Tuukka spent his very first night outside.
Night #1 When I went to bed, he was dozing on the living room floor with his head in the cat toy bag. Since he refused to be locked up, I figured I'd hear some growling and scuffling through the night. But I heard nothing.
About 5 a.m. I woke up hearing a really weird meow from a long way off. I got up and looked around and discovered Tuukka was outside. He obviously found the cat door, but didn't figure out that the cat door worked both ways. After I opened the door, he waltzed in just like he'd been doing it for years.
Night #2 I decided I'd keep him in but "locking" the cat door. This time I woke up around midnight as I heard a really odd crash. Tuukka must have really wanted out and a little plastic lock would not deter him. So, he simply popped the whole plastic door right off!
Night #3 Mike fixed the cat door. I decided if he wanted out so bad, I'd let him go out. No big deal. Unfortunately, I also have to factor in Molly. She ended up spending this night outside because every time she tried to come back in, Tuukka would go over and "regulate" the door. So, she was too scared to come in. I heard her crying outside. So, I got up numerous times to let her in. WHY she kept going back out, I have no idea!
Night #4 New plan. I took the 10 pound box of laundry soap and two tins full of cat food and placed them in front of the cat door to barricade it. This way, the cats would stay in and the door would not need fixed again. I got up in the morning and saw that the laundry soap and cat tins had been shoved aside. The plastic door was somehow perched on top of the laundry soap, so once again Tuukka wins. He was lounging nonchalantly on the cat condo and gave me a look, like "What? I'm inside so what more do you want?"
Tonight - Molly's going to have to get used to Tuukka and learn to come in even if he DOES stand at the cat door. It's every cat for him/herself here!
What. A. Character! He's hilarious. His cat door attack reminded me of the old Golden we had years ago. We always let him into the backyard through the sliding glass patio door. The first warm day of spring we had opened the patio door and, since it was warm, we slid the screen door shut. Chester saw the door was open and high-tailed it outside. Taking the screen door with him.
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