Can A Cat CLose an Open Door?

[Hellefire]

So, based on a real life factual rebuttal, I'd say a magical and intelligent cat familiar could open and close any door, provided it had sufficient strength to move it. They are after all, thick mediaval doors of solid wood (usually ok or pine). Of couse the latch could make the difference on that ruling, but all in all, I'd say it could happen. It is a fantasy game after all!

So then the question becomes, not could, but WOULD a cat close a door.
And the answer is, of course, entirely left to the cat's whim.

Aaron

 

[Abstraction]

It depends upon the collapse of the waveform.

 

[mmadsen]

A cat has STR 3, so it can carry 30 pounds (at 20 feet per action) or drag up to 150 pounds (slowly).

This is what happens when we go from reality to mathematical model and back again. I don't think a real cat could carry more than a pound or two. It certainly couldn't drag an adult woman.

 

[Rel]

I think that a Familar Cat could almost certainly close an open door.

I think that a Schroedinger's Cat either would or would not. You just never know.

 

[Arrgh! Mark!]

I would be careful about mixing fairly standard moggie housepets and feral (wild) cats.

I saw a feral cat that had it's head reaching above my knee. It was filled with muscle, not to mention pure spite. I reckon that thing could of probably dragged fairly heavy things, probably up to thirty-fourty kilograms. I saw a feral cat beat a bullying bulldog once. (Cat leaped and went strait for ear/eyes. Critical hit.)

A housecat (or if we are talking medieval) ratter will not be so small as what most little kitties are, depending on breed of course. They live on raw meat after all and live by strength and wit.


I believe they have the strength to close and open a door. Only certain ones have the ability to close them, though; thats not a natural cat habit. It's a learned behaviour.

 

[Mercule]

Yes. I've seen it done. Q.E.D.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

(1) A heavy dungeon door is going to be one hell of a lot more than 30 pounds. You're talking about 5 feet by 7 feet of 4-by-4s. At least.

(2) Yes, a cat could probably close that door, if it closed smoothly. A smart cat definitely could.

(3) I wouldn't allow it in 1 round, personally. Absolutely not in a move action. Okay, a cat in D&D has a 3 Strength, but it lacks the leverage to apply it to something designed for a humanoid. Imagine swinging shut a very heavy door, from the bottom, using only a fingertip. That's the kind of speed you're looking at.

 

[Silver Moon]

I have had cats for around three-dozen years. As stated above, cats can and will open and close doors. Smart cats can even figure out how to unlatch doors and turn doorknobs.

We also have a sheep that knows how to turn on the television set, but that's another story.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I have seen cats open and close doors, including one sliding glass door.

The greatest weight that I have ever seen a cat drag was a 25 lb. bag of cat food, dragging it slowly across the room, unconcerned that the entire bunch of people who shared the cat's apartment was watching this brazen theft. The cat weighed maybe seven lbs. - not a big cat at all.

The Auld Grump, very friendly cat too...

 

[Dirigible]

A cat can carry 22.5 pounds? Hmm....

Addendum: ender_wiggin has been arrested for Cruelty to Animals.

He asks all his friends on ENworld to contribute to his legal fund.