How can I handle Real Estate people?

This is certainly not a slam against anybody in Real Estate, in fact, if you are in Real Estate please help me with this problem. My house is up for sale which means my house is shown during the day when nobody other than the cat is here. I have GREAT BIG SIGNS by the doors saying there is a cat in the house and to watch the doors closely. When I got home a while ago, I found Persi in the back yard and he has never in his life been outside before so I know how quick cats can enter and leave a place without anybody knowing, but I am in a rage over this. Fortunately the back yard is entirely fenced in but what if next time it is the front door? Do I have to keep him locked up all day in an OFF LIMITS area to the showings? I am besides myself right now and need to cool down a bit. I was worried this was going to happen but guess I did not take the necessary precautions, whatever those might be...

Originally Posted by Persi

I have GREAT BIG SIGNS by the doors saying there is a cat in the house and to watch the doors closely. When I got home a while ago, I found Persi in the back yard and he has never in his life been outside before so I know how quick cats can enter and leave a place without anybody knowing, but I am in a rage over this.

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I would be FUMING!!!
In my experience of managing an apartment building, workmen, contractors ect DO NOT take people's pets seriously. They do if it's a big scary dog, but with cats it's like "uh huh, whatever". They just want to come in and do their job and don't give a crap about whether the cat gets out or not. Seriously.
As for real estate agents? I would like to think that they'd take you, their client, seriously enough to take heed of your concerns and signs and keep your cat inside. You can see how easily a cat could escape in this circumstance though.
Personally, I wouldn't trust anyone other than a petsitter when it comes to caring about my cats. I would confine the cat to an area on those days when you're showing, and make it very clear to your agent that the cat is not to be let out.
I now I sound cynical, but it comes from experience.
At the end of the day, your cat won't be happy about being confined, but you will be very happy to find he's still at home.