runners

[owlmoose]

So I seem to have a pair of escape artists on my hands. Lexi, especially, tries to get out the door almost every time I open it, and usually he succeeds -- he winds past my legs before I can block him. This is not a trend that I like. Fortunately, "outside" is just an indoor hallway, and there isn't really anywhere for them to go, but it's still a troublesome habit and I wish I could get him to stop.


This is from that series I posted the other day, the emergency photos that T sent me at work.


Lexi is actually grooming Tori here, but doesn't it look like a kiss? Awww. They get along very well -- I've only ever seen them fight in play, although sometimes Tori will growl if she's feeling possessive of a toy. Lexi's never tested it. Still not sure who is dominant, though, or if anyone is.





Gallery!

I am, by the way, feeling much better. Still coughing like a fiend, but less congested and much higher energy. It seems to finally be passing. Whew.

Comments

I

[kunstarniki.livejournal.com]

Adorable pictures. They do woo us without even trying. LOL

As to the escape artistry - that is, indeed, worrying. Prudence used to to that when she was younger. I managed to develop a 'scoop and paddle' technique which she learned was not conducive to her dignity and she no longer tries the game. I am afraid punishment is the most effective means of breaking a bad habit. Try to swat the rear of the loves as they try to get around you. Most of the time, this sort of behaviour is outgrown.

We are so glad you are feeling better. Take care not to start the whole bloody thing up again. ;)

Re: I

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I do hope they outgrow it. They are in no danger in our current place, but we may not live there forever. Swatting them is a good idea; I'll try it next time.

Take care not to start the whole bloody thing up again.

I shall do my best. :) I tend to get sick like this once a season, so I'm hoping that I've gotten it out of the way and so will be fine the rest of the winter.

[anzubird.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kitty fix!

Jazzi still runs out the door most of the times, but I think it is just her way of getting a little private time with me. She will go a little ways and then wait for me to go and pick her up and bring her back into the appartment. Lately she has even started just going to the door ane meowing as if she wants to go out...

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

That Jazzi -- she is going to give you a heart attack one of these days. :)

Lexi will look at the door longingly upon occasion. He has yet to start meowing at it, but then neither of them are particularly talkative.

[anzubird.livejournal.com]

That Jazzi -- she is going to give you a heart attack one of these days. :)

No heart attacks yet, but she did give me some pretty impressive scratches on her worst wandering out into the hallway experience. She had gotten further than usual and one of my neighbors opened his door, so she got scared, bolted down the stairs, and tried desperately to get into me downstaris neighbors apt. It's odd, she knew exactly which door to go to, but didn't grasp the fact that she was one floor below where she needed to be. At any rate she was very upset that I ket trying to take her away from home.

Theo on the other hand, is quite the homebody and lets out incredibly loud meows if more than three paws pass over the threshhold. Taking him to the vet usually gets the attention of the entire building.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

It's odd, she knew exactly which door to go to, but didn't grasp the fact that she was one floor below where she needed to be.

That makes sense, since stairs are presumably not a concept she's familiar with. Jazzi really sounds like an amazingly smart cat. Which is not an unmixed blessing, in a kitty. :)

[grue23.livejournal.com]

It's good that they're making you aware of their 'escape' instinct. Berk was timid of my front door for a couple years. I got really lax with it when I'd go to change the laundry, leaving it propped open a little bit. One night she decided to walk out on me and she didn't turn up until the next afternoon, scared and hiding underneath a staircase! Now I keep a watchful eye on her around the door.

[grue23.livejournal.com]

I really like the second and third pictures, btw! :)

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

One night she decided to walk out on me and she didn't turn up until the next afternoon, scared and hiding underneath a staircase!

Yikes! I'm glad you found her okay. Does she still try to escape, or did that episode cure her of the desire?

I think that third picture may be my new favorite photo of Tori. I tried to make an icon out of it, but there wasn't enough background contrast and it ended up looking muddled.

[grue23.livejournal.com]

She's become much more outgoing over the years I've had her. So she does sniff around the door a lot more. She never tries to bolt the way I've seen other cats attempt, though. That was always a challenge at my parents' when we were putting a car in the garage; every now and then a cat would shoot out when the door opened and we'd have to chase it down.

I really like the light in that photo.

[waterowl.livejournal.com]

They're terribly cute!

[plantgirl.livejournal.com]

They are such cute kitties.

I had a thought for training them not to run out. I'd use a squirt bottle with water and just a touch of vinegar or ammonia (most cats don't like the smell). Squirt them when they head toward the door. Or, if they're trying to leave when you enter, open the door just a crack and squirt them through the gap as they head for it.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

I had thought about some sort of squirt bottle solution. The only problem is that would mean carrying one with me every time I went anywhere, which is not terribly practical. :) It might be modifyable somehow, though, to make it more workable. Hmm.