Comments on: How Can I Train My Cat To Stay Close To Home?

By: Will

Will — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 23:08:46 +0000

Hi there. I live adjacent to a large section of woods and I have seen coyotes, foxes, and fisher cats in this area many times. My last cat Hendrix loved going outside, but he dissapeared one night at the age of ~3. We finally decided to get two kittens after a year or so, and we reluctantly let them go outside. They love being outside, and we make sure we don’t let them go outside on full stomachs. That really helps, but yesterday Leo got came back limping to the house. His ear and lips were kind of bloody, and the vets at the pet hospital said it was blunt trauma to the face from a car. Leo is recovering well and has an elizabethan collar (cone) and is taking medicine. He isn’t even one year old, and it is making me feel like we should keep the cats inside. To me, that is cruel. I hate seeing most animals at the zoo, and I feel like my cats shouldn’t be holed up inside either. Suggestions?

By: Shonna

Shonna — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:00:07 +0000

Tony- I know what you mean I have done the same things but it just doesnt get thru to them! Cant find a reasonable answer that works,aside from making them indoor cats. I would like some more options! Maybe a technique or something like that..anyone have any HELPFUL ideas ASIDE from “MAKING THEM INDOOR?” please help. -S

By: Curtis

Curtis — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 20:51:33 +0000

Here’s an idea Mazey – a perfect place fo your cat – NOT WITH YOU! You obviously have no intention of paying attention to the cat or have a sniff of what to do for training (as per your admission of your last two cats), so do the world a favour and avoid getting something you cannot look after. Idiot.

By: Ms. Morgan

Ms. Morgan — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 05:24:47 +0000

Geez, Tony, the same thing came so close ,to happening to me this evening! I almost lost my little “Theodore” I FELT SO ,POWERLESS!!!!!!Watching him run out on a ,semi busy st. I could see the headlights of the oncoming car. I had no idea that he was going to that dangerous street. I too live on a dead end st. .So, the major one ,I just knew he would not try by himself!I hadn’t noticed he was where he shouldn’t have gone. That incident, has ruined our relationship, as far as me,trusting him to make the right decision his own . He isn’t even a year old yet ,I cannot let him out now. We have seen quite an array of flattened pets there. I’m doing the best I can do for him. If I had not seen him crossing when I did, well you got the picture. All I could do was scream his name ,to stop him from going any further. Then he turned, and engaged my hubby and I into
a game of tag.then we brought bad-boy inside. Im so sad for your loss. Seems like no-one can help our cats. HELP11111

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:20:51 +0000

hi my cat just got hit by a car and i am really sad, but my girlfriend said i can have one of her cats, but it has to be an outside cat. my first one followed me home and stayed. i live 9 houses away. and now that im trying to take another one. it keeps trying to leave and im not even sure if it knows the way back. what do i do.

note it has to be outside my dad wont let me take it inside.

By: Trinia

Trinia — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:45:24 +0000

If you let your cat run loose, don’t whine when it gets killed! It’s YOUR fault for putting it in danger. For shame!

By: Dylan

Dylan — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 07:14:36 +0000

I was wondering if we can try to keep our cats in our yard only as we have stupid old annoying wingeing neighbours that have written a letter to us complaining about our cats in their yard. would suggesting they just hose the cats each time they enter the property stop them from going back?

By: mazey

mazey — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 00:18:30 +0000

Im getting a new kitten and i live in the city but i have a okay sized yard. I dont want my new kitten to come inside at all because the last 2 cats i had had i bathroom problume,so i dont want it inside at all.But there are dogs that live next to me and i dont want my kitten to go over there,and i have a busy rode in the front yard.Would i be able to keep my cat in a certain area?

By: admin

admin — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:53:39 +0000

JodiLane,

Why can’t cats just get along?!?! I feel your pain. Check out this article on introducing cats before you do anything else – It’s a fantastic read. Note that it doesn’t matter if your cats already “know” each other. Animals live in the present – They don’t hold grudges like us humans! The techniques outlined in this article will work regardless of the fact that your cats aren’t actually meeting for the first time.

If this doesn’t work, I’d seriously consider converting your outdoor cat into an indoor one – at least until next spring. It’s not worth losing sleep over the fact that your cat’s out in the cold, fending for herself. She’ll get used to the sounds of crying children too. Don’t worry about that…

Good luck!

By: admin

admin — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:34:30 +0000

Hey Tony,

Terribly sorry to hear about your lose. Cats are funny and surprisingly unique little characters. A training technique that works for one won’t necessarily work for another. In my experience though, cats don’t respond particularly well to vocal commands. Try getting a spray bottle filled with water and giving your kitty a little squirt when he starts wandering towards the road. This could potentially help him associate road with danger. Note that the age of your cat could also be playing a role here. Older cats tend to be more mature and road savvy than younger kittens.

Good luck Tony. Thanks for stopping by!