Talk to the Animal...

I've never been one to talk to animals, except to call them, yell at them when they're in the wrong, and praise them when they've behaved well.  So that's how it is with our present cat, with one exception.  When I'm ready to  leave the house for an extended period of time, I find myself  telling Maybe, curled up on the couch, that I've left the kitchen door ajar so that she can go to where her litter box is.  She always looks at me, widening her eyes slightly, and so far seems to have complied.