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Getting a new cat (dog door concerns)
MrOletta
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So we're thinking about getting a companion to our little yorkshire terrier, and were mostly looking for a cat, however we're concerned about the cat potentially getting loose or running away due to us having a dog door.
The backyard itself is privacy fenced, and we live in a suburban neighborhood so it isn't terribly high traffic area. The dog door is located in the kitchen, and is the only access to the back yard. We can't fence the cat from going into the kitchen due to the house design being more modern (i.e. not hallways etc) - we have a bar area and there's absolutely no door leading into the kitchen.
Anyway, is this an issue at all? I suppose it depends mostly on the personality? I would hate to have to find out if the cat is going to run away by running away.
We also don't want to isolate them because that defeats the purpose of giving them companionship while we're both away at work.
Anyway, any experiences/thoughts/input?
The backyard itself is privacy fenced, and we live in a suburban neighborhood so it isn't terribly high traffic area. The dog door is located in the kitchen, and is the only access to the back yard. We can't fence the cat from going into the kitchen due to the house design being more modern (i.e. not hallways etc) - we have a bar area and there's absolutely no door leading into the kitchen.
Anyway, is this an issue at all? I suppose it depends mostly on the personality? I would hate to have to find out if the cat is going to run away by running away.
We also don't want to isolate them because that defeats the purpose of giving them companionship while we're both away at work.
Anyway, any experiences/thoughts/input?
MrOletta on
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our older cat has gotten out a couple times when it was windy but other than that neither of them have used the door.
its a test of patience honestly. keep a squirt bottle handy and spray them if they show interest in that. keep on that and eventually they associate the door with getting sprayed. so far it has worked and we have a fairly large door.
also if you have the covered litter box make sure you take off any doors, you don't want them associating pushing through something with going to the bathroom or else they may figure out the door
it may also depend on how old the cat your are planning on adopting is. if you adopt an older cat who is used to going outside it will be harder to detrain than a younger cat with no experience
holy shit that is awesome
The worst that ever happened is sometimes she would bring me presents, but she left them on the back porch instead of bringing them into the house so that's okay. Basically she went out hunting to entertain herself while I was at work and then insisted on cuddling as soon as I got home every day, it was pretty adorable.
That dog is adorable.
The cat couldn't follow the dog right out could it?
The only problem is that cats sometimes pick up diseases hunting wild animals. Not every cat will, but it's something to consider. That's how my cat died.
And sometimes people get hit by cars crossing the street to pick up some milk. "Something bad might happen if I go outside" isn't a terribly healthy philosophy of life, in fact I'm pretty sure it's a psychological disorder.
I think it's safe to say that there's a big enough difference between an indoor cat going outside and human going outside, that trying to prevent the cat from getting out is a completely reasonable concern. Especially when considering other animals that may be around.
You're right, I'm projecting my crippling agoraphobia onto the OP's cat. My bad.
Cats only become indoor-cats when neurotically paranoid owners force them to be or do vicious things like cut off their fingers.