I had a little scare this morning. My apartment window was cracked last week when an idiot seagull flew into it. The maintenance man came this morning with no warning. While he went to his truck to get a replacement pane, I put Drusilla in her carrier because I knew he'd have to take the entire window out. Tara dove under the bed and would not come out. I called, begged, offered cat food and raw meat and people food, and I tried to squirt her with water to force her to come out, nothing worked. Eventually I was forced to let the men take the pane out with Tara being unaccounted for. Of course, as they take the old pane out and do the measurements, Tara flies out from under the bed and leaps right out the second story window. A two hour chase around the busy parking lot ensued before I was finally able to grab her by the tail and get her into the carrier. It most certainly was not fun for either of us. Especially her, considering the howl she let out when I grabbed her tail and yanked her to me so I could stuff her in the carrier.
It was a scary experience and it got me thinking. In the event of a fire or evacuation, what could I do with Tara? She is by far the most difficult cat I've ever had in regards to carriers and catching.
Is there any way to teach a cat to come to you? I fear in the event of a fire, I'd have to simply leave her because I couldn't spend 30 minutes chasing her from under all the furniture. Even going to the vet is a week long event and often ends in canceled and postponed appointments, no matter how much I try to remain calm and not give off any indication she is going to the vet. I know cats are not dogs and don't answer commands as readily, but if there would be a way to even try to teach her to come, that would be extremely helpful. Has anyone ever done this?
It was a scary experience and it got me thinking. In the event of a fire or evacuation, what could I do with Tara? She is by far the most difficult cat I've ever had in regards to carriers and catching.
Is there any way to teach a cat to come to you? I fear in the event of a fire, I'd have to simply leave her because I couldn't spend 30 minutes chasing her from under all the furniture. Even going to the vet is a week long event and often ends in canceled and postponed appointments, no matter how much I try to remain calm and not give off any indication she is going to the vet. I know cats are not dogs and don't answer commands as readily, but if there would be a way to even try to teach her to come, that would be extremely helpful. Has anyone ever done this?