Trying to run out the door?

My kitten Rice has started trying to run out the door.
EVERY chance he gets, he darts toward the door.
He hasnt sucessfully escaped yet, but I am afriad he will soon.
He is so small and sneaky.

Do you guys have any suggestions on how to keep him from running out the door?
I know there has to be a simple solution, I just cant think of one.

Well, is he neutered? That will lessen his eagerness to roam. It should anyway. You said kitten but not a specific age. He can be neutered as young as 8 weeks but if he is that young, he probably is just trying to escape out of curiousity, not the roaming thing. But if he is 4+ months old that may just be it.

Yep he is nuetered. He is approx. 8 months old.


I know he is probably just curious, but I dont know how to keep him safe.
Its so dangerous around here for cats, I just want him to be safe.

Park your vacuum near the door, switch on unplugged. Place the cord near an outlet, have someone open the door, as he runs plug the vacuum in for just a second or two then unplug. A couple of times of this, he won't go near the door. Also get him a window perch and a cat condo that will help as well.

Thats genius!
Thank you so much!

When my kitten Veeshan tries to run out the door I stomp my feet and clap real loud to scare her away.

I used to keep a baby gate by the door & when I would leave I would leave it outside my door. Yeah it looks a little crazy, but it worked well to push the cats back as I walked in the door. Mine have gotten better about staying inside, so I don't need it any more.

what if someone was outside your door on a few trial runs and spooked your cat by spraying water in his face? I don't really care to spray my kittens,but maybe a couple times would do the trick. My kittens were dumped on my farm,so I'm assuming they were outsiders to begin with,and they have no desire to go outside. Maybe they know its better and warmer inside the house.Could be that my over exhuberant lab pup is waiting for them outside too...that can be a deterrent!
Good Luck.

DEFINATELY don't spray them in the face please! that can do some damage and then they begin to associate a human hand with water in the face and that is a bad thing. If you HAVE to spray the cat, spray the butt or in the general direction, never at the face.

Originally Posted by hissy

Park your vacuum near the door, switch on unplugged. Place the cord near an outlet, have someone open the door, as he runs plug the vacuum in for just a second or two then unplug. A couple of times of this, he won't go near the door. Also get him a window perch and a cat condo that will help as well.

Click to expand...

That is a perfect idea. So far, Ripley runs the other direction every time I open the outside door, but I'm sure she'll get more curious.

Thank you for all the input!
I was begining to get frustrated with him.
I will certainly try these things.
Thank you so much!

Mine don't tend to run towards the door when I leave but they do when I'm coming home which really causes problems b/c I'm afraid I'll run their feet under the door.

I'm going to have to try the vaccum trick. Trjegul likes water so spraying water at him doesn't work. (He's gotten in the shower with me a couple of times.)

Originally Posted by hissy

Park your vacuum near the door, switch on unplugged. Place the cord near an outlet, have someone open the door, as he runs plug the vacuum in for just a second or two then unplug. A couple of times of this, he won't go near the door. Also get him a window perch and a cat condo that will help as well.

Click to expand...

I wish I heard of this when Oliver was a kitten. He escaped on Thanksgiving morning (just for a minute). Now that he's 6 and not afraid of the vacuum cleaner, I don't think it will work on him. Any other suggestions? I mean, we are very careful. When we have company I feel like an eagle eye watching the door, but accidents happen and I'll do what ever I can to try to prevent it. If he (or Tri - but Tripod never tries to get out) ever got list I would be a basketcase!

My youngest one is always trying to get out the door. Last night she found out the hard way that going through doors to satisfy curiosity isn't always the best thing to do. LOL Mommy came home and hung up her coat, and while the hall closet was open, babykitty snuck in. Well, a black cat sneaking into a dark closet doesn't always get seen. Mommy closed the door, puttered around the apartment for a good half-hour, and finally, on her way to bed, heard the pitiful miaowing and realized her baby was trapped. Door was opened, confused kitty was freed, and the crowds roared. LOL

I wonder how long it will be before she tries to get in THERE again.

My cats like to run outdoors, especially Ginger and she is really sneaky about it. I don't know if it has something to do with them being strays and then becoming an indoor cat. She cries to go outside if she escapes and does it for a few days. I let her sit outside on the porch sometimes, before she tried to hop on top of the fence and get on the roof! I just always make sure and look at my feet and kinda push her back when I come home. If she gets out I get her, she doesn't try to run from me. A few times she has escaped and I didn't know until I couldn't find her in the house. Usually she isn't too far from the house and we get her, but it is scary when you think she's gone. My advice is to just watch your feet and open the door just enough to fit through it and push the cat back in the house if they are trying to get out.