The Great Escape

I invested in a new kennel to contain the kittens. It's nearly twice the size of the one we were perviously using.  It's so large, a 5'4" human can fit inside. Don't ask my how I know this.

I set up the cage in the guest room, lined it with blankets, placed their bed, dishes, toys, and litter box inside, then added the kittens. They appeared to be quite happy to be in their new, expanded quarters.

Once they were settled, I left the room and got busy with some work stuff.  An hour or so later, I heard a few squeaks, so I went to investigate. I opened the door and found two kittens in the cage, heard a cry from below, and Wilma was at my feet. I scooped her up, and put her back inside with the others.

I thought for sure I had put them all in there earlier, but maybe she had slipped out as I closed the door?  As I stood there feeling perplexed,  that agile little monkey climbed the bars of the cage in record time, and popped right through the bars of the roof, which are a little further apart than the bars of the cage sides.  Looking at those bars, and looking at that kitten, you would never think she could pass through with such ease, but she did. And this cage is thirty-six inches tall! It's the XXL and built to contain a Grate Dane or Mastiff.  That tiny kitten, did a three-foot vertical sprint.

I put her back inside, and while I searched for a solution to prevent another escape from the zoo, she did it again, and even faster than before.

I threw a lap quilt over the top of the cage and watched another attempt. The weight of the quilt made it too difficult for her to wriggle out.  She hung there for a second, then dropped, landing on the audience below, who were in a puddle of blankets.  She untangled herself from her siblings, tried again, paused half way up the cage, then aborted the plan.

I added a piece of cardboard beneath the quilt.  I think that should prevent further escapes, but Wilma is one very determined little kitten, so who knows!