Question for those who have cats out all day

geri1965_2

I think there is a lot of truth in that - why would anyone want to squeeze through a small tunnel when they have a human who is willing to let them in and out through a proper door whenever they appear at it?

We did try the thing with taking the doors off, we got him through a few times by pushing him, but he really didn't like it and won't go near it without struggling.

I hope that once he realises the house is empty he might try it if he is desperate enough to get in/go out.

tizerbelle

By forcing him in the past, you've kind of made things worse for yourself. Start moving his food bowl nearer the tunnel so he gets used to being near it and realising the tunnel monster isn't going to kill him, you aren't going to grab him and shove him in the tunnel to feed the tunnel monster etc and gradually get him used to being near the tunnel opening. Do you know what food he goes ballistic for? Use this to tempt him into the tunnel - initially just put it on the inside edge. He will get used to it eventually.

If you feel brave you could try leaving both doors off intially while you are at work (weather depending), you never know he might get the idea all by himself. He will never admit it and will still demand slave services from time to time!

Berger

Train with food. I did both my cats with chicken training. Took a few days, but now hey presto

Buddingblonde

Mine decide when they want out and when they want in - i tell them in the morning if I am going to be out all day and aparently they know my routine well enough to appear about half an hour before I come home. The neighbours say it is like they have their own watches!

geri1965_2

He's not massively keen on food - he loves his dry food and will eat wet food occasionally, or some tuna, but he is not a greedy cat at all (won't come running if the fridge door is opened, unlike any other cats I've had). I might try taking both the doors off it when the weather gets better. Both my other cats learned it relatively easily, using the food tempting method, and one of the neighbours cats worked it out for himself!

juliebunny

I've got one of those tunnel flaps. I tied it open when I first got it.

The best way to get them to use it is to keep them inside so the motivation to use is it to get OUT rather than get in. I like the chicken training too!
So when you first then close it again, make sure puddy is inside the house.

My cats still try it on when I'm at home and miaou at the back door!! Sometime I'm stupid enough to give in!

I have a cat who I was sure never went out through the cat flap but I came home early one day and there she was in the garden!! She was having me on! She had previously been a house cat for 10 years in a flat (not with me.)

geri1965_2

Last night was a nightmare - from about 3am he was bothering me to be let out, he was coming upstairs every 10 mins or so and miaowing, OH was snoring his head off and didn't hear him. About 6am I realised I hadn't heard him for a while and thought finally he has got so fed up he has gone out - then when I went to the bathroom I realised he had given up and was lying on the stairs asleep.

Jinx

I leave my cat out all day if hes stupid enough to disappear when I go to work! We dont have a cat flap which is just as well - as an ex-stray he catches mice, voles, rabbits etc..... yeuch.

Anyway he is fine outside - if the weather is terrible I leave the garage door open a little for him to get in there. But normally he just appears as the car appears round the corner and sits on the drive waiting for me to get out the car and let him in!

geri1965_2

Thanks - I know he should be OK, he must have managed well enough when he was a stray! Just don't feel as if he really "belongs" to me yet, so not convinced he won't take it into his head to wander off and be a stray again!

Jinx

geri1965 wrote: »

Thanks - I know he should be OK, he must have managed well enough when he was a stray! Just don't feel as if he really "belongs" to me yet, so not convinced he won't take it into his head to wander off and be a stray again!

I know what you mean.... our cat was a stray and the Cat Protection League reckoned he was about 5 years old so I did worry about him settling in. I have to say our stray was led by his stomach so after a few days he was fine! He actually now needs to go on a diet.....

You could try letting him out as soon as you get up and let him back in before work then letting him out after work and in before bed.

Just seen the Whiskas ad with the cutest silvery kitten ..... awwwwwww