Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Cats & Kittens

Kitties wanting to go out etc!

(22 posts)

  1. Our girls are to be indoor only cats. Shana is fearless and wants to go wherever she wants to and now Maiya is copying her. When my husband and I come in we go through the garage so we can close the garage door in case Shana runs out (which she has a number of times). We scoop her up, take her back inside and she starts purring. I think she just wants to be where WE are. Well tonight we ordered Chinese and I opened the front door and Maiya ran out! OMG!!! I scooped her up immediately, but wow... this is getting me worried. I am afraid they are just going to take off one day!

    Is there any way to stop this behavior?? When they are older will they stop doing this??? Although we live in a development, the people drive crazy fast on our road and I am worried they will be hit by a car if we don't stop them in time! :(

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  2. One obvious question: Have they been spayed yet? if they aren't in heat now, they'll REALLY want to get out when they go into heat, which could happen as early as 4.5 months. So, its best to get that done soon. Perhaps try lease training? But if my kitten is any indication, they do seem to grow out of this behavior as they become more mellow adolescent kitties.

    Posted 2 years ago by ladysky61 #

  3. All of our kitties, past and present, have displayed some interest in going outside. We have found the best deterent is noise. We rattle shop screws in a tin can when they hover around the door. (dried beans in a container do the same trick). There have been a couple of times when one of them have bolted into the garage when we opened the door.
    As long as the garage door is closed, we left them there, in the dark, for an hour. When we open the door to the house again, they couldn't get in fast enough. And they never lurk around the garage door now.

    Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #

  4. They haven't been spayed yet. They aren't due for that for another month (I was told to get it done between 5-6 months of age).

    GREAT ideas CheetahBoysMommy!!

    Thank you!!! :)

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  5. In that case make sure they are microchipped. My upstairs neighbor's roommate left the terrace door open all night by mistake and their flame-point Siamese got out. She must have climbed down the tree next to the terrace. She has been missing for 10 days now. I let them put her food on my patio but no luck yet. They go to the shelters every day; if she had been microchipped it would be easier.

    Posted 2 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Raleigh, NC #

  6. That's so sad SM - will keep good vibes for your neighbor.
    KB, my friend has a himilayan/siamese mix (reminds me of Taco!) who got out but returned home after a day - thank goodness. She said he hates to wear a collar, but I mentioned the least she should do is have him chipped. It wouldn't help with the hazards of being out, but easier to track if he gets lost and a kind soul finds him.

    Posted 2 years ago by JoanfromNewJersey #

  7. Thanks for the replies! I am thinking of getting them collars. This way if they DO happen to get out they would have a better chance of getting returned. I will do the microchipping as a last resort.

    I put a bunch of screws in a jar and put it by the garage door (as CheetahBoysMommy suggested). I just tried it out and Shana ran back in the house like a bat out of hell lol. Whew! I also suggested to my husband letting her stay in the garage for an hour by herself, but he is afraid that she will climb under the freezer and get caught in the compressor or something so that's out.

    I will keep using the screw in the jar idea for now! Thanks again!!! :)

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  8. KB - collars can come off. Please, if you can afford it, consider micro chipping now, rather than a last resort :o)

    Posted 2 years ago by MadcatwomanintheUK #

  9. Ditto MCW micro chip and flea treated if they do go outdoors. Otherwise you will have fleas comin' home with them!

    Posted 2 years ago by jeankit #

  10. Suggestions taken... thanks! :)

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  11. Your pictures of your girls are adorable. Be sure to send them in to Kitten Master to be considered as The Daily Kitten some day.

    Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #

  12. Thanks CheetahBoysMommy. Your boys are adorable as well! :)

    By the way, the screws in the jar idea isn't working anymore! I told you Shana was fearless LOL!!! I am going to buy them both collars and tags tomorrow and find out about microchipping too. I would be devisatated if they got lost!

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  13. My boys always want to go out, too, and bolt out the door when I walk in.
    The only thing that works for me is to put down anything I'm carrying when I get to the door, and use my hands instead to catch kitties as soon as they poke their heads out the door.

    I did discover a new trick this morning, though, but not sure how long it'll work. Mi hates having people over - as soon as someone knocks on the door, he runs and hides. So this morning, I tried knocking on the door prior to opening it - and when I did open it Bob, the greeter of all, was there, but Milo who is the worst at bolting, was hiding in my closet!
    I'm thinking whenever it's dark out or if I have a lot of groceries, I will knock on the door and send Mi into hiding instead of flying out the door.

    Posted 2 years ago by GreatDane #

  14. The ringing doorbell or knocking used to send our old cat into hiding, but both Shana and Maiya LOVE company lol! I didn't want them to be afraid like our previous cat so I purposely had a lot of people over since I have gotten them.

    We always put our hands out to catch them if they try to bolt, but it would be nice if we didn't have to worry!

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  15. Hi, I think collars with tags are also good, because people that see lost cats won't always take them to where they read the micro chips, but a collar and a tag are always visible and tell you Hey! this kitty I've never seen before may be lost.
    Good luck with your babies!

    Posted 2 years ago by sheflly #

  16. Thanks Sheflly! :)

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  17. Another thing that worked for us (usually). When you get in the house, give both girls treats immediately. If they learn that running to the kitchen gets them treats while running outdoors doesn't, it might help keep them inside.

    Posted 2 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #

  18. Another great idea! Thanks!! :)

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  19. Your furbabies are adorable & are showing typical instincal(sp?) behavior for their age. On another note...don't wait until they are 5-6 months to get them spayed. My feral, Singer was barely 5 months old when she 'blossomed' & became a first-time mother. And once they come into heat, believe me, nothing will keep them from getting out...& getting them spayed is more delicate of a procedure & will cost more to have them 'spayed'.

    Posted 2 years ago by feral #

  20. I do that, too, CBM - with cat grass. I have pots of it outside and the boys love it. I pick some strands of the stuff and show it to the boys when I open the door and see their little faces there. They stop immidiately and I can go inside and give it to them.

    Posted 2 years ago by GreatDane #

  21. Maiya has her rabies shot in about 2 weeks and I was planning to ask when I could make them an appointment to get spayed.

    The grass is a good idea. Thanks!

    Posted 2 years ago by KerrBear #

  22. I personally used a spray bottle with water in it to keep them away from the door. I also "clicker" train my cats. So they learned when they heard the clicker to run to the foot stool in the living room for treats. I also agree that micro chipping is very good idea if they are darting out the door.

    Posted 2 years ago by Athena #


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