He Done Did It This Time

[SV Dad]

Wow Paige, your cat played superman too! Rascal and Mayhem went out the bedroom window for a 12 foot escape / air strike on a chipmunk. Rascal stayed close for the hour I was out of the house, but Mayhem went strolling for eight hours. My wife and I were basket cases. (Ok, I AM blaming the drinking that night on the cat!)

 

[Louie'sDad]

Great storytelling... even if my heart was in my throat worrying for his leg until I read he was fine afterwards! Your Superman response was great!

They ARE hyper-energied kitties which means they can and do get into more trouble than the average cat can... I think their intelligence is why they realize we are trying to help them and hence not react badly.

Any plans to modify the door so it can't happen again? Even if one assumes he's smart enough not to do it again, paranoid me would want to address that...

SV's are "explosively" fast and powerful. I haven't seen such lightning reflexes in other cats.

Example: I have a dust skirt on my bed which extends to the floor. It is opaque black and effectively blocks almost all light from penetrating under the bed, where he lies in wait sometimes to "play ambush" me. Sometimes in early morning in the murky light before dawn, I'll gently run my hand over the carpet a few inches away from the edge of the dust ruffle. Their hearing is extremely acute, and of course, I can't hear the sound of my hand running over the carpet. In a matter of seconds, Louie's head and forelegs explode violently out from under the bed, and he tags my hand.

As far as the door is concerned, I shoved a chock in the jamb to keep it open wide.

 

[SV Dad]

Example: I have a dust skirt on my bed which extends to the floor. It is opaque black and effectively blocks almost all light from penetrating under the bed, where he lies in wait sometimes to "play ambush" me. Sometimes in early morning in the murky light before dawn, I'll gently run my hand over the carpet a few inches away from the edge of the dust ruffle. Their hearing is extremely acute, and of course, I can't hear the sound of my hand running over the carpet. In a matter of seconds, Louie's head and forelegs explode violently out from under the bed, and he tags my hand.

Same in my house. It is this game, that I use to introduce the new kittens to the pride. The older cats enjoy retaliating at the dust skirt knowing full well there is a kitten behind it. As for the hearing, I swear they can hear moths flapping their wings. Because they go nuts trying to hit the ceiling in the warm months.

 

[Patti]

Very glad Louie and you survived the trauma. I have a boy here who broke his paw, undoubtedly jumping off the top of the door (one of his favorite spots) or a shelf and landing wrong. Poor guy has been in a splint for three weeks and has to get it rewrapped twice weekly... so count your blessings that your fellow got through his ordeal unscathed!!