Runout kitten

[carmenb]

My kitten is 3 and a half months old I want her to be an indoor cat. Everytime I open the door to outside she rans out. How do I stop her from doing this?

[woofgang]

seems like what you want ain't a good enough reason for the cat...why do you want her to be an indoor cat?

[sft42]

Keep the door closed.

[Diane]

Cats are by nature hunters and they are very sensative to smells. When you open the door you let in the smells. Is it possible to let the kitten have some accesss to the outdoors? Even if it is only supervised time. Cats can get really easily bored. If you have no intention of letting the kitten out at all make sure that it has plenty of toys and is entertained. Cats don't like to be lonely. Get another kitten. I have 10 cats who are "House cats". They are allowed into an enclosed yard when I am at home. They never go any further. They have the run of the house and many sleeping and lounging levels and tons of toys. They do still head for the door when I get home to greet me but don't attempt to go through it. They do go through the back door as soon as it is open. To discourage them from the front door, I left a fresh cut lemon on either side. Cats don't like citrus smells. Other than that there is not much you can do. Cats are like people, individual, and some will always want to go out. You have to make indoors more fun and interesting that outdoors. Good Luck

[TommyC]

I'm afraid all healthy cats are as independent, inqisitive and adventurous as any human - and much more so than some. There is no such thing as an "indoor" cat, as they thrive on plenty of outdoors exploration and getting to know their "territory" and all its inhabitants, and even in really bad weather most cats will still want to look round outside for at least an hour or two each day. If anyone has told you that you can somehow "re-program" a healthy cat to want to stay indoors day and night you've been misled, and any attempt to enforce this will cause your cat to become extremely frustrated, irritable, unhappy and vicious, and lead eventualy to its fade, apathy and death through a broken, miserable spirit.

[smudge]

Personally, I think it's cruel to keep a cat locked up in a house all day. It's natural for cats of all kinds to roam free. Have you ever studied caged Lions & Tigers at zoos/on TV walking backwards & forwards with boredom. In my experience, if you are kind to your cat, it will always return. If you want a 'caged' animal, buy a hamster!

[PurplePixie]

My cats were indoor cats when I lived in a rotten area with very busy roads. It kept them safe, but now that I live in a safer nouse with a decent garden they are able to go out & to be honest they are much happier. I have enclosed my whole garden using fencing with angle brackets (like in a safari park for the lions!) which cost a &100 or so to do...but was the best money I've spent as I can now allow all of them out..even the old doddery ones without worrying about them because I know they are safe. It's not the solution for everyone because not everyone is as crazy about their cats as me..but it works. I'm not sure I'd ever advocate keeping cats indoors all the time now that I've seen the change in mine.

[janedoe]

get a kitty harness and put her out on a leash if she wants to go so bad.