[PeanutsMom]

I have a young Ocikitten (5mos) and it's very hard to leave for work in the AM b/c she follows us downstairs and tries to come out the door with us. Do you think it's separation anxiety, curiosity, or none of the above? I feel so bad b/c she looks so sad when we leave...will she grow out of this? She's not alone for very long...

 

[PeanutsMom]

Thanks, maryam. I think she'll get used to it,too. There's no one else here with her and no other pets, but she has a huge window to sit in and lots of toys to play with. I'm thinking she just feels "left out" that she can't go out with us, since we let her do basically anything she wants! I guess too that it might be a good sign that she's so social, since we wanted a super-friendly cat.

 

[kitkat]

Im sure your cat is used to you leaving if not already. My Sugar used to do that too when she was a baby and actually try to leave the door but now she knows better. She still usually sits by the shoes and looks out the front door. When I get a house I hope it has a window seat for the cats. Have you considered getting another kitty? 2 is better than 1.... :wink:

 

[PeanutsMom]

hehe funny kitkat I mentioned that to the hubby this weekend...he does not agree! (well the guy is allergic to them....) :?

 

[kitkat]

A little bit more of the smooth talking and he should give in. My bf used to be somewhat allergic kinda to the cats and now he is saying we should get a 3rd kitty, even though he was joking, we actually went to the shelters to go look around.....hmmm, maybe he wasn't joking! But your hubby wouldn't turn his back on a kitty that happens to drop by your front porch would he? (hint,hint) :wink:

 

[mason&chloe]

I posted a similar problem with my kitty, except I have the opposite, where coming IN the door after work is an experience. Luckily, my apartment door does not directly lead outside and she just scoots up the stairs. When we leave, we typically try to make sure a toy is readily available and have her start playing with it. Then try and duck out as quickly as possible!

And as for not getting a 2nd or 3rd cat....we never thought we would ever have more than one. Mason was it for us. But then my sister found 3-week old Chloe wandering down a main street all alone. She wasn't even a pound! How could we say no???[/quote]

 

[Jeanie]

Cone on, Peanut's Mom! Get your kitten a little friend. My two are so close and so happy.

 

[PeanutsMom]

Hi again everyone! My things have been so busy I don't get to come here as often as I'd like.

Well, Peanut STILL tries to run out the door behind us, but I think it's not because she wants to come with us, but she's very curious about the outdoors.

Last night hubby and I were coming home from his birthday dinner and we didn't have free hands to grab the kitty who was making a beeline for us (or so I thought). Well she ran right out the door! (but luckily not much farther than that).

This AM I was the last to leave and I forgot something and I had to come back in. I left the door closed "over," but you could see the sun coming through. Peanut ran past me and headed for that crack of sun.

When it gets nicer we'd like to put her on a leash and let her explore, but any ideas on what we can do in the meantime? This cat really wants to be outside (and no way no how is she becoming an outdoor cat).

Any suggestions?

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Hi PeanutsMom, my two girls do the same. We live in an apartment. Fortunatelly there is only hallway. So, they can't go anywhere else. They started running there just few days ago. I think they like that there is carpet (we don't have carpets at home). Anyways, this morning was difficult again. Dunga got aways very fast! When I took her back and opened the door, Yoda used the situation and left. My hubby had to help me to bring them back.

 

[PeanutsMom]

haha glad to hear we're not alone. But what are we to do?? Our door does go right outside...

the vet once recommended a hallway runner turned upside down to deter them from going places--would it hurt? or is it just supposed to be uncomfortable? I don't want to hurt the little gal.

 

[sentimentalgirl]

Oh, I don't know what I would do if our door would lead outside. I'm sure Dunga would go because she likes to explore new places. That's a tough one! I hope someone will post some ideas for you.

 

[Annissa]

I don't really have a solution, but Sabby used to do this all the time. I just got really good at sticking my foot through the door first to block Sabby's exit.

 

[Jeanie]

When my two were just kittens, I would say, "That's a no no," even if they looked at the door. They have never attempted to go out. But if I have to open it or someone else comes in, I still say NO!--just in case. I am so worried for fear they get out. I'm glad they take their time to get to know people, because delivery people, etc. don't think about animals getting out and sometimes leave the door open longer than necessary.

 

[Wayne]

My large orange tabby, Sammy cat, continually tries to get outside. On the few occasions where he has succeeded, he only goes out to the flowers and no further and then it is only a matter of picking him up and bringing him back inside. I think that he wants to be with me all of the time. When I go into a closed-off room in my house, Sammy is usually there first. He will run past me as if to outguess where I am going. Sometimes he is so bad about wanting to get outside, that I have to pick him up and place him in an isolated room for the duration that I am away and shut the door so I can leave the house. He is an extremely affectionate kitty, and is becoming very large. He weighs about 12 lbs and is less than 1 year old.

The only thing that I have found to stop him from running outside is to place in front of him a board, a piece of cardboard, or even the door mat, because a cat will not run where they cannot see where they are going. Also, I have to be sure that I do not open the door wider than the cat foil bcause he will run around it if he can see daylight.

Sometimes I can fake them out by going out the back door through the service porch (as there are two doors in order to get outside), and make them believe that I am coming back and wanting to go out the front door. Also, when I am coming home, Sammy is the first cat to be waiting for me. When I open up the front door, this is where I have to use the boad foil, because of him wanting outside.

I agree with Jeanie, about getting another cat. If you feel your cat is lonely, then I would definitely get her a little playmate. After all, taking care of 2 cats is just as easy as caring for one.

 

[Hippyhart]

I was looking for this exact post today...thank goodness it's here!

My cat Nico, about five months old, also has started darting out the door whenever I can't (or forget to) block him. I am soooo frustrated with him!

But last night was the last straw...it's 1:30 am, pouring down rain outside, and when my boyfriend got home with some friends, Nico decided to run out the door. He's found that we can't reach him under the porch, so that's the first place he runs. We try toys (Da Bird, which he flips out for when it's playtime), treats, and scaring him out, but nothing will lure him back inside. Finally, my boyfriend brought out a hammer and tore off the lattice work under the porch and crawled under to get him. He knows he's in trouble today, because I wouldn't curl up with him last night or give him any special attention this morning, but I'm sure he will only be remorseful for a little while before he starts it all over again.

There are other stray cats out there that we feed regularly, so I'm wondering if this is because he has the urge to mate. Will neutering help? I was going to wait until he was six months, but at this point, I'm willing to try anything. Please help!

P.S. I have another cat in the house, and they are best buddies. My other cat, who is a neutered male, has never once tried to run out the door. He's too content with watching the world from the window. We picked him up off the streets, so I think he remembers what it's like to be on the outside and doesn't really miss it.

 

[Celebsilmare]

I have 2 problems getting out the door. First the older one steals my socks and hides under the couch. (she only does this on work days so I know she's figured out my schedule) Then Ninque gets in my way in every way possible. She stands on the bathroom counter in front of the mirror, Gets in front of my moniter, runs to the door and tries to go out. I generall have to get Jason to pick her up so I can squeeze out without an escape.

This has gotten better since the waether cooled down, because now I can open the balcony door and she goes and lounges on her cushion in the fresh air. If you have a closed-in space that is outside, let her play out there. (As long as you know she can't run off) My cats love to watch the birds and stick their faces in the breeze. Most of the time they just sit on a chair or a cushion out in the fresh air. Unfortunately, I can't let them do this all summer because it's way to hot in TX, so be the start of fall, they are begging to go out there.