Had two cats named Abbott and Costello. There was a big bowl with marbles in the bottom by which silk flowers were held, which sat on the dresser across from the end of my bed. If I didn’t get up when Abbott commanded, he would jump up on the dresser and jam his paw into the marbles and shake them around until I acknowledged his mischief. As soon as I set a foot on the floor, he would jump down and head to the kitchen. He absolutely knew those silk flowers were off limits, so he used them to get me to do as he wanted.
Miss Hissy Slashy does stuff like that. She is a smart girl, and she knows exactly how to get my attention by doing something she knows is wrong.
She will scratch the basement door or try to open cupboards.
As soon as I move (my chair squeaks, the poor thing), she immediately runs over to me for pets and praise.
I think I may have done something backward when reinforcing her behavior. Ya think? Maybe?
But I love her.