Cat is trying all the time to run out the door.

[LisaL]

My cat (indoor only) is trying to run out the door every time the door opens. I didn't have this problem with my previous cats who were afraid of going outside. I don't live in a place where a cat can just roam. It's not safe (cars, dogs, etc). The cat is supposed to be inside only. What can I do to prevent this cat from running out the door? Any products that anybody knows of that would prevent this cat from escaping? He is too active for his own good.

[marble falls]

1. Has he been fixed? What worked with us was persistence with no exceptions.

[LisaL]

2. Yes, he is neutered.

So he is not trying to find a girlfriend out there. I am assuming he just wants to explore. What do you mean by persistence?

[tblue37]

17. Maybe he is one that could accept a harness and leash to go for walks.

[wnylib]

3. I once had a cat who was like that.

He was such an escape artist that I should have named him Houdini. He did get out a few times and I worried because I was also in an area not safe for him to roam. Fortunately, he came back unharmed, but I understand your concern.

The only thing I can suggest is eternal vigilance on your part and some precautions. To prevent him from slipping out when I opened the door to leave or on returning, I put him in a closed off room with toys, a litter pan, food and water if I was going to be gone long.

For short "trips" like picking up the mail, or even just answering the door when someone knocked, I put him in the bathroom or bedroom and closed the door. The problem with that, of course, is that he learned to avoid being picked up when he heard the door knocks or noticed me heading for the door. So, I only opened the door a crack and kept a foot in the doorway to block him. No, I did not kick him, but I got pretty good at nudging him away and maneuvering one foot while talking to whoever was at the door.

If it is any consolation, he did mellow on the escape efforts once he was around 6 years old.

[LisaL]

4. Your cat sounds similar to mine.

If mine manages to run out the door he takes off. I had to chase him after yesterday's escape. Thankfully I was able to catch him that time. I was hoping there is some product that can prevent a cat being able to escape.

[wnylib]

6. I don't know of any. You are the best "product" that I can think of

for keeping the cat inside.

Cats are notorious for liking to explore and roam, especially males. Some seem to have an extra dose of that trait, or to just automatically rebel against any kind of containment, even inside a house or apartment. Even in rural areas, going outdoors can be risky for them, depending on what predators are in the area.

You can distract him from the door by tossing a treat or favorite toy in the opposite direction. Putting up a barrier in the doorway would present problems for you in coming and going.

Strengthening your bond with him and having enough entertainment (cat trees, toys, cat videos) to satisfy his need for attention and challenges might help to deter his interest in checking out the rest of the world.

Part of the effort to get out is the cat's hunting instincts. Maybe you can provide activities that let him use hunting skills indoors, like searching, stalking, ambushing, and getting food at the end. Hide some treats in odd places for him to sniff out and "capture." Play hide and seek games with him by peeking around a corner or piece of furniture at him, then backing out of sight a few times. Every cat that I've had could not resist coming after me when I did that. When she was younger, my current cat loved to find me when I hid somewhere and made a sound to get her started looking. She took it to the next level herself by hiding after she found me so that I had to find her. You might feel silly playing cat games, but it's good for the cat.

Mine also loves to hide in her tunnels and pounce me as I walk by. Getting enough hunting play might reduce the urge to go outdoors to hunt.

If it is too difficult to keep him inside, a last resort might be finding a home for him that would be safer and getting another cat for yourself.

[SpamWyzer]

5. It may help

to build a window box for him. I have had cats that simply wanted to be able to sniff the air, sun bathe and keep a cat's eye on it all. One, Geneva was her name, changed almost overnight when we put in a strongly built and screened in window box. She just sat there and meowed at birds and squirrels. She stopped several bad behaviors when we did this for her. A suggestion. Many plans online for good and sturdy designs. Making a box with a small door on the indoor side allows you to shut him/her in when you go to the door. They don't seem to mind it anymore than sitting in a travel container. Good luck.

[wnylib]

8. What a good idea. My current cat loves to sit or down on the wide, spacious

windowsill in my living room to observe the activities outdoors. Since I Iive in an apartment building, I can't build add-ons at the windows. Also, being high above ground level, I would not trust having only a screen barrier. When my cat sits at the window, I open it only an inch so she cat feel and breathe the air safely.

She loves it. I am at a major city intersection so she watches traffic along with people crossing streets or just walking by. Plus the birds flying past the window, of course. She knows what is usual activity and goes on alert when something changes, like a car accident at the intersection. I am on the route for local parades in town on holidays, so she gets fascinated by the floats and crowds.

[consider_this]

7. did you try...

Google search of 'cat deterrent'. I was curious, as thinking of getting a cat, and what would I do in that situation. I am surprised at various electronic and other products that are marketed that I had no clue existed that might help.

[LisaL]

9. Yes, I searched google.

I was hoping somebody here had an experience with a product that would work for preventing a cat from running out the door.
The running away problem doesn't exist with all cats. The two cats I had previously never tried. They were scared of the outdoors. They were Persians. I should have stuck to Persians. This one is different and always tries to run out the door.

[consider_this]

14. I thought some of those products

would help you train kitty to stay away from the door - so he'd not even go near it.

[murielm99]

10. We have a cat like that.

We have a leash for him. He gets to go out for a walk around the property every few days. It works, most of the time. He also has a couple of big windows where he can look out.

[LisaL]

11. My concern with walking him on the leash is that he would only want to get out more.

Does the leash help yours with not wanting to get out on his own?

[murielm99]

19. Yes, it does work.

[NotASurfer]

12. We use the air lock theory

The laundry has a door to close it off from the house, and another exit to the garage. If the make it into the laundry and shut the first door, cat can't get through. If the cat decides to run in ahead, there's a litterbox and the cat gets locked in. Either way, if going in via the garage, the garage door is down before the door into the laundry is unlocked.

There will be no escapes, not on my watch

[justaprogressive]

13. We have multiple cats

we use the airlock system as well....


+1 on the window box/platform i have set up 7 of them. We add birdfeeders.

Something you might try is the environmental pheromones... to make your
cats feel more relaxed and happy. The one we use is Feliway, can't recommend this
enuff.

P>S. There are no cat deterrents that work. Period.

Good Luck!

[Rebl2]

15. That's what I did for

years for one of my cats. It was for different reason. One of my cats did not get along with another one of my cats. We kept a litter box in the utility room and I put my Scottish fold in there when I would leave to keep her safe. She had food and water and a cat bed to lay in. I realize it might not work for your situation though.

[irisblue]

16. Since my cat Dixie slid out of the door last month, I keep spray bottles

On both sides of the door.

A very weak mix of 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (4% acidity) to 8 Oz water.

[demigoddess]

18. we had a cat who went outdoors and then once disappeared for a couple of weeks. We gave up hope

but then one night at 3am he showed up again. I think he got caught in someone's garage and they were on vacation or a family thought he needed a home. He was a visiting cat and loved to ride in cars. After he came home he never went too far after that, thank heaven! Loved him to pieces. Best cat in the world.

Don't let him go. Do anything you have to.