For about a week now, there has been 2 Pet doors made available for my kitties to use... so they are more "independent".
I have gotten down on my hands and knees.. showing them how the door works.
I have even attempted showing them how the door works by moving their paw for them against the flap. Also by helping them move their heads and bodies out of the flap .
When I was doing this, I would also push the flap open my self..and called them by their vibration...to get them to turn around and observe me looking at them through their new pet door.
Yet, they STILL want ME to get up and OPEN the main door (the one i use) for them, ALL the time!!!!
I will come home to them waiting for me to let them in.. and i just continue to show them "their door" and help move their bodies through. and yes, I have already tried catnip as incentive... perhaps one day they will just "get it"...
BUT..its as if they are preferring to be co-dependent on me...or have gotten too used to being co-dependents!!!
Any other suggestions!!?? :dunno: How long did it take YOUR small beloved animal child to learn how to use the pet door?
With gratitude,
meow
:kitty:
:pawprint: :pawprint: :pawprint:
shellebelle
02-03-2008, 04:20 PM
ROFLMAO - Having met you recently this created quite the mental image! Did you wag your tail at them?
How about putting them on one side of the door and their food on the other?
tdavis
02-03-2008, 07:18 PM
Some kitties simply don't like to mash their precious little faces. We have one who opens the door with her paw before she enters.
Try propping the door open for a day or two and they'll get used to it.
nurturetruth
02-03-2008, 07:30 PM
giggle-wiggle ! yes, shelle...it was quite a sight...seeing me on my hands and knees !
i had already tried the food thing prior to the catnip....which did not seem to "do it" for them.
i have 3 magic kitties. i have always imagined that 1 of them was much more observant and aware than the other 2.
She is the only one that is using it and has figured it out!
The other 2, will actually come up to the pet door and meow their heads off until i open it for them.....
I will try to figure a way to prop the flap open while I am here at home... but i don't wish to let other critters in my precious "center"....
I am sure they will "get it" eventually!
ahhhhh, being a "co-dependent" is such a difficult pattern to break !
thanks to both of ya!
Moon
02-04-2008, 03:15 AM
What's worked with my cat sisters has been to wait 'til meal time and sit
on the opposite side of the door from them with canned food. They come
through the cat door, i give them a nibble, close the can and wait a few
minutes. Then i go back to the side where we started and repeat. Voila!
Lorrie
02-04-2008, 01:25 PM
:wink:OH MY GOSH!!! :jawdrop:Nurturetruth...has a tail?!:pointnlaugh::sperm:
ROFLMAO - Having met you recently this created quite the mental image! Did you wag your tail at them?
How about putting them on one side of the door and their food on the other?
nurturetruth
02-04-2008, 01:28 PM
oh my lorrie !!!!
rotflmao !!!!!!
i like the graphics used!!!!
GOT ME laughing i cant stop!
Lorrie
02-04-2008, 04:29 PM
I always wondered how that sperm smiliey would get used!
ROTFLMAO too!
oh my lorrie !!!!
rotflmao !!!!!!
i like the graphics used!!!!
GOT ME laughing i cant stop!
Barrie
02-18-2008, 07:27 PM
Hi! I was able to train my cats to use cat doors by taping the cat door open. When they were used to going through the door taped open for a few days I untaped it and they were able to figure out how to push the door open with their heads. Is yours a locking door that a "key" on their collar unlocks? That can be a little more challenging. All my cats use the cat door with ease.
Barrie
[quote=nurturetruth;49003]For about a week now, there has been 2 Pet doors made available for my kitties to use... so they are more "independent".
I have gotten down on my hands and knees.. showing them how the door works.
I have even attempted showing them how the door works by moving their paw for them against the flap. Also by helping them move their heads and bodies out of the flap .
When I was doing this, I would also push the flap open my self..and called them by their vibration...to get them to turn around and observe me looking at them through their new pet door.
Yet, they STILL want ME to get up and OPEN the main door (the one i use) for them, ALL the time!!!!
I will come home to them waiting for me to let them in.. and i just continue to show them "their door" and help move their bodies through. and yes, I have already tried catnip as incentive... perhaps one day they will just "get it"...
BUT..its as if they are preferring to be co-dependent on me...or have gotten too used to being co-dependents!!!
Any other suggestions!!?? :dunno: How long did it take YOUR small beloved animal child to learn how to use the pet door?