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RE: Help! New kitten keeps running outside

renosteinke — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:44:18 GMT

When my Motzie was a kitten, she was very curious. Bringing in groceries was a real challenge ... then the groceries themselves proved the cure!

I had taken to placing all my groceries outside the door, then opening the door and tossing several bags in - before Motzie got near the door. naturally, this meant that every time she approached the door, a bag would come flying through. Or, bags atop each other would shift as she climbed on them. Either way, she accidentally became conditioned to flee from the sound of crinkling plastic.

RE: Help! New kitten keeps running outside

ScarletDreams489 — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:04:17 GMT

I let Honey out [b]on a leash[b]. She likes to go outside and explore a but, but this does not help keep her from the doors. I've just learned to be very careful when I come in or go out. When I'm outside and she's not she cries and howls and jumps at the door. She just doesn't like be left alone. Your cat will probably always do that. But if you want to give her a few moments of outside every now and then to satisfy curiosity then I suggest a long lead and a cat harness and just let her walk around in your yard with you on the other end keeping her where you want her.

Just another curiosity, did you take her to the vet and make sure she didn't have a microchip or that anyone had reported her missing? While your intentions are good you may have someone else's pet.

RE: Help! New kitten keeps running outside

Shadowluv — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:50:53 GMT

Hi! I have had all indoor cats and ones that go in and out and I have found that letting them outside while I am also out seems to make them happiest. My kittens are very young (9 and 7 weeks) but I try to let them come out with me while I'm in the garden. They always follow me back inside when I'm done and they get to explore the yard and play.

My inside only cat (Shadow) was too timid and didn't have any desire to go anywhere near the outside, yet unfortunately he wasn't any safer inside than out. He slipped and fell on our stairs and I found him already gone. He was way too young (he was only 3 years old.)and I miss him terribly, but I realize that we can only provide a loving environment for as long as we are privileged to have them in our lives.

I am going to enjoy my kitties for as long as I can and try not to have the illusion that I can make them safe from harm.

I would definitely get her spayed as soon as possible and let her explore a bit afterward.

RE: Help! New kitten keeps running outside

Ocimom — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:45:33 GMT

First of all, get her spayed! Kittens as young as 4-5 months old can get pregnant. You don't want that.

Second, make it unpleasant to be around the doors. Pretend to open the door - when she comes running to bolt outside, scare her back with loud clapping, NO in a firm loud voice, and you might even have a squirt gun (or bottle) and "shoot" a little water at her.

Do this every time and make sure the others in your house do the same thing. This is how I cured my one cat from going near the door. Made him think that outside was scary and not a place to be. After a few months, we could open the door and he ran to the other side of the room - no way was he coming near that outside door

Help! New kitten keeps running outside

cyuluvme — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:33:41 GMT

Hi there, a female kitten barely 12 wks approx. showed up at our house thursday morning. We're not sure where she came from but know that there have been a lot of cats running around in our neighborhood lately. She is very loving and is in really great condition. She was extremely hungry, but weight feels good. I gave her a bath and saw no fleas or felt any bites (she's half all white). My family and I decided to take her in. Now we have 3 male cats already who are all indoor only and are all fixed. She's been getting along with us and the cats wonderfully. She behaves herself inside the house too. The only bad thing over the last couple of days is that every time we open the front or back door to go out, she darts out on us! I've been able to catch her though. Or when we sit outside on the porch, she goes crazy to get out as well. I'm not sure if this is just her way of wanting to be with us everywhere we go or what! We want her to live with us as an indoor cat but how do we get her trained to not do this? Our one male kitten almost 1 yr old now was also a stray but he never does this. We really want to help this kitten have a wonderful home. Any advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!