Escape!

As the weeks go by Charlotte is more and more intent on getting out into the garage.  Of all the closed doors, it's the one door she really can't leave along.  She starts crying as soon as we get home (announced by the garage door opener) and is poised, ready to bolt into the garage.

We've mostly learned to open the door ready to scoop her up as we go into the house.  It's harder as we leave - how do you watch your back, open the door, go down the stairs, watch your back, close the door, and constantly watch the kitten who is intent on finding out what is beyond that damned door?  Part of the problem, besides her persistence, is that this door opens out, not in.  With the doors to the outside the door sweeps her away from the door as it opens. 

One time (so far) she managed to get past us.  Raising the garage door a few minutes and lowering it again right away - to get the opener noise to scare here - didn't work at all (that used to send Charlie scrambling to get back to the safety of the house).  Her interest in the garage hasn't waned in the least.  We will want her to patrol the garage at some point, to keep the mice from coming in.  But, she's still just a baby, so we don't want her to be out there yet.  And there are too many places to explore and hide where we can't easily reach her to rescue her if she gets in trouble.

She continues to be mostly very polite about sleeping arrangements.  Sometimes the sleeps in the closet or somewhere else, but for the most part, she sleeps with us and doesn't wake us until around 7am.  If we don't respond "appropriately" she sometimes even goes away and lets us sleep (or try to) some more. 

Her communication is pretty clear.  Simple, but clear.  Little tiny sounds to encourage us to start (or stop) stroking her.  Loud and insistent when we get near the cutting board or fridge.  It didn't take her long to figure out those places most often mean there's going to be food.

She's getting better about how she shares our dinner.  She feels she needs to try our food, but we're teaching her to stay back a bit and not try to climb into our plates (the first few times was hilarious but very frustrating).  Now, we feed her tidbits off to the side and it works for all of us.