Hey readers, have you ever had one of those heart-stopping moments when your beloved housecat dashes the front door or an open window? As an owner of crafty escape artist cats, we are sure you must have been there many times. Those moments feel like slow motion as you lunge to grab them before they slip out. Talk about anxiety-inducing. Your cats are 100% indoor kitties who would be overwhelmed dealing with the big bad world outside. You have to get creative in outsmarting their sneaky attempts to check out the neighborhood.
In this post, We will dish on why your cat keeps trying to go outside in the first place despite their cushy, food-filled lives. We would also share the clever tricks and tactics you can use to get your us, with some planning and training, you can curb those door-dashing behaviors for good.
Why does my cat keep running outside?
You may wonder why your cats were so darn determined to get outside when they have a life of luxury indoors, comfy beds, endless toys, and premium food. Don’t they know how good they have it here?
But when we started researching cat behavior, their escape missions began to make sense. It comes down to basic cat instincts and drives that are hardwired into them, even for generations of house cats.
In the wild, cats are prolific hunters who patrol territory looking for prey. They feel driven to catch those birds and squirrels they see through the window, thanks to their natural hunting instincts. Your cat also feels this innate need to guard their turf against neighborhood cats who come into “their” yard.
Intact male cats in particular will try escaping to wander and find female cats to mate with. All cats are curious creatures who want to explore every nook and cranny of what they consider their expanded territory. Even outdoors apparently.
Keep Your Cat From Escaping
Once you understand the primal motivations behind your dear cats’ escapes, you can try these various techniques to curb their behaviors:
- Startle techniques: Every time you catch them sneaking near a door or window, you should loudly clap or say “AH AH.” This startled them away from the forbidden zones quickly.
- Make exits uncomfortable: You should put down double-sided sticky tape on the floor near doors/windows. They hate sticking to it. Deterrent sprays and aluminum foil can work too.
- Give them approved outdoor-viewing perches: You should set up a super tall cat tree right by the window so they can watch birds from inside. It became their go-to spot.
- Reward them for staying away from exits: You should give treats when they lounge on the cat tree instead of the door. This positive reinforcement worked wonders.
- Block off problem areas: Use child locks on doors/windows and close off problem rooms. This removed opportunities.
- Get your cats fixed: This dramatically decreases roaming and escape behaviors, especially in males. Need we say more? snip snip.
Damage Control If They Still Escape
Even if despite your best efforts, one of your furry Houdinis still occasionally slipped outside when guests would leave doors ajar. Here are our tips to protect your escape artist if they make a break for it:
- Microchip your cat in case the collar gets lost.
- Make sure their collar tag has your phone number and address.
- Give them a GPS collar you can track them with if they escape. Gotta know where they wander.
- Ensure vaccines and flea prevention are up to date just in case.
- Trim their claws so they can’t easily scale fences and walls.
- Ask your vet about safe outdoor cat enclosures you can install for some fresh air.
Encourage a Happy Indoor Cat
With diligence and training, you can get your trickster to escape artists to stop doorside lurking and sprinting towards freedom. The key for you is to make the inside more exciting than the dangers outside. With proper attention, stimulation, and security measures, you can curb that door dashing too. Don’t let your cat’s nine lives get used up too quickly. Stay vigilant and protect your furry friend.
