Kitty Door Part 2

Tonight I attempted phase 2 of Operation New Kitty Door. It was... interesting.

Earlier this week I moved one of the cat boxes into the new room so that the girls could start getting used to their "bathroom" being in a new place. I left the closet door open so that they wouldn't have to worry with the kitty door yet. Then tonight I moved the 2nd box into the new room so that their "bathroom" was officially in a new place. They checked it out and walked around, generally unimpressed. So I decided now was the time to try to use the kitty door again. Previously they had come through the door but only with me holding it open. This time I locked them both inside and walked away to the living room, determined to see if they could get out on their own. From my spot on the couch I could see into the kitchen and had a good view of the kitty door. I watched TV for a few minutes, stealing glances every now and then to see if my little troublemakers could figure out how to get out. I look over and see Gabby poking her paws underneath the closet door. Great. Totally missing the point. About a minute later, Gabby pokes her way out of the kitty door and comes sailing into the living room (meowing the whole way, reminiscent of the kid who breaks away from the pack and wins the race) and jumps onto the couch demanding praise. Way to go, Gabs!! Super proud of you!! I walk over to the kitchen and see poor Izzy, her shadow moving back and forth in front of the door, wondering how to get out. Sigh.

I get out her favorite treats. I shake them. I call to her. I shake the treats. I get her favorite toy with the bell on it and shake shake shake. I can see her through the kitty door (it is clear plastic) and every 30 seconds or so she will move into the hole all the way to put her face against the plastic and look out... and I say 'come on Izzy, come on!' and then she backs away. Repeat this about 3847 times. Meanwhile Gabby is practically performing a circus act at my feet because I am dangling a toy and her treats in the air in front of her and paying no attention to her whatsoever. I decided Gabby should help Izzy out, and show her how it's done since she was such an A+ student tonight (finally, A+ at something!) so I put her back in there with Izzy. About 2.5 seconds later she pops out through the kitty door again. Smart girl! Way to go Gabs! She gets another treat. Now back to coaxing Izzy. I shake her treats. I shake her toy. Shake shake shake. And again, she gets veryclosetothedoor and backs away. All the while meowing the saddest little kitty meow you've ever heard. More shaking of the treats and toy. And then BAM Gabby is in my lap with each one of her claws in my legs. I guess someone was getting tired of being ignored. I decided it was time for her to help again, so I put her back into the closet to show Izzy again how to get out. And again she comes out in 2.5 seconds. Come on Izzy! You're so close! Don't be scared! I try to show Gabby that she can also go in the closet by way of the kitty door, and gently push her head through so she can see how to do it. And miraculously she goes on through! TWO A+'s for Gabby tonight! Yowza! And she immediately came right back out, but still! And there's Izzy, still pacing back and forth and meowing like she's in a torture chamber.

Finally I decide to get something I know she can't resist. Canned food. I get the can and a spoon and start tap tap tapping the lid. Well this about sends Gabby into orbit because I'm basically dancing it in front of her. Izzy's meowing intensified; good, she knows what it is. Maybe this will do the trick. I crack it open a bit and put it through the door for her to smell. Tap tap tap. Come on Izzy! Meanwhile Gabby has realized that some juice is leaking out of the top so she's all in my lap trying to lick the can. I realize Izzy is just not going to push this door open herself, after watching her get thisclose 293874 times without doing it. So I hold it open ever so slightly, planning to let go as soon as she gets close enough to hold it with her head. I do, and she runs away. It's like scary plastic door apparently. We do this about 3 more times before finally, finally, she doesn't run away and pushes herself the rest of the way through. But right as she starts doing that Gabby picks that time to rub against the plastic door, effectively pushing against Izzy. Nooooo! Luckily I shove Gabby out of the way with my knee (and manage not to spill canned food all over the floor) and Izzy comes out. Finally! 45 minutes later! Sigh. Now they are both going nuts for me to open the canned food already. I guess they earned it.

So have we made progress? A little. Gabby can certainly get out. Whether or not she'll go in on her own is yet to be seen. And Izzy... well Izzy is just scared to death bless her heart. Maybe she had a terrible experience with a plastic kitty door sometime during the short time she was living on the streets as a kitten? Unlikely. What it really comes down to is that nothing is easy with these two!