My cat is clawing at the door at times (I think trying to dig under it to get out) and I was wondering if there is a way to stop this. I have tried clapping loud, and saying no firmly. But he's right back to it. I ignore it too but that doesn't work. Do people use spray bottles to stop unwanted behavior? I feel funny doing that, but am looking for a solution.
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How do you get them stop this kind of thing?
- Thread starter marge
- Start Date
I think you can line the bottom of the door with aluminum foil? Make sure your cat doesn't eat any of it because that could be dangerous, but if you line it with foil then it will become less attractive.
Some people use spray bottles, others say it's a bad idea because then the cat is scared of water (what if he gets into something and you have to give him a bath?). I personally don't... I say no, my cat looks at me, and then keeps on going. The main idea is if you want the cat to not do something, try to make whatever they're doing less attractive... and redirect their attention to something else.
Good luck!
Some people use spray bottles, others say it's a bad idea because then the cat is scared of water (what if he gets into something and you have to give him a bath?). I personally don't... I say no, my cat looks at me, and then keeps on going. The main idea is if you want the cat to not do something, try to make whatever they're doing less attractive... and redirect their attention to something else.
Good luck!
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- #3
Thanks, I didn't realize foil might deter him. I'll try it. I have never seen a cat who wanted out this much in my life. I have friends who ask about himand ask "does he stil try to claw under the door"? It's so funny, they remember thtat more than the roast beef I made them!
How about lining the bottom of the door with a piece of carpeting?
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- #5
Another thing you could put at the bottom of the door is bubble wrap, which will deter some cats. Good luck with the perch - Jamie has two, and loves them. In fact, he's sitting on one of them right this minute.
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- #7
He likes the perch, but seems to not go to it naturally. WHen I put him on it he sit and stares out the window. Maybe after some time.....
I have now started a nightly walk with him, in a way I wonder if this makes things "worse" in that he seems to want out again. But I know he likes it and that's what counts.
It's a struggle keeping him in and not just yearning to go out, but i told him last night (we talk frequently) that I am not giving up, and I am determined to make this adjustment with him. We had a very nice morning today.
I take Jamie out every afternoon. When the weather is lousy, he stays outside for about fifteen minutes, most of which are spent marking the perimeter of the yard. When the weather is terrific, we sometimes stay outside for 2 or 3 hours - he on his fixed line, and I sitting on a bench with work (tests to mark, translations, etc.). I still think your cat will adjust. Friends adopted an indoor/outdoor cat almost a year ago, and have successfully turned him into an indoor only cat. My sister went through the same thing after one of her cats broke his hip during a fight with a neighborhood cat. This is going to sound very, very strange, but Trey started to adjust once he got "hooked" on Disney films. He'll sit and watch an entire video ("Mulan" is his favorite). She's now keeping both her cats inside, and thinks the adjustment period is about a year.
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- #9
I never thought about a longer fixed line, I will try that. I have been taking him out everyday for about 20 minutes/half hour. He just loves it, smells grass etc.
It's so weird with him, for example things were going pretty well for several days, he seemed to be adjusting and then just a little bit ago he started crying to go out like his life depended on it. He keeps looking at me and crying like "what's the problem?" Gives up and eats and then almost in defiance will only go back to sleep not play with his inside things.
When I tried to convert Bob from an indoor/outdoor cat, he was terribly defiant with me for a while. He started the *BAD* habit of coming up to me in bed and peeing on me. Yup - did it a week straight until I started putting him in the litter box at bed time to inform him that it wasn't wise for him to continue that behavior.
Everyone that I know that has done this conversion says that it takes at least 3 months for the adjustment to really start. Bob didn't scratch at the door, but he would sit in the window by the door for hours on end and meowl at me when I walked by. He would then walk away rejected, go back to sleep and not play with the toys.
I just stuck with it. Gave him as much attention as I could, played with him, gave him extra treats and tried to make his indoors life as fulfilling as possible. Hindsite tells me I should have had him outside on a leash.
Everyone that I know that has done this conversion says that it takes at least 3 months for the adjustment to really start. Bob didn't scratch at the door, but he would sit in the window by the door for hours on end and meowl at me when I walked by. He would then walk away rejected, go back to sleep and not play with the toys.
I just stuck with it. Gave him as much attention as I could, played with him, gave him extra treats and tried to make his indoors life as fulfilling as possible. Hindsite tells me I should have had him outside on a leash.
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- #11
You know i keep expecing to find some kind of defiant behavior like that, like peeing on my bed etc. I can tell he's mad.
The scratching gets really intense too, it's almost disturbing how intense it gets. I have never had a cat do that before. the carpet is all torn up by the door.
you know if I didn't know he goes across the street so much I might even consider letting him stay indoor/outdoor, but I can't live with this. It's too busy of a street. I know he always goes across the street if he's out.
Bob outlasted me. I brought him inside when the feral colony that lives by my house came down with FeLV. Until I could get thru that problem, I couldn't let Bob outside. After about 4 months, I let him back out. But I do live in the country and on a gravel road with very little traffic. He typically goes out back to romp and rarely crosses the street.
Another thought - cats don't typically like citrus and you could probably train them to dislike bitter apple spray. Have you tried spraying the carpet with anything like that? They have household cleaners with lemon and orange these days.
Another thought - cats don't typically like citrus and you could probably train them to dislike bitter apple spray. Have you tried spraying the carpet with anything like that? They have household cleaners with lemon and orange these days.
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- #13
