Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Indoor Cat Escape Prevention? How?
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August 9, 2012 at 12:18 am #604318
JayDeeParticipantThe two usual suspects in the house, my house sister cats Belle and Lily have seemingly enjoyed their stay with me at 9 months on. Belle, the more inquisitive one has jumped off the back deck into the yard, so she was banned. Neither had shown interest in escaping through the front door. Until this morning at 5:30 AM.
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Belle ran out the door when I opened it to get the paper. In a frantic ten minutes I followed her through three yards before conning her to come close enough to grab her.
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What is the best way to discourage this behavior? A spray bottle and strategic squirts if a cat is nearby when I open the door? Loud PSSSTs? Trying to reinforce my “Alpha Cat” status (If there are alpha cats) by picking them up by the scruff? I’d rather not have to exercise eternal vigilance.
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Any advice from the cat experts in WSB land?
August 9, 2012 at 12:36 am #766236
furryfacesParticipantNaughty kitty!
There are several deterrents that work without you having to lift a finger.
-SSSCAT Spray for Cats
-Tattle Tale alarm (place it on cardboard, in front of the door)
-Sofa scram mat for cats
-X-mat
Any of these items can be strategically place around the front door so that even when you are gone, and if they go to the door to explore, they will be ‘encouraged’ to stay away.
Cheers, The F3 Gang
Remember, It’s Hip To Be Snipped
August 9, 2012 at 12:57 am #766237
JayDeeParticipantFor some reason she didn’t look guilty. And both of them still expected to be petted before I left for work. I would say they were ungrateful cats but that would be using a double negative like lazy cats.
August 9, 2012 at 1:27 am #766238
miwsParticipantAugust 9, 2012 at 1:41 am #766239
KatherineLParticipantOnce they show an interest, the only way I know is to make sure they’re behind closed doors in another room. Cats are quicker than we are.
August 9, 2012 at 3:08 am #766240
hammerheadParticipantJaydee
Cats are always the ALPHA, we are just mere humans.
My experience with spray they do not work, but that is JUST my experience. NOT trying to disrespect other peoples options. Rattling cans might be a better option, the scat mat well I can see a cat jump over that. Then if you are in your bare feet and forget it is there YIKES for you.
I guess if there is any way you can build an enclosure, that would be the best option, but if you rent then that option is out.
Have you tried harnesses? At least they would have that option to go outside.
FCAT good luck
August 9, 2012 at 3:51 am #766241
service dog academyMemberSeriously Furry Faces, your first thought is AN ELECTRONIC SHOCK DEVICE or DETERRENT SPRAYS THAT ARE THE CAT EQUIVALENT OF BEAR SPRAY?
How about teaching the cat that when the door opens, their kibble or a high value treat like salmon or chicken magically appears 10 feet away from the door?
ALL ANIMALS PREFER PLEASURE OVER PAIN, you of all people should know that.
Mary McNeight, CPDT-KA, CCS, BGS
Director of Training and Behavior
Service Dog Academy – http://www.servicedogacademy.com
Diabetic Alert Dog University – http://www.diabeticalertdoguniversity.com
August 9, 2012 at 4:08 am #766242
justcuzMemberThe treats are exactly the method I’m using with foster kittens right now! It was suggested that I throw toys for them, but wanna’ guess how long I can keep kitten toys in one place?! Now I keep dried chicken by the door and if I see them coming, I give a “psssst” (universal sound whenever I want them to stop a behavior) and toss a few bits. It does seem like they’ve learned to hesitate in the same spot now. I can’t say that I know it works with adults, because mine just don’t even try. But it might be a matter of offering a distraction long enough for yours to lose interest. I’ve heard before too that the desire to go explore can wain when the weather turns. Maybe a new birdfeeder near a window would bring some of the outside in for them?
August 9, 2012 at 5:39 am #766243
JayDeeParticipantI figured that the windows, oddly enough, were the cause for the need to rush the door. The cats sit and watch birds they cannot catch all day long. Fortunately, only the more adventurous cat is the one who rushed the door. If I hadn’t been chasing her in my bath robe at 5:30 AM it wouldn’t be so problematic. I may just need to wake up more and locate her before opening the door to freedom…
August 9, 2012 at 3:15 pm #766244
AimParticipantI’ve done this for years, and six cats (knock wood) have not made it outside more than 3 times. Each of those times was the same cat, and as soon as he got out, he stopped one foot past the door with an “OH MY GOD IT’S SO BIG AND SCARY OUT HERE!” look on his face.
My method: just before opening the door I place one foot lightly against the chest of whichever cat is in the lead, and serious voice saying “get back.” If they push ahead, I pick them up and pet them for a minute, tell them goodbye, and then put them down a little further away and repeat the process.
When I come home, I crack the door, say “get back” before opening it the rest of the way.
The new guy is just starting to pick it up, and he’s an adult who was previously let outside. All of mine have been adopted as teenagers or adults, so I firmly believe it can be taught. Consistency is the key.
August 9, 2012 at 5:54 pm #766245
furryfacesParticipant@Mary/Service Dog Academy:
Thanks for your comments. We are well aware that animals prefer pleasure over pain. The OP was looking for ideas that would be deterrents without him/her having to do anything, hence the list of various products.
Please note that none of the items listed deliver an electric shock. The sofa scram mat is an alarm…not an electronic shock.
In regards to SSSCAT for Cats, according to the Doctors Foster and Smith website, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10802:
•a motion-detector-activated training solution to teach your cat to stay away from restricted areas
•a harmless, non-toxic spray releases automatically when cat approaches
•100-percent safe for all cats, humans, and the environment
•If you evidence/research that debunks these statements, we would love to have it.
Again, we were trying to assist the OP with their request of ‘not having to exercise eternal vigilance’.
August 9, 2012 at 8:54 pm #766246
hooper1961Memberi have a kitty leash that allows my kitty to be outside when i am with him. by letting kitty out they get to know the home and scents thus if kitty sneaks out they hopefully won’t get lost.
August 9, 2012 at 10:43 pm #766247
service dog academyMemberThe problem with deterrent devices is they work on scaring the animal. The problem with that is that unless you have impeccable timing (and trust me electronic devices do not have timing) the cat could be doing something as innocuous as wandering over and looking at a shoe by the door and all of a sudden they get sprayed/shocked/alarmed/scared/etc. So then shoes become the trigger for trauma. So then not only do you have a cat that is afraid to get near the door but also freaks out whenever you walk in the house with shoes on. Ive seen it happen OVER and OVER, AGAIN and AGAIN with dogs. If there is less fear based response way to teach an animal to accomplish the same goal, then as animal professionals lets choose that way first. Then if that doesnt work and the next thing doesnt work and the next thing doesnt work and youve exhausted all your options then move to something that may cause fear. What Im trying to say is that fear should never be the first option. Cats, dogs, all animals are capable of feeling fear. I have an anxiety condition and wouldnt wish the fear and panic I have triggered in me on any animal unless it was the LAST resort.
Mary McNeight, CPDT-KA, CCS, BGS
Director of Training and Behavior
Service Dog Academy – http://www.servicedogacademy.com
Diabetic Alert Dog University – http://www.diabeticalertdoguniversity.com
August 10, 2012 at 3:39 am #766248
JayDeeParticipantI am not just lazy (which I have been accused of) but it is hard to positively reward good behavior: gee thanks for not rushing the door and having me chase you around the hood at 5:30 in the morning. Maybe she just decided to give it a try? 90% of the mornings the adventure cat probably wouldn’t try but in that case the reinforcement wouldn’t work either.
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But negative conditioning, however distasteful, does work for most animals.
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Right now I will try vigilance, and hope she doesn’t do it again or often. But if she does I will reconsider. Going walkies with this cat on a leash might let her satisfy her curiosity w/o just letting her go wild. And maybe then she wouldn’t try to run out the door. I have no fences in my yards and she could easily wander the neighborhood…which includes Schmitz Park. I don’t want my 10 pound cat to be an appetizer.
August 10, 2012 at 4:44 am #766249
dhgParticipantCompromise works. Cats have a sense of fair play. Put kitty on a leash and go for walkies. One rescue cat from Lincoln Park got out twice before we arrived at a compromise, viz., we let him out every morning before breakfast. He patrolled the grounds for 10 minutes and came back inside without fail.
August 10, 2012 at 5:19 am #766250
cathywMemberWe use one of those portable, metal puppy corral/screens that you can buy at Petco. Spread out, its dimensions are approximately 3 feet high by about 16 ft long. It is made of 8 panels, each two feet wide, and folds up accordion style. We arrange it around the front door in the entry way of our house. We have to navigate around it when we go in and out, but that’s not a problem. There was no other way to keep our escape artist inside. She was too fast and too determined to get out. We actually originally bought it for our dogs, not the cats. But hey, whatever works, right?
As for the back door, I wedge a piece of plywood between the refrigerator and the adjoining wall to create a little makeshift vestibule. It gives me time to close the back screen door before she darts out. I only do that when we are going in and out often like during a yard work day. Otherwise, it store the plywood out of the way. It’s a hassle, but it works. Good luck. Those cats are smarter than we are.
August 10, 2012 at 4:58 pm #766251
JoBParticipantisn’t it refreshing that someone is actually asking how to keep their cats in?
August 11, 2012 at 4:56 pm #766252
elikapekaParticipantJayDee, as they get older they will probably show less interest in getting out. I’m assuming that they’ve been spayed, right?
Otherwise, I am pretty successful with a combination of the distraction technique and doing what Aim described above – the foot or hand to the chest and a stern warning. I have one current guy who has gotten by me a couple of times, but as soon as he gets into the yard he freezes in fear and I can just go scoop him up.
All else failing, you could just put them in another room with food and water and the litter box and close the door, or have somebody else hold onto them when the door is going to open.
I’m not so much a fan of the walks on the harness because it can end up with the cat wanting to get out even more, but that’s probably not true in all cases.
Good luck!
August 11, 2012 at 9:57 pm #766253
DelridgeResidentMemberI have a naughty cat (who is 10) that likes to sneak out and then FREAKS out once she gets outside, which makes it a bit more challenging to catch her unless she finds a safe place to hide.
The number one thing that works for me is to keep a laser pointer by the door. My cat loves to chase it and I only use it when I am leaving and she is too close to the door. I have her chase it for a bit and then slip out when she is a good distance from the door. I also leave a squirt bottle by the door for back up if needed.
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