Lupe's Escape...Kinda...

Anyone remember "Romancing The Stone" movie, with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner from 1984?  Well, if you do, do you recall what 'Lupe's Escape' was?

The drug dealer guy had his own private way across the river, and he called it 'Lupe's Escape'.  Well, Sweetie needed her own escape from The Stairway to Heaven, because Patty O'Malley (POM) would sit on the steps and prevent her from coming down!

Beginning the work...

The Hubby and his tools

Lupe's Escape from below

See the new board closer to the top?

Therefore, I bullied suggested to The Hubby that we add a second egress, so Sweetie would feel more comfortable.  After much prodding and discussion, a long board was added to a new opening in the balcony.  Sweetie used it right away!

Then, POM sat at the bottom of the stairs, and she was again trapped.  I had to run outside and call him, so she could be freed. Lupe's Escape didn't work!

Obviously, we need a second set of steps, leading to/from Lupe's Escape...not just a single board.  The Hubby has his orders to make it so, however I am sure I'll be nagging encouraging him this weekend again.

Sweetie easily moves up and down The Stairway, and she spent over five minutes INSIDE THE HOUSE.  She is comfortable there.  POM, however, looks in the door and meows pitifully, and then turns tail and goes back down.  My hope is that he keeps watching Sweetie, losing his fear to plain curiosity, and a desire to have whatever she is having!

To be able to keep them inside during the coldest winter nights is my goal, and The Stairway to Heaven with Lupe's Escape, and some work from The Hubby just might make it happen, Captain!

(Yes, I know we should call it 'Sweetie's Escape' but The Hubby and I have been quoting lines from "Romancing The Stone" for so many years, it's hard to change.  So, Lupe's Escape it is!  And Lupe is pronounced, 'loo-pay'.)

Bummer...Bummer...YAY!

Patty and Sweetie, waiting for noms on the front porch

Bummer, so much for Progress!  Since I had just boasted about Patty and Sweetie venturing up The Stairway To Heaven, they have reverted to waiting for meals by hanging out on the front porch.  Does not do me any good to step out on the balcony in the backyard, when they are in the front yard!  What the hey?

And yesterday, I so proudly brought home a new bed scratcher, just like the one we'd received months ago from Cat Chat With Caren And Cody.  I set up the double-wide...and nothing.  Angel jumped up, looked around, and then jumped down again, and went off to lay in the front window.

Double-Wide!

I was crushed; what another Bummer!  I slunk off to take a hot bath, while gripped about how I should have just left things alone.  The Hubby shook his head, and told me I had no faith!  Soon, he was off to sleepyland, while I sat watching TV shows that I had recorded (DVR'd).  You know, stuff like "My Cat From Hell" on Animal Planet, and "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS.  It was pouring rain outside, which suited my mood.

Then...Angel jumped up, and made herself at home in her new double-wide scratcher!

Angel, getting the feel of it

"This will do, Mama!"

"Look at all of the room!"

I couldn't help but snap some photos, even though it was late.  She purred up a storm, and I petted and sweet-talked her until my eyelids drooped, and went off to my own human-sized beddy. YAY!

😽😻😻😻😻😻😽

Fear not; you think I'm going to give up on The 'O' Cats and The Stairway To Heaven?  Oh, no way! During the warm months, I'll keep coaxing and working on it.  Even if I have to convince The Hubby that we need to build human-sized stairs (like someone's old, not-needed spiral staircase that we can have for free...hint hint) so I can play Follow-The-Leader, with the cats trailing behind me.

Progress!

I have managed to coax Sweetie and Patty O'Malley up the Stairway To Heaven a number of times recently, but have only managed to snap a few quick photos as evidence.  I step out onto the balcony, shake the kibble a bit, and first one cat and then the other pop out of the hole and come over for snacks and lovin'.  On this day, I left the storm door closed, but since that time I leave it open wide enough for a cat to walk in.  Sweetie is quite inquisitive; she goes right inside and takes a good look around.  I want her to keep that up, because her actions may pull Patty along with her, as he will only peer in so far.

Sweetie, looking in the cat flap

Patty and Sweetie, lured up by kibble!

Patty peering in the cat flap, as Sweetie watches

This morning, however, I stepped out onto the balcony, but there wasn't a cat in sight!  I called and shook the kibble...but neither cat appeared.  So, I went back inside, down the stairs and out the front door...and around to the backyard.  Patty and Sweetie were under my car, in the driveway.  Hmmm. May have to work in a sound to 'call' them, like a small bell (something that doesn't drive the neighbors crazy, like a cow bell...LOL!).  The idea is to get them used to coming up and down to eat, and then inside.  Once they go inside, I'll close the door, and teach them to use the cat flap.  If they can 'flap', then I can let them inside at night, and out again in the morning, with only the wooden door open for the brief time it takes them to go in or out.

My summer project!

Been Caught Looking!*

 *play on words from the Jane's Addition song, "Been Caught Stealing"

Sweetie was up on the balcony!  I couldn't get my phone out fast enough to record the look on her face when she was caught looking down!  This is fabulous, because it means both Sweetie and Patty O'Malley are comfortable going up and down.  Now, I need to find ways to tempt them in the balcony door.