things my cats have never experienced before today (as judged by their behavior)

[untonuggan]

things my cats have never experienced before today (as judged by their behavior):

• a litterbox that has just been cleaned
• washing machines (off or on)
• trash bags
• vacuum cleaners (off or on)
• cardboard boxes
• food, ever. they have never, ever been fed. (this resets...every minute or so?)
• open windows
• the other cats in the house

i don't judge.

Comments

[yvi]

I don't think there is a cat in this universe that has *ever* been fed. At least now my two satans.

So, washing machines / vacuum cleaners / trashbags : cause of fear or excitement for yours?

[untonuggan]

deep suspicion

though the washing machine is in a room that is usually closed (because of cleaning chemicals and some unfinished walls we have mostly blocked off but are still hesitant about leaving the cats near unsupervised), so that's usually an excitement + whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat kind of thing. possibly followed by "kitty crazies."

[hunningham]

Cats do have the cat crazies

[untonuggan]

Indeed. Indeed they do.

[chalcopyrite]

My cats have never been fed. In their lives. It's a miracle they've survived to 5 kilos.

Gabe would probably be very worried by a pristine litterbox, but every. single. time I bring one back into their room, Frankie promptly pees in it to make sure it's a litterbox, so.

[untonuggan]

I know right??? How *do* they survive amongst us terrible humans.

Chance is very suspicious of clean litterbox, but sometimes he seizes the moment to go in it *before* Lily saunters in to go, "Oh look, a box for me!"

[silveradept]

Yep. Mine do that, too. And they also have never seen what's on the other side of the door. No matter what door or is.

[untonuggan]

Oh yes the door! The magic door!

I actually use closed doors to catch them for the vet sometimes. (I have to switch up my tricks, Chance is getting suspicious.)

1) Put cat carrier in room when they're distracted elsewhere (with food, birds at window, etc)
2) Close door
3) Room is A MYSTERY
4) Pick cat(s) I need from the line at the door, offer them the exciting opportunity to be the very first cat into the mystery room if I carry them there!
5) Carry them in and put them in the carrier while they're still going, "Aw damn again!"

(Mine are *knock wood* actually fairly easy to get in the carrier once you've caught them, but mysteriously disappear when they think a vet trip is in order.)

The other trick I use is to "accidentally" leave a bag of treats lying on the floor. No one can resist an entire BAG of treats. Chance is getting good at attempting to open it super cautiously though.

[silveradept]

Yes. You don't know how many places you have that can hide a cat until it's time to take a visit. Even when I know where they're hiding, it takes a while to round them up.

Nice trick with the door, though.