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- Jul 3, 2003
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Our 9 month old kitten is the fastest, most fearless, most determined escape artist I have ever known.
Up until last month, he had tried once or twice to go outside to explore, but it was pretty easy to prevent him from getting out. Then a few weeks ago he walked out the door while my daughter had it open. While I was walking over to get him, a sparrow flew right over his head. After that, he was a whole lot more interested in trying to get outside!
Two nights later, my husband forgot to feed the dog in the garage, and instead put her food out on the back porch again. A rat (the reason we don't put food outside in the city) ran across the porch to grab some of the dog food, passing right in front of the glass door where that same kitten watched in utter fascination.
Now he REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wants out.
He meows loudly and frequently at the back door. If we open the glass for fresh air, leaving only the screen door closed, he yowls nonstop and climbs the screen. My husband and I are both practiced foot-door-blockers, but he is so fast that when we're trying to go through the door, he'll jump and somehow squeeze through the space around our shins in the blink of an eye.
The first week, when he got out I could walk over and pick him up while he was sniffing noses with the dog, but now he runs like mad around the yard because he doesn't want me to bring him inside. He's normally crazy for treats, but when he gets out the only thing he wants is to be free to explore. Thankfully we have a wooden privacy fence, but I'm afraid he'll be able to jump that soon enough, or climb a tree. Every yard surrounding ours has at least two dogs. Kitten is friends with our dog and may not understand other dogs can be dangerous. Hawks and owls frequent our yard and the one next door because our trees are tall and bear nuts that attract rodents. Cars speed down our street. A very territorial feral neutered male roams our front yard and others in the area.
The only way I would feel ok with him being outdoors would be on a harness and leash. For now, we seem to be stuck putting him in the bathroom or having someone hold him whenever anyone opens a door, which is not ideal, especially with a child and her friends coming in and out.
Any advice?
(He's neutered, it was done at 3 months by the rescue)
Up until last month, he had tried once or twice to go outside to explore, but it was pretty easy to prevent him from getting out. Then a few weeks ago he walked out the door while my daughter had it open. While I was walking over to get him, a sparrow flew right over his head. After that, he was a whole lot more interested in trying to get outside!
Two nights later, my husband forgot to feed the dog in the garage, and instead put her food out on the back porch again. A rat (the reason we don't put food outside in the city) ran across the porch to grab some of the dog food, passing right in front of the glass door where that same kitten watched in utter fascination.
Now he REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wants out.
He meows loudly and frequently at the back door. If we open the glass for fresh air, leaving only the screen door closed, he yowls nonstop and climbs the screen. My husband and I are both practiced foot-door-blockers, but he is so fast that when we're trying to go through the door, he'll jump and somehow squeeze through the space around our shins in the blink of an eye.
The first week, when he got out I could walk over and pick him up while he was sniffing noses with the dog, but now he runs like mad around the yard because he doesn't want me to bring him inside. He's normally crazy for treats, but when he gets out the only thing he wants is to be free to explore. Thankfully we have a wooden privacy fence, but I'm afraid he'll be able to jump that soon enough, or climb a tree. Every yard surrounding ours has at least two dogs. Kitten is friends with our dog and may not understand other dogs can be dangerous. Hawks and owls frequent our yard and the one next door because our trees are tall and bear nuts that attract rodents. Cars speed down our street. A very territorial feral neutered male roams our front yard and others in the area.
The only way I would feel ok with him being outdoors would be on a harness and leash. For now, we seem to be stuck putting him in the bathroom or having someone hold him whenever anyone opens a door, which is not ideal, especially with a child and her friends coming in and out.
Any advice?
(He's neutered, it was done at 3 months by the rescue)