How to keep cats indoors

ibelonginthezoo

TCS Member
Thread starter
Adult Cat
Joined
Jun 17, 2007
Messages
122
Purraise
1
Location
You can find me at Disneyland!!!!
One of my kittens, Ripley (4 months old), excaped outside the front door today. Luckly we were able to catch her before she got far.

She was supposed to be behind some barriers that we had to contain them in a certain area of the house. No one noticed she had excaped out of the area. When I was coming inside the house, she was excaping outside!!!

How do we set boundaries????? Eventually we will let them out (with supervision of course), but right now they are too young. How do we keep them from going out the doors and getting lost. I especially worry about Ripley because she is such a "darter". When we open a door she just bolts out. Now that she has actually excaped outside, I am worried that if (and when) she does it again, we wont be able to catch her next time.

I alos worry about the other kitten (Cali) too. Although she doesnt excape (yet) I am worried that she will eventually do the same.

We have tried putting up barriers and using "boundary spray" but they dont work too well.

Any advice will help.
 

coaster

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
5,174
Purraise
7
Location
Wisconsin
The sprays are worthless. The only way to set boundaries with a cat is with a physical barrier. If you have kids, it's going to be next to impossible to keep a cat in but the adults should all be able to guard a door going in and out and preventing a cat from darting through.

There is one type of a barrier I hate to suggest because I'm not comfortable with how it works, (and I haven't used it myself) but it might be a last resort solution when kids dashing in and out are the reason a cat gets out. It's called a scat mat and it works by causing a shock to the cat's paw pads when he steps on it. The shock is about the same level as static electricity so it doesn't cause any injury, but still........ They're pretty expensive and you might need two of them to cover a large enough area for each door.
 

carolpetunia

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
9,669
Purraise
17
Location
Plano, Texas
Oh no, please -- no electric stuff! Just have a family meeting and make sure everyone knows they must never open a door without checking to see where the kittens are, and they must always make sure the doors latch when they shut. Reinforce this with signs on the doors to remind them, if necessary.

And bless you for keeping your kittens indoors! PLEASE CONTINUE TO DO SO. By letting them outside, even with supervision, you open up all kinds of possibilities for disease, injury, and escape that just aren't necessary.

In the area where I live, the average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is only two years, according to the local SPCA.

Please let your babies be strictly indoor kitties forever. It's so much better for them in every way.
 

coaster

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
5,174
Purraise
7
Location
Wisconsin
Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

Just have a family meeting and make sure everyone knows they must never open a door without checking to see where the kittens are, and they must always make sure the doors latch when they shut. Reinforce this with signs on the doors to remind them, if necessary.
Sorry, Carol, I just can't picture this working with a five-year old and a seven-year-old running in and out during the summer.
 

gailuvscats

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 30, 2006
Messages
2,283
Purraise
34
Location
philadelphia
It won't work if you don't try. RULE 1, before any door is opened fully, it is opened a crack and checked to see if there is a kitty waiting to run out. If there is, the kitty is pushed back with a hand and told no. If a kid is opening the door and sees a kitty, he yells mom,. kitty is trying to get out. It really isn't rocket science. and yes, do not let the cats out. I am surprised they are this bold. sounds like they are familiar with the outdoors already.
 

coaster

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
5,174
Purraise
7
Location
Wisconsin
Originally Posted by gailuvscats

... I am surprised they are this bold. sounds like they are familiar with the outdoors already.
That's an excellent point. Cats who've never been out will hesistate at the door (fear of the unknown.) The really bold door darters have usually already been out and found it to their liking.
 

breal76

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
660
Purraise
1
Location
none of your bussines
I usually pick the cats up go outside, and then chuck them back into the house. ( Not crazy like, I just toss them softly ) This is how I know they are safe.

However I did train my dog to herd them back inside if they ever get out. Which he has done on occassion.

But, you really have to associate the outdoors with something negative for them such as loud noise or water.


Now the babies are a year old and have no desire to go outside. That I know of. lol.
 

meow meow

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
406
Purraise
1
My cat is one years old now and does not go outside. I also have 5 and 7 year old daughters. When he was young (4-6 months) -- he darted a few times but we always caught him. The trick is to NEVER allow the cat outside and eventually they will lose interest.

As for the kids, I just told him if the kitten goes out he may never, ever come back. My kids are RELIGIOUS about not leaving a door open. Much more so than even my husbad. It is your kids friends you will have to watch though.
 

taz monkey

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Jul 8, 2007
Messages
19
Purraise
1
I make all kinds of noise when I come in a door, so the cats scatter. Fortunately I only have one door darter, and when he darts out he goes under the deck to the wood pile to sniff around, but I just go get him and toss him back in the house. I thought about buying him a harness but decided I didn't want to make him REALLY want to go outside, so I didn't get one. I second the suggestion to make your kids understand that if the kitten gets out, he could get hit by a car or never come home. A 5 and 7 year old are old enough to remember to look before they open the door.
 
Top