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Unfortunately, I don’t have a good answer for you.

Fortunately, there are plenty of more knowledgeable and experienced cat owners here. I’ve adopted several ferals & strays personally. I have seen this behavior, but, it stopped on its own after some time. When my cats crowed around the screen door, and I want to exit, I now just say “Psst Psst, move!” and they all scurry away.

It has become a learned behavior for them to scamper off when I make the “Psst!” sound.

Sorry! That’s all I’ve got!

 

I have seen this behavior, but, it stopped on its own after some time. When my cats crowed around the screen door, and I want to exit, I now just say “Psst Psst, move!” and they all scurry away.

It has become a learned behavior for them to scamper off when I make the “Psst!” sound.

Sorry! That’s all I’ve got!

Thanks. If you don't mind, how did you teach them to scram? Did you pick them up and move them until they got the hint?

 

I gently pushed them away with the side of my foot and said “PSST! PSST! (loudly) followe by Move!

The psst sound resembles a snake hissing. They seem to instinctively know that sound. They now also know what move! Means and comply effortlessly. I don’t have to ever push them away now. I just give them the sound/order to move. That’s all it takes now.

I’m sure others on here have better methods, but without any tutelage, it was what I came up with, and it worked for me.

 

Late reply but I’m in the exact same boat as you are. My former stray is a door bolter and I feel bad everyday that she is just trapped and bored and gaining weight! I try to play with her several times a day and do “monitored trips” outside for like 10-20 minutes but that gets tough cause she will run away and then I’m that crazy lady going into peoples yards looking for my cat…but after six months, her need to go outside has lightened up. I think she’s getting used to being inside more and her stray instincts have subsided a bit. She still will whine for it randomly but I feel like we’ve found a nice balance. So my only advice is to give it some time and maybe get a better harness. Our walks are not very effective yet but I did find a harness that fits after buying 3…best of luck 😌🐱

 

Yikes … I have a bolter… my sneaky little boy. I can worry about him six hours it’s cold outside … and he’s just on the terrace with his gorgeous fur and tail wrapped around himself !

The attitude is what do you want ? I’m a perfectly self sufficient adolescent male cat !

What did I do to deserve this lol

They keep us young and playful!

 

Have you tried spraying some lemon juice around the door?

Cats dislike very strong odours like this and one of the most effective yet safest ways to stop cats from getting anywhere they are not allowed is spraying lemon juice in the areas they are not welcomed in.

Just gather some lemons, get an empty spray bottle and a funnel, squeeze some juice from the lemon slices into the funnel on top of the spray bottle and keep doing it until the bottle is nearly full then spray the lemon juice around your front door and back door as well as your windows.

This should help prevent your new kitty friend from escaping 🐱

 

My "cure" is just constant kissing and petting .

He has a giant carpeted cat tree where i constantly pick him up , cuddle and kiss him.

He seems to like it to the point theyre always with me ... bathroom kitchen and all .... even the beach ! OF COURSE we always play and get sun on our huge catio too .....gentleness , good food and a ton of love ... even the little anxious kitten is coming around .... trusting so much more .