Post by Aussienot on Mar 2, 2011 23:53:38 GMT -5
Tarot has always had two problems. One is random and unpredicatable panic attacks. Hasn't had many since hitting adulthood, so I hoped these had resolved.
The other is that she cannot be contained by normal means. She can jump anything, contort and squeeze thru openings too small to see, slip out of harnesses, break crates, dig, climb, etc, etc.
Since she was four months old, I have been leaving her in a laundry room inside the garage while I am at work on the days that she doesn't come with me. Always been happy to stay there. Seperation issues have never been a problem.
Last month for reasons known only to Tarot, she managed to break a hole in the laundry room door, and enter the garage area. No big deal, and if it makes her happy to stay in the enclosed garage, I was happy. Left the laundry room door open so she had access to water and bedding.
Yesterday morning I was of two minds whether to bring her to daycare with me. She made it clear she didn't want to come with, so I put her in the garage. She started scratching and pounding on the garage door, making a horrible racket for 5:30 am. So I let her out, and tried to take her with me.
She jumped into the car when I opened the door, but whirled around and jumped out the small gap between the top of my shoulder and the roof of the car before I could get the door closed.
She bolted down the street, was in a blind panic state and not responding to learned cues.
It took quite a while to get her to come back to me. Which she finally did happily, at a dead run and gave me a big face licking as if I was the one that had left her. Seemed normal the rest of the day and had a happy day in daycare.
This morning I left her in the garage with a big marrow bone, and all seemed quiet. At noon I got a call from a neighbour that Tarot was loose. Luckily, I had help in at the daycare, and I could go home and look for her. She had managed to bend the lock and open a sliver crack in the roller door. A cat couldn't have gotten out, but she did!
She was sitting on the porch, so re-capture was not an issue. I put her in the house, and she had a drink and settled into her favourite sleeping spot. I am now back at work. She can stay inside for an afternoon, but not as an all day plan. She only likes daycare one day a week. Any more frequently and she starts hating it.
Looks like I will have to build a concrete floored, roofed and reinforced kennel for her (to break out of . . . .) Was thinking of doing this anyway but didn't want to spend the money.
Sigh. Might also have to talk to the vet about anti anxiety drugs.
The other is that she cannot be contained by normal means. She can jump anything, contort and squeeze thru openings too small to see, slip out of harnesses, break crates, dig, climb, etc, etc.
Since she was four months old, I have been leaving her in a laundry room inside the garage while I am at work on the days that she doesn't come with me. Always been happy to stay there. Seperation issues have never been a problem.
Last month for reasons known only to Tarot, she managed to break a hole in the laundry room door, and enter the garage area. No big deal, and if it makes her happy to stay in the enclosed garage, I was happy. Left the laundry room door open so she had access to water and bedding.
Yesterday morning I was of two minds whether to bring her to daycare with me. She made it clear she didn't want to come with, so I put her in the garage. She started scratching and pounding on the garage door, making a horrible racket for 5:30 am. So I let her out, and tried to take her with me.
She jumped into the car when I opened the door, but whirled around and jumped out the small gap between the top of my shoulder and the roof of the car before I could get the door closed.
She bolted down the street, was in a blind panic state and not responding to learned cues.
It took quite a while to get her to come back to me. Which she finally did happily, at a dead run and gave me a big face licking as if I was the one that had left her. Seemed normal the rest of the day and had a happy day in daycare.
This morning I left her in the garage with a big marrow bone, and all seemed quiet. At noon I got a call from a neighbour that Tarot was loose. Luckily, I had help in at the daycare, and I could go home and look for her. She had managed to bend the lock and open a sliver crack in the roller door. A cat couldn't have gotten out, but she did!
She was sitting on the porch, so re-capture was not an issue. I put her in the house, and she had a drink and settled into her favourite sleeping spot. I am now back at work. She can stay inside for an afternoon, but not as an all day plan. She only likes daycare one day a week. Any more frequently and she starts hating it.
Looks like I will have to build a concrete floored, roofed and reinforced kennel for her (to break out of . . . .) Was thinking of doing this anyway but didn't want to spend the money.
Sigh. Might also have to talk to the vet about anti anxiety drugs.