So my roommate (Jay) and I have had our kittens for a little over a month now and we are totally in love. They are both up to date with their kitten shots and Khaleesi has been spayed (Jay doesn't want to fix Kaylee, but I'm really trying to convince him to...).
Every so often, Jay would bring them both outside to hang out on our front deck. At first they didn't like it, Kalyee would run back in. However, Khaleesi, being the fearless/curious kitten she is, is now SUPER curious about the outside world and started to wander the deck more. I grabbed her and ran back inside and told him it was a bad idea to let them outside because they're just going to want to know more about it and try to escape all the time.
He brings her out again a few days later to see me while I was doing yard work, this time she's off the deck and on the ground. Again, I bring her in.
Well, now she's as curious as ever. EVERY time I try to go outside, she jumps on the table or comes running over and looks as though she's deciding to venture out. In fact, one of the times when I was on the porch, she bolted out the door when Jay opened it and actually ran straight towards the end of the deck like she was going to jump down and take off! I had to grab her by her tail to pull her out from behind the grill before she could do it I was FURIOUS.
Outdoors cats are a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I do not think cats belong outdoors. Ever. I worked in an animal hospital for 5 years and saw all the TERRIBLE things that happened to outdoor cats. We live in a very wooded area and also close to a major highway. She would be killed immediately. Plus, I am absolutely 100% terrified of fleas (phobia level), nor do I really want to spend $60 a month for flea/tick treatment and put unnecessary chemicals on her body - I rather this money go to the good food I want and have them on.
So my question is - what can I do to make her stop being so curious/bolting at the doors? As a huge dog avocate/lover and trainer, I know first hand that positive reinforcement training is the best method......for dogs. I know training cats, while minimal, is possible, but I don't think redirecting her attention from the door with positive reinforcement is going to work on cats hahaha.
I was honestly thinking of using a spray bottle, as the ONLY thing she is afraid of is the spray from the swiffer mop, but is this something that is frowned upon in the cat world? I certainly do not want to do anything that isn't for her best interest. Do you think this would even work? As mean as this sounds, I literally want her to BE AFRAID of the front door and the slider, or at least get it into her head that outdoors is bad. I know fear training for dogs is a horrible and incorrect method, but again, cats are so much different/harder to train.
Any suggestions or methods would be appreciated. I will do anything it takes to keep her indoors and safe forever
Every so often, Jay would bring them both outside to hang out on our front deck. At first they didn't like it, Kalyee would run back in. However, Khaleesi, being the fearless/curious kitten she is, is now SUPER curious about the outside world and started to wander the deck more. I grabbed her and ran back inside and told him it was a bad idea to let them outside because they're just going to want to know more about it and try to escape all the time.
He brings her out again a few days later to see me while I was doing yard work, this time she's off the deck and on the ground. Again, I bring her in.
Well, now she's as curious as ever. EVERY time I try to go outside, she jumps on the table or comes running over and looks as though she's deciding to venture out. In fact, one of the times when I was on the porch, she bolted out the door when Jay opened it and actually ran straight towards the end of the deck like she was going to jump down and take off! I had to grab her by her tail to pull her out from behind the grill before she could do it I was FURIOUS.
Outdoors cats are a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I do not think cats belong outdoors. Ever. I worked in an animal hospital for 5 years and saw all the TERRIBLE things that happened to outdoor cats. We live in a very wooded area and also close to a major highway. She would be killed immediately. Plus, I am absolutely 100% terrified of fleas (phobia level), nor do I really want to spend $60 a month for flea/tick treatment and put unnecessary chemicals on her body - I rather this money go to the good food I want and have them on.
So my question is - what can I do to make her stop being so curious/bolting at the doors? As a huge dog avocate/lover and trainer, I know first hand that positive reinforcement training is the best method......for dogs. I know training cats, while minimal, is possible, but I don't think redirecting her attention from the door with positive reinforcement is going to work on cats hahaha.
I was honestly thinking of using a spray bottle, as the ONLY thing she is afraid of is the spray from the swiffer mop, but is this something that is frowned upon in the cat world? I certainly do not want to do anything that isn't for her best interest. Do you think this would even work? As mean as this sounds, I literally want her to BE AFRAID of the front door and the slider, or at least get it into her head that outdoors is bad. I know fear training for dogs is a horrible and incorrect method, but again, cats are so much different/harder to train.
Any suggestions or methods would be appreciated. I will do anything it takes to keep her indoors and safe forever