Everytime I open my door, my 6 month old kitten tries to fly the coop. How do I convince him that leaving the safe confines of my house is not a good idea?
2007-03-15 12:31:36 · 13 answers · asked by 3rd_Man 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
you can't really, he's curious thats all. You could try taking him/her for a walk on a leash or something so then you kitten can discover and learn more about the outside. Or put them on a leash outside in your yard like a dog.
2007-03-15 12:34:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have the same trouble with my birman cat!!!
I have been told that it is good for the development of a cat's coat to have exposure to fresh air and sunshine...but we live in town so roads are a worry.
So we are building a large wire enclosure to allow the cat to go outside without ending up as roadkill.
Perhaps you could find an old aviary or large cage of some sort and fill it with cat toys so that you could allow your cat some 'outside' time without it being in danger.
It's a nuisance I know because at least pups can have a playpen or fenced off area whereas cats are the master climbers and escape artists.
Another idea (which I read) is to have a water bottle outside the door and then open the door from the outside and everytime it sticks it's nose near give it a squirt. If it's done often enough it will associate outside with a squirt in the face. Although this is a time-consuming training technique.
2007-03-15 19:39:01 · answer #2 · answered by Peta G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You aren't going to be able to convince him to stay indoors. Cats are, by nature, very independent animals. I suspect they do not enjoy being cooped in the house all day every day. But, to keep one as a pet, you cannot allow them to go outdoors. They would probably never come back. Just make sure your cat is away from the door when you open it. When you put your hand on the doorknob to leave, say something like 'STAY'. After a while, they may learn what you are saying and listen. Best of luck to you and your little feline friend!
2007-03-15 19:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by Courtney 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To stop a kitty from escaping by dashing through the front door (and back door) and out... you must make these doors very scary for the cat. How?
Position the vaccum cleaner next to the front door (for a few days). Everytime you are about to open the door, turn the vacuum cleaner on. You may have to explain this to all the members of your family and all the freinds who tend to come for a visit. The cat will associate the horrible noise with the opening of the door and hence avoid it.
2007-03-15 21:12:30 · answer #4 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One technique you can try is to keep a spray bottle of water near the door, and give him a squirt when he gets too close. Cats generally do not like this. However, nothing is fool proof. Always be very careful when you come in and out of the house to make sure he does not get outside. The more time he spends outside, the braver he will become, and the farther he may try to roam. Cats do not need to spend time outside to lead full lives. Visit the Humane Society of the United States web page for information on how to keep your cat happy indoors www.hsus.org Your local humane societies may also have literature on this or behavior consultants for you to speak with for more information.
2007-03-15 19:53:28 · answer #5 · answered by monochrome 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an indoor cat too. She is 9 or 10 now. When she was a kitten we would try to "sneak" out the door without her seeing. She eventually got the message. Though I wouldn't want to prop my outside door open if she were nearby because......... a cat is a cat. Just be persistent. Maybe you could put a cat treat or catnip away from the door to keep her busy when you leave.
2007-03-15 19:43:20 · answer #6 · answered by Proud Nana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is He neutered? If not, nature is calling and there isn't a lot you can do besides neuter him.
Be diligent, and remember each time he gets out it will take you longer to convince him to stay in .
You can try a water bottle near he door and give him a squirt each time he is within 5 feet of the door.
You can also make a loud fuss each time you come or go by rattling some pennies in a can and/or slamming the door each time it closes.
Congratulations on deciding to keep your cat indoors where it is safe, and good luck.
2007-03-15 19:44:03 · answer #7 · answered by Lisa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If he is smart you may be able to show him how dangerous it is. He might understand that you have his best interests in mind and are not keeping him prisoner. When you catch him and bring him in you can hold him up in front of your face and tell him that he is messing up. He will read your expression and figure out that this is not how to behave. You can also buy a spray bottle at target and fill it with water to spray him when he does something wrong.
My cat kept jumping in our new chest freezer when I had the lid open. I put my cat in the freezer and closed the lid (he climbed out after about 45 seconds by standing on the food and pushing the lid...really amazing) and the dryer (off obviously) but with the dark /and or cold she stopped jumping in when she was goofing around and now I don't worry so much about her.
I put her on a leash and take her outside when at my home in scotland...usually five minutes or so a day and she is happy. In london I just hold her really tight when outside and walk around with her so she understands its more serious....we have fearless foxes which snatch cats and fast cars in our street. She has seen the fox and the traffic and is much more cautious when we are down south....doesn't ask to go out at all much...maybe a quick tour around the house once a month or so.
2007-03-15 20:51:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep it away fromt he door whilst it is open. It is really hard to train a cat to stay inside. Just keep strong and don't give in.
2007-03-15 19:34:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Time is the answer my friend. Just keep a close eye on the little guy.
2007-03-15 19:34:29 · answer #10 · answered by Jeanette E 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋