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Original poster

Help with cats -desperate

46 replies

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 10:36

I have two 1 year old cats -they are indoor cats and I don't want them to go outside.
They are two males and are brothers.
The issue I have is when I go to work (5 hours ) I lock them in the living room (they have the kitchen to mooch in too )
They scratch the carpet near the door up as obviously they don't want to be locked in.
The only reason I don't let them have full reign of house when I'm out is because the front door opens on to main road and I'm terrified they will get out.
They are both so quick and dive straight out of the door when opened.
They have so many toys (cat tree too and litter and food bowl etc )
I don't want to lock them in my bedroom as there toys are downstairs and their radiator beds and blankets
Any tips to stop this ? Or any sort of contraption to stop them getting out of front door?

OP posts:
Stresa22 · 25/10/2023 10:41

I don’t understand how they will get out of the front door? Is it left open? I would focus their lives on the back of the house. So food, beds, toys at the back. If you are worried that they will run out just down a few Dreamies right before you leave. Distraction techniques usually work well with cats.

XelaM · 25/10/2023 10:44

Catio?

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2023 10:45

Why would they get out of a locked front door?

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Original poster
dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 10:45

I mean when I'm coming home
As soon as any door opens they run out
So if I don't lock them in the front room they will run to the door and potentially get out
My living room leads on to the kitchen so that's why they have access to living room and kitchen

OP posts:
Original poster
dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 10:45

I didn't explain well-when front door is opened or closed by me they try and get out of the front door

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 25/10/2023 10:46

Cats hate any shut doors so you can't really solve this. You could shut a bedroom door upstairs and they will start doing it there.

Theokaycokey · 25/10/2023 10:49

Why have cats if you live next to a busy road? They're not designed to be kept indoors.

RandomQuestionOfTheDay · 25/10/2023 10:51

I understand about the front door issue.

The only thing you can do is not have carpet in the living room. Even tape etc on the carpet doesn’t work. Or give in and accept the carpet will be wrecked (as my stairs carpet is).

And maybe expand their enclosed space by having access to a catio, as PP suggests.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2023 10:52

Another, inner door? Is that a possibility?

Peepshowcreepshow · 25/10/2023 10:54

Why don't you want them to go out? I have had a cat who chose never to go out but one of my boys now would absolutely hate being shut in all the time. I think giving them more space inside is your only option.

ScaredSceptic · 25/10/2023 10:54

I understood what you meant OP, I'm guessing those that didn't have never tried to keep a cat in!

Not a great look obviously, but as a temp measure you could try taping some foil to the carpet by the door where they scratch, as cats generally don't like foil. This might get them out of the habit.

Or you could put a coir mat in front of the door (assuming that still allows it to open) so they scratch that instead.

I do think it will be hard to stop this behaviour - my cat can't bear any door being shut and always has an immediate and urgent need to be the other side of any closed door 😏

BandicootCrash · 25/10/2023 10:54

Easiest sokution the immediate problem is to take up the carpet. Longer term, assuming the cats are happy when they have full run of the house, is it possible to build a small porch so you can get in and shut one door before you open the next one?

lavenderlou · 25/10/2023 10:56

They sound like they are not designed to be indoor cats. Some cats are happy to be inside, others aren't. Is there any option for a catio like PP suggested? Or at the very least you need to find a way to get in through the front door without them escaping and let them have freedom to roam around the house. Cats hate doors that are shut.

EmptyYoghurtPot · 25/10/2023 10:58

Laminate or lino instead of carpet maybe? Or build a catio so they have safe outdoor access? Cats hate feeling trapped so you can not stop this behaviour unfortunately

AltitudeCheck · 25/10/2023 10:58

You either need to accept and try to minimise the damage of shutting them in.... Some cats hate tinfoil, you could try putting tinfoil on the carpet they are scratching to see if deters them. Or put a scratch pad where they are scratching to protect the carpet and doors. A heated blanket so they'll settle and sleep more?

Or you need to make the front door less of a risk... can you distract them? Are they food orientated? How about training them that you have treats when you come home so that they wait for you instead of dashing out the door? A food bowl on a timer set to open in the kitchen just as you come home? Or can you deter them, a loud noise or unpleasant experience near the front door (our cat doesn't like carrier bags), water spray etc so they don't rush outside.

RandomMess · 25/10/2023 11:01

I would feed them a treat in the kitchen EVERY time you come through the front door. Preferably do a whistle as you unlock the door so they know it is you

The will soon associate you coming back with receiving the treat in the kitchen and race you there.

randomusername2019 · 25/10/2023 11:01

This reply has been withdrawn

Removed at poster's request due to privacy concerns.

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2023 11:06

Or one of those chain fly screens against the front door? The noise you make as you walk through it will send them in the opposite direction.

Madcats · 25/10/2023 11:06

Do you have scope to add an internal door in the hallway to create a small lobby? If you don't want anything as permanent could you add some pet gates?

Original poster
dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 11:13

@Theokaycokey because they are indoor cats !
Cats would never have homes then because most humans live next to roads unless you live in the sticks

OP posts:
Kittensat36 · 25/10/2023 11:23

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2023 10:52

Another, inner door? Is that a possibility?

I have this issue - they are fast and slippery and get out the door before you can stop them.

@MrsSkylarWhite's suggestion is the way forward. I have the wire top to a guinea pig cage about 5ft tall in my hallway. I stand it across the hall to get out in the morning. Could you get someone to knock up a folding screen type thing that fits across the hallway? Or there may be an extra tall baby gate online.

EmptyYoghurtPot · 25/10/2023 11:42

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 11:13

@Theokaycokey because they are indoor cats !
Cats would never have homes then because most humans live next to roads unless you live in the sticks

Many people who have cats live near a road and manage successfully. Ok you might live on a busy main road, that’s different but a lot of cat owners live on residential streets and have ‘free roaming ‘ cats.

justthecat · 25/10/2023 11:51

Would it be easier to access the house via the back door?

LadyDanburysHat · 25/10/2023 11:54

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 11:13

@Theokaycokey because they are indoor cats !
Cats would never have homes then because most humans live next to roads unless you live in the sticks

The thing is you want them to be indoor cats , but they don't want to be. So this is something you need to think about. I thought my cat would be an indoor cat, but he really didn't want to be. so now e let him out, as it's cruel to keep him in when he doesn't want it.