While I'm climbing up my steep steps, I shout "kit-ty, kit-ty, kit-ty" and voila!! I open the door and have my own personal welcoming committee.

With 8 cats, the first thing I do is take "kitty inventory" or a head count to make sure they're all there.

Then I start babbling in baby talk, asking them if they're hungry (what cat isn't???) and feed them.