my female almost 1 years old is a very sweet, loving kitten has been ( if she gets the chance ) when someone opens the sliding door ( that leads into the backyard ) sometimes she will just run out there. we are able to catch her but it takes time .. she has been doing it around 5 times and we do not want anything to happen to her. i dont know what to do anymore to get her to stop trying to run outside. (she loves to look out the window at the sliding door) what should i do!? please help. thanks!
2007-12-15 06:09:21 · 7 answers · asked by Brittany 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Wow, for a minute I had to check and make sure this question wasn't coming from someone in our house. We have the exact same problem. Even the age of our cats is the same. We open the sliding back door to let the dog out and she bolts for it, and then up a tree, over onto the roof or even better, onto our neighbours roof where she spends an hour or two trying to catch crows. Heart stopping to watch!
The only thing we have been able to do to stop this happening, is before we open the door we actually have to walk through the house to see exactly where she is. If she is sleeping in another room we can open the door safely but if she is awake, someone has to hold her when the the door is opened or closed. Quite a pain in the behind but it is the only way we can get that door open and shut safely.
Strange thing is, she never makes a bolt for our front door....
2007-12-15 06:16:10 · answer #1 · answered by sinnyloo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your cat wants to be outside. I really don't understand the need for people to keep their cats contained. I've had cats since I was young and most have been outdoor cats. They remember where they live and come home. They chase birds..... it's in their nature. Inside, they'll chase mice and you'll be glad for it. They are animals. They live by instincts. How many wild animals actually build houses?
However, this may seem contradictory, I now have two cats, both spayed, that stay indoors. They are both under one year. My reasons are that we live in town and I wouldn't want them to cause dissention among the neighbors. We also live on a busy intersection.
Only one of our cats consistently tries to get outside. While we try to keep an eye on her when the dog goes out, she's slipped past us a few times. She comes back. I plan to get a water bottle to discourage other behaviors, such as climbing on the table and counters. I imagine this would work for rushing the door. Fences won't work because 1) cats climb and 2) they'll find a way over/around/under it.
2007-12-15 06:25:03 · answer #2 · answered by wildfire6460 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get yourself a figure H harness, not a figure 8 one. This figure H harness has two buckles, one for the neck and one fo behind the front legs, they can't squirm out of these as easy as the figure 8 ones.
Get a 10' rope or leash, and go out with her. Make a big show of putting this on her and taking her out--mine got so used to going out that he'd hold up his head to let me get the buckle under the throat, so we could go out together. When outside make it at least 20 minutes. Don't tie the cat to anything (they panic and run and can hurt themselves). Let her walk where she wants, don't drag, but if she goes in the wrong direction go pick her up and move her to an area that's ok.
Once she knows it's 'leash or nothing', she'll find ways of getting you to go get the leash.
2007-12-15 09:08:48 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I myself own three neutered tom cats who are eternally trying to get out the back door. The only thing you can really do is try spraying her with a water bottle whenever she tries to make a dash for the great outdoors. Most cats hate water and spraying them is very effective. You also need to have her spayed (if she isn't already). She could be smelling "suitors" in the great beyond and may be trying to get to them. This will also prevent unwanted kittens if she ever DOES get beyond your reach. Good luck!
2007-12-15 06:14:41 · answer #4 · answered by Cat's Cradle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She wants to go outside! What if you were forced to stay in the house all the time?? get her fixed, don't declaw her and stop worrying about it.
2007-12-15 06:14:57 · answer #5 · answered by Mamasita 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if not sprayed she will be trying to get out as on heat to find tom cat
2007-12-15 06:20:12 · answer #6 · answered by sky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a fence so she can just be out and play.
2007-12-15 06:15:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋