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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:

MrsSkylerWhite · 25/10/2023 12:15

LadyDanburysHat

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

OP wanted advice on preventing her cats from getting out of the front door, not your opinion on indoor cats.

Our 4 are outdoor cats but OP’s circumstances/ choices are none of my/your business.

CurlewKate · 25/10/2023 12:20

They are obviously not happy indoor cats. Some aren't. Get a cat flap on the back door.

Romeiswheretheheartis · 25/10/2023 12:30

The issue shouldn't be how to stop them scratching your carpet, it should be about your cats welfare. The poor cats are bored and unhappy, confined to one small room for all that time. You need to at least let them have the run of the house while you're out, and you'll just have to have a board or something by the front door that you can use to block them from getting past as you come in. I don't agree with indoor cats though, they can never get enough exercise and stimulation trapped in a house for all of their lives.

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Cats

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 12:32

They are perfectly happy cats
I won't be having outdoor cats as it's too dangerous in my opinion and they are still really young.
If I shut the kitchen door to make tea they dive through there as soon as I open it -it's nothing to do with them trying to make an escape for freedom.

OP posts:

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 12:32

Also they are far from unhappy -that's a load of rubbish

OP posts:

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 12:34

Also they aren't just in 1 room they have the living room and kitchen -both of which are huge

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/10/2023 13:04

dontstopmovinggg

have you put this on Litter Tray in Pets?
there will be tonnes of cat centric posters on there.

my FemaleCat thinks a closed door is an abomination to her eyes.
we have a porch so 2 doors, she wanders along the hall to nosey . DH let her go in the porch space once “because she wanted a look “ but she’s not too bothered thankfully

EmptyYoghurtPot · 25/10/2023 13:09

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/10/2023 13:04

dontstopmovinggg

have you put this on Litter Tray in Pets?
there will be tonnes of cat centric posters on there.

This! Ours are outdoor cats but soon as an internal door is closed they just have to go through - not to go outside or anything but just because they are a cat.

Findyourneutralspace · 25/10/2023 13:12

What’s the layout behind your front door? Is there an internal door frame you could put some kind of mesh screen across? It seems the front door is the issue.
Or is the back door safer? Could you start using that to get in?

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 13:16

Oh no I didn't think there was even a pet section ha ha
As soon as you open front door you have the stairs -then to the right is living room which leads on to kitchen /back door /back garden

OP posts:

idrinkandiknowthings · 25/10/2023 13:45

How about putting down doormats on your carpet near the door? Not especially attractive but better than having your carpet clawed up.

NaughtyBoyGeorgeMichaelJacksonBrown · 25/10/2023 14:01

Use the back door? You can then temporarily shut them in the kitchen if you have to get shopping or anything in.

Ginmonkeyagain · 25/10/2023 14:11

Thing is they are not happy as they are scratching the carpet to bits. How do you know they are indoor cats other than the fact you have decreeded it so?

They are living beings, not possessions, you don't get to decide they have to stay inside for the rest of their lives.

shardash · 25/10/2023 14:18

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 12:32

In the nicest possible way, they are not happy cats.

They are clearly stressed and desperate to go outside. It is okay to keep some cats indoors but you have to go by their temperament, and at the moment you are keeping them imprisoned against all their natural instincts.

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 14:30

@shardash how are they not happy cats ?
The only time they try and get out is if I'm leaving or coming in
They do the same with every door
When they are in the pet carriers and I'm walking to vets or parents they hate being outside

OP posts:

Original poster

dontstopmovinggg · 25/10/2023 14:31

@Ginmonkeyagain they scratch the carpet when they are alone that's it
They don't scratch to get out of the door
They like to wander around the house
When I'm home and all the doors are open they are fine

OP posts:

IShouldBeSoLurky · 25/10/2023 15:40

As another poster said upthread, you need an automatic feeder connected to an app so you can dispense food 10 seconds before you open the door. Then they can have the run of the house when you’re out. I don’t agree with indoor cats either but that is a solution.

flufferknutter · 25/10/2023 20:05

Use a water spray to gently spray water in their direction - not actually onto them - and that keeps them from escaping. I had to do this when visiting two cats who were very adept at getting past my when I opened the front door. By the end of the week they weren't even trying to get out anymore because they knew there'd be water sprayed near them.

flufferknutter · 25/10/2023 20:08

Don't forget to crouch down low as you open the door just a crack before spraying otherwise they could squeeze past your legs.

YoDood · 25/10/2023 20:16

You could build a porch?

But I agree with everyone else. They are desperate to get outside and properly exercise and roam. Cats are incredible athletes and have a real wildness to them. I really don’t understand the current trend of shutting them inside or how people convince themselves that cats are happy with this arrangement.

The fact that they don’t like being carried about in a carrier is further proof if anything; that’s just another way of caging them in - but in a way which probably makes them feel more vulnerable because they are simultaneously exposed to external threats whilst not being able to escape.

DeathMetalMum · 25/10/2023 20:23

We use the back door, we first started when our cats were kittens and we needed to keep them inside, as there is no way to 'block' the front door. The back door is via the kitchen and the kitchen door is mostly closed. Always when we go out. So we can enter the kitchen without the cats running out.

Our cats do go out - only through the back door. But when we are around mainly, and they often have a potter in the garden and come back in.

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