how do you keep a cat from going outside every time you open the door?

Question

My cat comes back every few days, but he wasn't raised to be an outside cat( for the last year). This has only started recently and if I keep him locked in a room, he pees all over everything. I'm almost resigned to just let him be an outside cat. he seems to leave for 3-4 days then comes back for a day then leaves again. what can i do other then get him neutered?

Answer 1

maybe hitting him with sticks would make him want to stay, haha just kidding hon, maybe open tuna when you have the door open, to do this you might have to rig up a tuna can opening door opening sync device which could be more difficult than you think, but really with some light sensors and a soldering iron, it might not be too hard

Answer 2

Neutering is a good idea; not only will it calm him down, but it will prevent him from impregnating other females with litters of unwanted kittens.

Try keeping a spray bottle by the door. Set it on "mist" and just give him a squirt while telling him "no!" if it looks like he is going to make a break for it.

Another thing that works well for any undesirable cat behaviors is an empty soda can with a few coins in it and tape over the opening. Just a little shake of this "Can of Discipline" and the cat will take off in the other direction. They HATE this noise.

You are right to want to keep him indoors; inside cats live much longer, healthier lives than outside cats. Try the spray bottle and/or the soda can technique and he should be trained to stay inside in no time.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You definatly need to get him neutered this will stop most of the spraying and peeing everywere and it mat also stopp him from going out so much as he will not have the urge to go and find a female cat on heat, Also it will stop a few more unwanted kittens coming into the world.
Once he in neutered you should still let him out for a little while each day as cats love the outdoors you will need to get him micro chipped and you may also want to get him a collar and put a tag on it with your name and number on.

Answer 4

Just give up, he smells another female cat in heat, and, the pee on the walls and floors is his way of marking his territory.
My cat is neutered and declawed but he done this a couple years ago. I live in the country, I just put his litter box in the side yard by a tree. He goes out when my dog does, he comes home and sleeps in the house and goes back out whenever he wants. He comes home for eating and sleeping. Sometimes he is gone for a couple hours and other times he was gone for a week. After being gone for a week or even 3 days, a couple times of that and now he stays within a yard or two from us. I can always go out and call him and he comes home. I say if you are in the country area - let him go. It is better than having the foul smell on everything that won't wash out !

Answer 5

Your first mistake was to let him outside at all!! Sounds like he's found a female in heat. He would stay out longer but he knows where his food is. If he's not fixed - he should be!! He's spraying everything to let other cats know (in his mind) that it's his territory and branding his domaine. If they smell a female, they will spray everywhere. There is such an overabundance of cats in this world and the simple thing to do is to just fix them!!! My best idea for you is to spray him with water from a spray bottle from the dollar store everytime he's near the door. It's harmless and very affective and within just a couple times he'll relate the door to the water and avoid it.

Answer 6

Neutering will help, but he will still want to go outside. Cats are just curious. My cats continually try to get into any door or cupboard. I have a cabinet where when you open the door, it is completely full of records (LP's). There is no room to get inside. Yet the cats open that door every day and look inside, as if maybe one day it will be empty! They also always try to get into my bedroom, where they are not allowed, or outside. If the door is cracked even the slightest, they know it, and are there trying to paw it open.

Answer 7

Get a collar with a bell. Your kitty wants out and cats are pretty one minded. This way, you'll at least know he's making a break for the door. Get him neutered. No use having a bunch of homeless kitties.

Answer 8

Even if you get him neutered he may still go outside due to he has the taste of it.

with that being said.. you say he isn't neutered... well there is your answer in itself. He NEEDS to get outside and relieve his desires. personally I would rather let him outside to do this rather than him inside peeing all over everything... male cat pee is stinkier than female. if you don't want him getting to far... try a leash and colar harness (goes around the torso and neck area).

I know my female cat is not fixed and she does get out from time to time... and that is the method i am going to take after i get her fixed... this way I know where she is and she won't get hit by a car.

Answer 9

You may need to consider the neuter, but, it may not always help. Some cats are roamers and hunters. They go off looking for birds or girl cats and maybe a few Cat Fights. Then they come home and rest up for the next round of fun.

I found your cat with some of his friends;
http://www.dancollinscartoons.com/GreetingCards/catfight-fs.jpg

Answer 10

Keep a loaded squirt gun by the door. Every time you open the door and the cat tries to go out, squirt him away from the door. Eventually the cat will not want to go out the door.

Answer 11

You should definitely get him neutered. He probably wants to go outside for all the females that might be outside. Also, getting him neutered might help prevent him from marking his territory or "spraying".