Bill the Cat: Getting in a Cat Flap

[OriginalGriff]

It was time, he was ready - for "The Mystery Of The Cat Flap" This can be a source of real confusion and distress to some cats, they just don't get the idea that "this bit moves, look! See - outside world. Just push you stupid animal!" So, we decided to break to to him gently, especially as he is easily spooked at the best of times. We already have a Portable Cat Flap - ok, ok, it's a cat flap in a plank, with handles, and shaped to fit securely in the sliding patio door hole. The cat gets in and out, we don't freeze in winter or get wet carpets when it rains. It's a sliding double glazed door, so I can't put a cat flap in to, and the only other door leads out the front of the house - I don't want to encourage him to go that way as the road is up there. So, a week ago, I dismantled the cat flap, and cleaned it all throughly - just trying to remove all traces of the previous cat - and put it back together. Then it spent a week just leaning against the wall between the door and his liter tray, so he could get used to it, while we established a routine. Give him his breakfast, then when he has had a bit to eat, open the door - Voom! He's off! So the plan was: if it was nice today, put the Portable Cat Flap in the door, while he ate so he could get used to it, then prop it open so he could get the idea of going in and out. After a few days of this, we stop propping it and see what happens. Let's do it: Michelle starts serving his breakfast, I put the flap in. He is straight over there - food? Who cares? What's this? He looks through the flap - it's a clear type, so they can see they aren't going to be ambushed before they go through - he moves and looks through the door. He looks through the flap again, and then voom: head through, shoulders through, cat through and half way down the garden. Michelle is worried: will he be able to get back in? I say: he got out ok, he'll either work it out, or I will prop it for him. Ten minutes later he is back in. No problem with the flap at all, even with a live bird in his mouth. :sigh: He dumps the bird in his food bowl and learns an important lesson: birds don't want to be in cat food bowls and - unlike mice - can fly. Cat and Bird, locked in a struggle for dominance as they both fly around the kitchen... Eventually, they are separated and Michelle takes Bill, I take the bird. By the time I get it to the garden though, it's an ex bird. Oh dear. In the river with you... The moral of this story? Never work with animals or children - they just don't do wha

[Lost User]

:laugh: Sorry, its so funny because it happened to someone else. :-O

Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^] "Program as if the technical support department is full of serial killers and they know your home address" - Ray Cassick Jr., RIP

[Gary R Wheeler]

Tell Bill he gets a 5! :laugh:

Software Zen: delete this;

[Gary R Wheeler]

C'mon now, Elaine, 'fess up. How long did it take the fluffy tigress to figure out the cat door? (tee hee)

Software Zen: delete this;

[Lost User]

*mutters*

Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^] "Program as if the technical support department is full of serial killers and they know your home address" - Ray Cassick Jr., RIP

[Bill_The_Cat]

Meowrrr! (Thank you)

[Steve Mayfield]

So Bill has Flipped you the Bird :laugh:

Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am