Young cats - won't go out/come in

trailingspouse

I've had a cat on and off for 30 years, but never had this problem before.

We are the proud parents of two young cats (coming up 8 months). They are female, sisters, spayed.

One is perfectly happy to go out, but won't use the cat flap to come back in again (we've shown her how it works, this was all our previous cats needed!). She knocks on the back door (think Simon's Cat...) - and we're daft enough to get up and let her in.

The other won't go out. If you physically put her out she's back in before you can close the door, given half a chance! But once out she plays quite happily, chases random things and generally seems to have a jolly time. It's not like she's cowering by the back door crying to be let back in.

Any ideas about what I can do to encourage the one to come and go as she pleases, and the other to go out and live a little?

GwylimT

If they don't want to go out, they don't. I don't see why they need to if they're happy inside.

Mandy53

I wouldn,t try to force her to go out as she will only get stressed and would just let her decide for herself as if she wants to go out she will and if she doesn,t she won,t. My 2 rescue fur kids had never been outside before; even in the shelter they were kept in an indoor barn with no access to outdoors. I just left my front door open to the garden daily at various times and let them decide if and when they wanted to go outside. It took about 6 months before they eventually felt comfortable enough to go out and explore the garden preferring initially to sit at the door and observe. Sometimes they will go out for a while and sit in the garden and other times they won,t so i leave it up to them.

trailingspouse

A bit too cold to just leave the door open...

However - this morning, coldest day of the year so far - and Wuss Puss decides she'll sit on the top step when I go out to the bin...

I guess you're right - she'll do it when she's ready. Our previous cats couldn't wait to get outside.

All I have to do now is work out how to explain to t'other one that she can come back in THROUGH THE CAT FLAP.

fairy_lights

One of my cats is like that, he has a nice enough time in the garden on the rare occasions when he does go out, but generally just doesn't see the need.
After all, it's warm inside and that's where the food lives.

tyllwyd

For the one that won't go out - does she feel exposed by the back door itself? If it's quite open, you could try putting some garden pots or something near to give a bit more shelter, so that she can feel that she's sneaking out undetected.

trailingspouse

Ah, cats, you've gotta love 'em.

Wuss Puss (who shall henceforth be known as Pioneer Puss) went out this afternoon and worked out for herself how to get back in through the cat flap. Yay.

Between us (ie, me and Pioneer Puss) we managed to persuade the other one (Silly Cat) to also come in through the cat flap. Pioneer Puss stuck her head back out and miaowed, and Silly Cat got the message. I helped a bit by saying useful things like 'Here kitty kitty'...

The cats can go out of any one of three doors - the one who wants to go out is happy to go out of any of them. The other one isn't keen on any of them... One door is quite exposed, but the other two are fine, with cover on three sides, including the one with the cat flap.

I suspect I'm just being a bit impatient - like I said, previous cats couldn't wait to get out.

McKneff

Ignore the cat knocking on the door for 10 mins. Then go out, shut the door behind you and push her throgh the cat flap, every time. She will eventually do it if you are consistent .

HarryAzhar

Some cats are just very nervous and find the outside very frightening. My sister had a cat who did not want to go outside at all but he had some eye sight problems which made it difficult for him to see very far and so he felt vulnerable to attack.

You can leave the access to the garden open so he can smell the outside world; this might entice him to explore. Also, start gradually moving his litter tray and food bowl towards the door, but don't put it straight there since he might freak out and not want to eat or go to the toilet

no1catman

With the reluctant 'going out' cat - I suggest being out yourself, and encourage her to join you, when she does, take a walk around the garden, so that when she follows she can see nothing to be afraid of.

While with the reluctant to use the cat-flap when coming in. When she's near the door wanting to come in, lift up (may not be easy but can be done) the cat flap door so she can see the opening, and once her head has passed let go. With luck she should be more confident next time.

borkid

My 10 year old cat is still trying to train us to let him in through the door. He knows how to use the cat flap and will do if we ignore him. We always thought it was because he was the runt of the litter and was lacking in the little grey cell area. Looking back he always finds the warmest spot, always gets his food first and gets most of the strokes going and prime knee postion for watching TV. Over the years we've decided he's the canniest. I still refuse to open the door on demand just need to train OH now to ignore him.

In the cold weather my 4 rarely go outside , why would they they have warmth and food inside although they do pop out to fertiliser the garden for us.