How can cats be so intelligent, yet at the same time so bonkers?

Radar finally got the kitchen cupboard door open tonight. He has been trying for a few days, having worked out a decent method, but he has now perfected it. The reason he wants in there so bad is because it's where we store our plastic bags and he is addicted. I thought he wouldn't be able to get it open, because it has magnets holding it closed.

Well I heard a strange noise from the kitchen earlier, and went out to investigate - to find the door open, plastic bags all over the floor, and one in the process of being shredded. I checked to make sure all the bits went together and that he hadn't swallowed any (the usual 'destructicat jigsaw' that I have to solve when he manages to get hold of something) he hadn't thank goodness, although I had to chase him out of the kitchen to get him away from them!

So I remembered reading advice about using hair ties around the handles to keep the doors closed - and not 10 seconds after I had done this he was up at the cupboard, standing up on his hindlegs, chewing the blooming hair tie off the handles!

So- he can work out in a few seconds what was stopping him from opening the cupboard door, but can't work out that chewing plastic bags or hair ties could make him really sick I am looking for child locks tomorrow. To keep my hyper-intelligent-yet-slightly-daft cat safe

I often wonder the same thing

I definitely suggest getting the child lock, but don't forget the door will open still wide enough for a paw (not a baby hand, but a paw). It would probably be a good idea to recycle the majority of your plastic bags, and put the rest into an old kleenex box. That's what I've done.

Also, the big thick rubber bands that come on broccoli hold much tighter and are much thicker than hair ties.

Good luck with the lil scamp!

Unfortunately we have to put our non-recyclable rubbish in the communal bins tied up in plastic bags (you get fined if it's not done the way they want it), so we have to keep some around the place.

That cupboard is also where we keep our detergents and cleaning stuff - not that we have anything that potent in there, because parrots' respiratory systems are so sensitive I tend to clean most things with spirit vinegar or bicarb so that I don't hurt Jasper by using chemicals. But I am sure if Radar got into my laundry detergent that it wouldn't be that great for him.

I think child locks are the way to go - even if he can get his paw in, I can put everything at the back of the cupboard. No point moving it anywhere else, my wild-child can get anywhere he wants with very little apparent effort!

I have no doubts that Radar can get anywhere he wants! Cat never cease to amaze me. Dorian can figure out how to open a bifold closet door, but is too "daft"(I love that word! ) to figure out how to back out of a corner.

It was the fact that he worked out it was the hair tie preventing him from opening the door within seconds of me putting it on there that really got me! He wasn't within sight when I put it on there either, he just came back in, tried the door a couple of times, looked up at the handles and you could practically see the lightbulb above his head!

I like to have intelligent animals around me The parrot has to have his door locked with a screw-bolt when he is in his cage because he can open his door otherwise. He watched me doing up the bolt a couple of times and then tried himself, he knows how to undo it but fortunately can't get a good grip on it. I also had to secure the top of his cage the same way (it has a top opening as well as the door on the side) because even though I've never opened the top as the cage is too tall for me to easily reach, he saw that the mechanism was the same as the side door, put 2 and 2 together and opened it himself, despite the fact he'd never even seen it open.

My parrot has more advanced cognitive ability than Radar does, but it's not that huge a difference. I always knew parrots were one of the more intelligent creatures (latest research shows at least on a par with higher primates if not exceeding them), but Radar certainly has his wits about him too!

You gotta love how they'll do anything to get around what you want

When you figure that out, share it with us all.

Zissou's alot like your parrot. If she could get a good grip on the chain or the deadbolt, she'd be outta here. She can already open regular doors, given good footing or enough motivation.

Now if only I could teach her how to do my homework...

Sometimes I just wanna duct tape everything down/shut/off.

Oh, yes! Fawn's the one in our house. The door that really gets her worked up is the kitchen door. Anytime she wants out, she's at that door stretching just as far up as she can, but several inches short of the knob, never mind the bolt, and written all over her is "I'd do it myself, Mum, but it's too high uuuuuuuuuuup!!!!" and she would, too!

And to address the original question: Never forget that there's very little distance between genius and insanity!

cause their kitties and they're cool like that

Originally Posted by rapunzel47

And to address the original question: Never forget that there's very little distance between genius and insanity!

Click to expand...

that is the quote I was trying to think of!!