Kitty! Stay INSIDE!!!

[SarahFair]

I have a kitten who is about 15ish weeks old (give or take). I dont think she minds being indoors because shes usually curled up on my lap, on the bed, trying to play with the dogs, or just running around the house in general. Its just everytime someone gets near a door shes waiting for it to be cracked!
Shes not declawed or anything but I do keep her nails short.. My biggest fear is sometimes the neighbors dogs run loose or shell take up with the other cats that run around here.
How can I get her out of this habit?

 

[patandchickens]

My most recent adoptee (I guess it's been almost a year and a half now, he was 5ish when I got him) was like that. I don't know about where you live, but where we are there are not only tons of coyotes there is also a very fast-moving (like, typically 60-70 mph) road just 60' from the front door with all sorts of gravel trucks and such flying by. Outdoor cats on this stretch of road typically have very short lifespans.

So we kept "Mr Squirty" (plant sprayer bottle, set on stream not mist, just water in it) next to the door -- in fact there were days in the beginning when we kept a second Mr Squirty just *outside* the door, for when you were coming in. (We only needed this for the first few weeks, and very occasionally thereafter).

And I trained him to walk on harness and leash and took him outdoors 2x/day (only an option if you are somewhere reasonably quiet, without lots of pedestrian or dog traffic).

And, the big thing is, we have cat shelves at almost all the windows in the house; they have a raised "bridge" walkway across the kitchen at almost ceiling level; and when that wasn't enough for this particular cat I built him (and therefore my other cats too

) an outdoor "cat run" where they can go outside and bask in the sun or eat grass or bat at bugs. They've even caught an impressive number of mice and voles while out there! They REALLY like the run. I have posted pics of it on The Easy Garden (sister site); if you do a search here or there for posts with 'cat enclosure' authored by me, you can probably find the thread referenced. Even if you don't have as much room (or free time <g>), you can easily build something smaller that is still secure and enjoyable to the cat.

Mo pretty much stopped *regularly* trying to dart out the door after, I dunno, maybe 6 months or so. (The depths of winter helped considerably, LOL). There were still occasional incidents, including a few successful ones, all last spring. But I do not recall him having gotten out since maybe April, and frankly nowadays he does not really seem interested anymore. Occasionally he will sit inside the door and *watch* as you come in, but that's all.

All cats are different so your mileage may vary but it's worked for me, and the general approach (provide lots of window and high-up perches in the house, and controlled safe outdoors access) has worked for many other people, so it is probably your best bet. I think your odds are pretty good since she is still pretty young... just keep her from GETTING out, using Mr Squirty as needed, and she'll learn.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

They make plastic mats that cats wont walk on.Its spiky an they hate them. If you put one by the door it will train it to stay away from the door.

Heres one that is electric.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/ind...-C881-DE11-B712-001422107090&mr:referralID=NA

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

They have sonic and citrus spray 'keep away' systems for cats and dogs. Some are just motion activated others are collar activated, and they are great cat deterrants from doors.

They sell them at wal-mart here.

Oh also free/nearly free way, but a bit of hassle for some to remember, is to get a water bottle and have one by door inside and outside and when the door is opened and shes right there, spray her when shes showing serious interest in door or actually goes towards it as it opens. She'll get the message, but you'll have to pick it back up from time to time as cats are way more obstinate and stubborn than a dog is and will never 'once learned always learned' like a dog. lol. They strive to find ways around what you want them to do.

 

[boykin2010]

squirt bottles dont work for my cats they LOVE WATER lol they will jump in the bathtub and swim and look as happy as ever like u gave them some catnip. so i dont know it depends on the cat i guess.

 

[sourland]

Our last cat lived to be 19 years old. She was an indoor cat from the time our daughter brought her home from college. Yeah, that's another story. She wanted to get outside every day of her life. Knowing what killing machines cats are, I could never allow that. She would sit in the picture window longingly staring at the birds and squirrels. She never gave up trying to get outdoors. Sorry!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Quote:
You have Mancoons?(spelling?)

 

[redhen]

Have a spray bottle of water waiting at the door... where she goes ner it when its open.. make a PSSST! noise and squirt her good with it...
She'll take off quick...
then soon..all you'll have to do is go PSSSST! And she stay away from the door.

 

[patandchickens]

I have yet to meet a cat, water-loving or otherwise, who is not highly deterred by a squirt of water *in the face* and *with a little bit of lemon juice added to the water*.

Pat

 

[redhen]

Quote:
OOohh.. lemon juce in the water.. good idea! Muhahahahahaha..