Sofa Scram - Anyone tried?

So, Monet has taken to door dashing. He bolted out the other night when my neighbor left, and neither of us saw him dash out (mostly black cat and its dark out). It took me about 20 minutes to realize he wasn't in my home. I couldn't find him outside, and had to recruit my neighbor to help me (thank goodness, I am hearing impaired and I did not hear him meowing, my neighbor did!). I was panicking since I live right next to a rail road track and on a busy road. I found him running along the doors of the condo, trying to get in one. I opened my neighbor's door and he ran right in. He was just as scared as I was!

First time he was ever outside like this. It's easy for him to dash out now that I am on the first floor. If I have the main door open, but screen door closed, he'd jump on the door, trying to get through the screen (its the half screen door).

I am reading good reviews on Scat Mat.. cat steps on it, it gives off a high- pitched sound to scare them away. I am debating on ordering one to put in front of the doors to keep him away from it. Anyone used this with success?

Scat Mats don't work like that. Those mats send low electric pulses whenever something steps on it (yes, humans too). It's supposed to feel like static shocks (the kind you sometimes get when you touch your car's metal body in the winter).

I for one don't like it, because it inflicts physical pain in order to teach the cat something not to do (much like a shock collar for dogs, it's inhumane, in my humble opinion).

Also, imagine your cat trying to slip through the open door and stepping on that mat, it startles and runs off to the other side (aka outside), it might be so traumatized by the electric pulse that it's to afraid to return home because it's an unsafe environment.

I haven't used one but it sounds like it would work. One of those 'motion sensors' that go off if something passes them might be something to try too, the louder the better. Those things always work on ME! Good luck and I hope you find something!

  the one I am looking at does NOT send static electric charges. i would never do that to my cats. it gives a high-pitched sound.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3455

ok, it's not called Scat Mat- it's a Sofa Scram.

I've tried the motion detectors (The air can one, not the sound emitting one), but I found them to be too sensitive and would go off whenever I, or the cats, move, even if we're not near it.

Sorry, deleted my question as it's been answered already. Silly me. :doh3:

Do you have a hallway leading to your front door? If you do you could put another door on and create a kind of 'air lock' area (the only way I can best described what I mean) where you go through an internal door, close it, then open the front door. This is what we have done so that we can bring shopping in from the car without the cat's escaping. Ours is a folding door as a regular door would have taken up too much space when opened.

I have two doors. sliding glass doors in the kitchen that I use 99% of the time, and there I can easily see him when I enter and exit. I can block him.

the front door is the issue, and it's not in a  hallway. it's just.. there. Nothing i can do to "block" it any way. When I come in, I don't see him until last minute. Usually he's good, but if a friend goes out and we don't see him like the last time!

Oh, I'm so glad you found him right away!

Angel hasn't been a dasher, but when he was first staying inside for the first time transitioning to indoor only, I always came in, only cracking  the door entering w/ my leg in first to block any chances of that happening. (sort of leading in w/ my foot & shin, to block the open space.) and if he was there, would say, "back, back, back." (followed w/ a good boy when he did)  It seemed to work pretty good. 

I also learned to not stand there w/ the door partly open talking to someone, as he did try to dash once, when I was doing that. Thank goodness & caught him as he was passing me before he made it off the porch!

NOW, I just step outside if I am talking to someone, in stead of leaving the door cracked ...just in case.

I also made sure he was no where near the door before opening it. If he was, I just picked him up & held him (stepping back from the door) while someone came in.  

Maybe sense it's almost Christmas, maybe one of those motion activated Santa's.  

Angels mommy said:

 
Oh, I'm so glad you found him right away!

Angel hasn't been a dasher, but when he was first staying inside for the first time transitioning to indoor only, I always came in, only cracking  the door entering w/ my leg in first to block any chances of that happening. (sort of leading in w/ my foot & shin, to block the open space.) and if he was there, would say, "back, back, back." (followed w/ a good boy when he did)  It seemed to work pretty good. 

I also learned to not stand there w/ the door partly open talking to someone, as he did try to dash once, when I was doing that. Thank goodness & caught him as he was passing me before he made it off the porch!

NOW, I just step outside if I am talking to someone, in stead of leaving the door cracked ...just in case.

I also made sure he was no where near the door before opening it. If he was, I just picked him up & held him (stepping back from the door) while someone came in.  

Maybe sense it's almost Christmas, maybe one of those motion activated Santa's.  

Click to expand...

that was exactly my mistake, I had the door open while chatting with my neighbor. I didn't think he'd run out, but apparently, he did!

Yea, it only took that one time for me. About gave me a heartattack!  You may not need anything. Just make sure you step out to chat, & he's no where near the door.