Problem: during a client visit while pet sitting for two cats I opened the basement door to take the used litter down to the garbage can. One of the cats darted ahead of me into the basement and disappeared.
Solution: went back upstairs, locked the door and left. A couple of hours later when I came back, Basement Kitty was at the top of the basement stairs meowing his head off and couldn’t get out of there fast enough (he hasn’t tried that trick sense then either). ‘Hide and Seek’ isn’t much fun after awhile when you realize no one’s looking for you!