Best way to get a cat back inside.

[coffeecupsandfairylights]

I have indoor cats as we live on a busy road and cats die on there way too often for my liking.

My youngest boy slipped out of a window on Tuesday night - I've seen him around and he's eaten the food I've left out but he won't near me or DH.

I suspect he's just enjoying being out but what's the best way to get him back in? He's on medication so I'm hoping he's not out much longer than this - he's not injured and seems perfectly happy to just eat, ignore us and run off

He's two and he's neutered so I'm not worried about any kittens!

Shake dreamies? Leave a dreamie trail? Or talk loudly about how you wish he'd stay out longer, that should get him running back in! Joking aside, the only luck I've had is treats. Maybe he'll come back if it rains too.

It stormed last night and still nothing! We tried the treats but he just ate them and then disappeared 🤣

He's a contrary bugger - due to the layout of the house I can't leave a door open in case the dog or the other cats get out 🙈

I suspect it's a waiting game - he saw me about an hour ago, shouted at me, ate a treat I'd left on the floor then disappeared over the garden gate 🤣

You could ask a local veterinary practice, cat rescue centre or RSPCA if the have a humane cat trap you could borrow.

The longer he gets used to appearing for his food and then running off again unfortunately becomes a habit. This could become the new norm for him.

How close are you able to get to him? Perhaps some very smelly, tasty food (e.g. sardines) might persuade him to come close enough for you to catch/scruff him quickly with a large towel?

The dreamies need to be inside. Can you shut your other animals in one room? Then leave back door or whatever open?

As he’s young he’s still playful probably. Have you tried playing with a stick/ rope etc? Then grab him when he’s close to you.

Don't leave food out. Our cat always comes back when he is hungry. Our cat is an indoor cat, sometimes he escapes, he either wanders in, or meows at the door if it is closed. How dare we lock him out.

Don't leave food out!

I can't get closer than about ten metres away - he's really shy and skittish at the best of times unfortunately.

I think the next step will be a trap to get him - I can't shut the other animals anywhere as the whole house is too open-plan - though I could try and trap him in the shed or garage with food.

I've tried normal food, treats, dreamies and tuna but he still won't come anywhere near me 🙈

His nickname has always been ratbag and he's definitely being one now! If he wants to stay out I don't actually mind but I'd like to be able to at least handle him and make sure he's okay.

Thanks - I did think about not leaving food for him and just letting him be hungry!

Might be a good idea?

Yes, dont feed him outside, especially in warm weather he's living the life right now.
He needs an incentive to come in.

Thanks!

I saw him last night around 9.30ish before he leapt over the back gate and disappeared.

Should I call him in at his normal mealtimes when I feed the others or just leave him to it and wait until he's hungry?

When my girl went missing last year she hid in a bush and I was able to just go out and grab her - ratbag is having too much fun to be caught 🤣

If our cats know we want them in they avoid us. Best bet is lock up other animals in remainder of house with litter tray etc and wait for him to come back in for food. Though again if anything like mine they scarper again as soon as they think you will shut cat flap!

Borrow a trap, the rescue places will most likely help you - ours would.

Thanks again!

There's a local lady who works with a rescue and she has a trap we can borrow if we get desperate. I'm home all weekend so I'll see if he comes in for food first - if not I'll get a trap set up ☺️

Worth a try.

But Ratbags will sometimes find themselves a nice neighbour mug and tell them they've not been fed for months. Or as happened two weeks ago, just stroll in through our kitchen door to try and convince me that he'd lived here forever and I'd just forgotten I'd had a giant fluffy black and white cat.

The residents were not impressed.

He's a bit too shy to approach strangers I think but I wouldn't put it past him either 🤣

He has big orange eyes and shouts a lot, so I'm sure people think he's starving 🙄

Photo for cat tax!

Wherever mine is when I open a packet of dreamies by the back door she seems to know and comes running . Would that work?

I've tried dreamies, tins of tuna, some disgustingly smelly Felix treats and ham 🙈

He's just playing silly buggers I think - both DH and I have seen him and he's fine, just refusing to come back inside

He's telling you loud and clear that he doesn't want to be an indoor cat.

I'm not here for an indoor/outdoor cat debate 🤷🏻‍♀️

I actually don't mind if he wants to go out, but he's on medication so I do need to get him back (temporarily) at some point so he doesn't get sick!

And up until he jumped out of the window he showed no interest in outdoors and actively bolted from the door to hide on the fridge!

Do you have partio doors? My cat can see rhe bowl and he knows he has to come inside to eat it. I shut the door when he comes in.

Unfortunately not. I've left some windows open with smelly treats the other side of them though, so I'm hoping his stomach brings him in eventually!

Open the doors & ignore him. It'll cheese him off ☺️.