My Cat Escaped – Pet tip 244

In order to keep indoor cats inside the house it’s important to make sure that doors and windows are securely closed. It sounds obvious but cats are creative and very determined creatures and if there is a way for them to escape, they often will. This is especially true when cat owners (correctly) make the decision to turn their outdoor cats into indoor cats.

Windows are a favourite way for cats to escape. Make sure that all of the windows cannot be opened by your cat. If a window is left open slightly, some cats will use their paws to open it more fully. If there is no screen the cat can escape right then and there. If there is a screen, with just a bit of determination a cat might be able to break though it or slide it open. All you need to do to solve this problem is get a piece of wood and put it in the track of the window. Cut the length of wood so that when you place it in the window’s track, you can only open the window a few inches. Always make sure that your cat cannot squeeze through the opening space. Then to keep the wood in the track, screw it securely into the window frame.

The other main way for cats to escape is right through the front door. As most cat owners know, cats have excellent hearing. They can easily recognize the sound of a key being used in a lock. They can easily hear members of the family getting ready to come in through the front door. This allows them ample opportunity to prepare to charge the front door the second it is opened. If the family member is carrying bags or objects, it’s even easier for the cat to escape.

One way to help deal with this is to NOT greet your cat at the front door. Many cats wait at or near the door for their owner’s greeting and then when they see the door open they dart out. If you only greet your cat (and ignore it until you get there) in the living room for example and give your cat nice treats (something the cat loves like food treats, petting, brushings, etc.) in the living room, there’s a good chance the cat will learn to wait for you there. In a similar fashion, when leaving the house, give your cat some excellent treats in an area of the house away from the front door. Always choose the same spot and always make sure the treats are excellent.

Despite your best efforts your cat may still try to escape using different doors. This is where getting into a regular routine becomes imperative. Every member of the family needs to open doors slowly and carefully. A great idea to remind all family members and visitors is to print a small sign that says “Beware of sneaky escape artist cat” and place it on the inside and outside of all doors. If the cat is still a problem at the door then a squirt of water to the cat’s body (not face) WHILE it’s trying to get through the door is an excellent deterrent. Just make sure the cat does not see the person doing the squirting. You want the cat to think the “door” is doing the squirting and thus it should be avoided.