside to get in - from a sort of alleyway, concreted, between house
and garage - but cat managed it most of the time she was there. She
ended her days at my sister's place though, I am not sure how they
managed things there...
I note the problem is more or less solved. From one experiment with
catnip powder, I wish to point out that (1) it attracts all cats and
(2) with reasonable handwashing the stuff seems still to attract
rather violent feline affection to one's manipulatory appeendages for
several days. Maybe I should have worn disposable gloves, but where
could I put those where she or some other cat wouldn't get them,
perhaps with unfortunate consequences... maybe I should have been more
aggressive with the nailbrush? (ObPratchett _Wyrd Sisters_.)
I suppose that thin tape over the magnetic seals, or a resistant pad
next to them such as the one-side-sticky felt widely sold, or one half
of sticky Velcro, would prevent the door from slamming so loudly, but
would be tricky to do without too much impairing the function of the
lock too much.