So Frustrated!!!

ugh! I am so freaking frustrated!! It has gotten tot the point that everytime the door is open even a crack ISIS will dart outside and then it take at least 15-20 min to catch her and bring her back inside. My babies normally only go outside on a leash because there are dogs (mine) that given the chance would kill and eat anything (animals smaller than them not people) that gets in "their" yard. I am scared that she will end up getting hit by a car (we live right off of the main street in town) or that the dogs will get her. Is there anyway I can keep her from getting outside short of keeping her locked in another room? I do have kids and I watch most of the neighborhood kids so there is always kids coming and going in and out of the house. I don't have a porch for her to go out on to.She is the only one that does this. Does anyone have ANY advice to give me? I love her so much and it scares the (censored) out of me to think that something bad will happen to her.

though cats can jump over these maybe a childs stair gate or a dog gate will stop her from escaping so quickly?

I am having the same problem, although we live on the top floor in a building so Sleeves cant get very far, he just runs down a few steps but is getting braver and braver.
I try and shut them both in a room if Im popping out with rubbish or to get something from the landing. If I don't do this and pop outside I leave the door ajar so i can get back in and I see both their little faces at the bottom of the door, as soon as I open it even a bit they run out. I have been out on the landing in my underwear shouting Mark to come and pick them both up so I can get in... Not nice
I suggest having a look at the clicker training thread, I am going to try this. Get whoever is inside to reward the cats for not going to the door.
I don't know your situation so not sure if there is another person who can do this with you.
If someone comes to my door I usually shout, hang on!! and shut them away, or pick them up and go to the door.
I know its a pain in the *** but it just has to become a way of life.
Good luck
Lauren

Thanks for the replies so far.

though cats can jump over these maybe a childs stair gate or a dog gate will stop her from escaping so quickly?

Click to expand...

this woud be great except that it is the front door and most of the kids I watch are pretty short lol and by the time they either crawled over I moved the gate back she would still get out.

I try and shut them both in a room if Im popping out with rubbish or to get something from the landing. If I don't do this and pop outside I leave the door ajar so i can get back in and I see both their little faces at the bottom of the door, as soon as I open it even a bit they run out. I have been out on the landing in my underwear shouting Mark to come and pick them both up so I can get in... Not nice
I suggest having a look at the clicker training thread, I am going to try this. Get whoever is inside to reward the cats for not going to the door.
I don't know your situation so not sure if there is another person who can do this with you.
If someone comes to my door I usually shout, hang on!! and shut them away, or pick them up and go to the door.
I know its a pain in the *** but it just has to become a way of life.
Good luck
Lauren

Click to expand...

Lauren,

We do usually shut her away when we know the door is going to be opened. And most of the people that come over know to look out for her if they just "drop by" If we put her in another room everytime the door was open she would be in the room all day. I had never though of clicker training. I will have to look into that.

There are alternative ways this cat can be outside and be safe-

Follow this link

Do you know somebody who is handy at building, and could put up two walls and a door for you? Our front door opens onto a narrow hallway, so my husband put in a second door a few feet back from the first, forming a vestibule. The inside door isn't opened until the outside door is closed, and vice-versa. In our case, it wasn't a major job, as an archway was already there, and my father-in-law has built several houses, and pitched in.
A friend whose front door opens into her living room liked our vestibule so much that she had one made. Her parents have followed suit.
I'm surprised that some company hasn't come up with an easy-to-install, ready-made vestibule for pet owners. I picture some kind of wooden construction that could be placed inside the front or back door, adding a second door maybe two or three feet back.