Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    	oh, gee - Rosie and I have been playing this game for
    	years....except she rarely makes it out the door anymore.
    	She gets points for TRYing, though. It's gotten to point
    	where I bend over with whatever is in my hand being held
    	near the bottom of the door to block her,before I even open
    	the door, and all of my friends are paranoid about entering
    	my house - Hurry_up_and_close_the_door_before_the_cat_gets_out!!!!!
    	
    	Sherry
    

    Sound's like Dundee's games!  I can take the leashes off the
    other three, say "In the house" and, with a little proding,
    they'll go over the the door and wait for me to open it.
      Now Dundee  knows exactly what "In the house" means -
    It means "run like H@$l in the other direction because Mom's
    going to take me in".  He also waits at the door, when inside,
    and is a master of the through-the-legs dodge.  
      Fortunately he just runs to the yard and lays down on the
    grass....silly bitten!
      N

    
                  Thunder has been talking to Panther
    
    Panther plays that game too!  She just seems to want to know that she
    can get away with it.  She normally does not go out except on the leash
    in the summer.  (And boy do WE like it out in the sun on the deck
    Mummy!!)  It's a good thing that Panther doesn't panic outside, she
    just wanders around in the back yard until I (Very Slowly) walk over to
    her and scoop he up into my arms and tell her what a naughty cat she
    is.
    
    Panther just smiles and says "Yes mummy, I know I'm naughty, it makes
    living fun!"  Then the little brat purrs at me and gives me a hug,(both
    paws around the neck.)  How do you stay mad at a cat that does that???
    
    Feline Fine,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot & Jerry
    

    Ya, I know what you mean!  Dundee does "cute" at me and my heart
    just melts  :-)

    Isis scoots out through the front door.  She knows she is not allowed
    out the front because we live in a row of terraced houses which
    have very small front gardens.  The street in front of us is quiet,
    but the main road is only 50 yards away.
    
    She doesn't go out of the front gate but weaves her way along the
    front gardens, slipping through the railings, stopping to sniff
    the roses or roll in a patch of sunlight while an increasing irate
    Mum walks along the pavement alternately trying blandishments and
    threats.
    
    Eventually I have to conquer my embarrasment and rush into someones
    front garden and grab her.  Her favourite times for this game are
    either late at night when, if caught, they could accuse me of peering
    through their sitting room windows, or first thing in the morning
    when I see my husband off to work when I am normally in my dressing
    gown.
    
    The little b**** is now teaching her brother how to get Mum red
    in the face before breakfast!
    
    Kate

    Re -1
    
    I forgot to mention that the final touch to this performance comes
    when I finally catch Isis and start carrying her back to the house.
    She starts to scream wildly and clutch my shoulder (I think she's
    afraid of being out on the pavement - what does she expect me to
    do - vault the railings).  She starts to struggle (I have the claw
    marks to prove it).
    
    The whole effect to anyone who is watching is that a total stranger
    is kidnapping her and is about to drag her into their den to be
    eaten, beaten or worse.
    
    It REALLY is embarrasing - and I never even smack her - I'm afraid
    of hurting her.  However the neighbours must think that she's beaten
    regularly - I sometimes think she deserves to be.
    
    Kate
    (Wrapped firmly round Isis's smallest claw)

    Don't punish her too much or she'll run away from you faster.
    (voice of experience)

               Re: .7 don't punish 
    
    Amen to that!!  I think that is why Panther doesn't run away from me
    when she does get out.  She usually just waits for me to scoop her up
    and give her a big hug.  (This cat is the cuddliest I've ever had!)
    
    If Spot ever got out I'd be in big trouble.  First of all she is
    definately Jerry's cat, Mummy is necessary to dispense food and if
    daddy is not around we might consent to a petting, but don't pick me up
    mummy, that's daddy's privilege.  Also Spot really doesn't like the
    outdoors.  There are too many noises out there, the dog next door,
    airplanes, *CHILDREN* (Horrors!!) She tends to panic and only the lure
    of tuna, (a whole can) will entice her back in.  Thank goodness Spot
    doesn't escape much.  Only twice in 5 years.
    
    Panther likes outside, wants to make friends with the dog next door,
    that dog has three cats of her own and doesn't mind, and she is pretty
    sensible when she does venture out.  She doesn't run and hide she sort
    of looks around and explores.  Best of all she will let me walk right
    up to her.
    
    Thank heavens she hasn't gotten out when we were not aware of it.  I
    think she would be fine , but I really don't want to take any chances.
    
    Feline escape artist!!
    
    Panther & Spot & Jerry & Sue
    

    Ahem, must be the weather.  Niniane is "feeling her oats", so to
    speak, and has taken to sitting *directly* in front of the door
    when we go out.  Door opens, Niniane heads for door.  She has
    never done this before.  I assume this has something to do with
    being 1.5 years old.  We have to go into "scoop mode" when the door
    opens, ie spouse opens door, Mom rushes in bent over making terrible
    "monster noises" to clear cats away.  My neighbors think we're nuts. I
    can't as say I blame them.  I must look pretty stupid!
    
    I think Charm's been telling Niniane stories about the "great
    outdoors" (Charm is a somewhat converted indoor/outdoor).  She's
    been telling stories to us lately too.  Stories like "Want to go
    out Mom.  Now Mom.  Listen, Mom!  I'll cry all day, Mom!"
    
    Sigh...the springtime PITA kitties.
    
    Mary-Michael 

    Re .7 and .8                                 
                                                 
    Waaail - you misunderstood me - I NEVER punish her!  I just think 
    she deserves it :-)
                                                 
    I don't hold with smacking cats (too fragile) and they're always
    light years ahead of the squirt bottle.  Being spoken to firmly
    they totally ignore, so there doesn't seem to be much I can do.
                                                 
    Deprive them of TV?  Send them to bed early? 
                                                 
    The only thing that motivates them is reward.
    
    ;-)
    
    Kate

       Re .7 .8 .10
    
    You must understand, kitty punishment is threaten to take away their
    credit cards, or cancel their phone priveliges.  There is NO SUCH THING
    as corporal punishment for cats, (I never even thought of it as a
    viable option.)  They just find a way to move out!  No TV might work
    thouth HMMMMMMM...
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot & Jerry
    

    Back to kitty escape artists for a moment:
    
    Last Saturday, I decided to purchase collars and leashes for Kelsey
    and Shelby and take them outdoors.  Shelby wanted nothing to do
    with it; however, Kelsey had a ball.  He rolled over and over and
    chased leaves and bugs and cried and cried and CRIED!  I think they
    were cries of happiness!!  Maybe talk is a better word.
    
    Now I have created a monster.  The rest of the weekend, Kelsey stood
    by the front door screeching at the top of his lungs.  Seeing other
    cats outside makes him yell ten times louder and I'm kind of sorry
    I every took him outdoors in the first place!!  Are there effective
    disciplining methods that would allow me to continue to take him
    for walks on his leash but make him understand that once he's inside,
    he must shut up for the rest of the day?!  When I brought in six
    bags of groceries yesterday, he slipped out 3 times and got quite
    upset with me when I dragged him (not literally of course) back
    into the house.
    
    Whoever said Ragdolls were a quiet breed forgot to tell Kelsey!
    
    
    /Roberta (who is sick of listening to the mad shrieker)
    

    Mr Tymothee has discovered the great outdoors too and now tries
    to sneak out on me.  I've created 5 monsters!!!  (its always
    interesting to arrange things so that Mr. T can't reach Mao)
      N