Conference misery::feline_v1

    Do they have enough interesting things to keep them occupied inside?
    Window ledges, toys, etc.?
    

    I cured RumTum of this bad little habit of his....he got out one
    day and I chased him up the hill in the back yard and before I could
    reach him, he had scooted under the fence and was in the neighbors
    yard under the bushes.  So, I ran up the street and finally got
    to the neighbors yard where he was hiding in a ton of bushes.  I
    couldn't get him, I kept trying, but to no avail, so I just gave
    up, went back in my yard and sat down in a chair and just waited.
    About an hour passed and he casually sauntered back over to me,
    as if nothing had happened.  I gave him a good smack and a lot of
    yelling and I think he caught on that he wasn't suppose to be out
    there.  A big truck that made a LOT of noise also helped....it scared
    him!  Now he just stands at the open door looking out.
                                                          
    Good luck!
    

    It occurs to me that the door problem I have, is keeping the neighbor
    cats out.  Khalife-from-next-door particularly would looovvveee
    to come in, but Holly would have a fit.
    
             

    
    	RE: .1  Enough Toys!!  Definately.  T.K. has at least 10 beer
    	caps hanging around.  When I let them in my room this morning
    	to wake me up, T.K. brought me a beer cap and dropped it on
    	my book, and knocked his head against mine.  Throw it mom!!
    	I'm getting off track....
    
    	I think T.K. is scared of the outside.  Every morning when
    	I go to work he sits in the window and meows at me.  I got
    	home last night and he was sitting in the upstairs window
    	meowing at me frantically!!!  And when he is outside he
    	definately meows alot and scoots for cover.  But its like
    	he has to be macho and prove something by escaping and
    	braving the elements!
    
    	My two cats are declawed so they can never be outside kitties.
    	I was thinking of maybe letting him escape in the next thunder
    	storm!!!   Maybe if he got wet enough he wouldn't do it again.
    
    	When I caught him last night I help him very tightly by the
    	scruff of his neck and stuck my face in his and lectured.  It
    	didn't do much good.  I could still see that "dare me" gleam
    	in his eye.  So, I locked him in the bathroom for a while.
    	Later when I let him out he was throwing himself against the
    	wall and I thought he was having a tantrum.  Then Bandit started
    	throwing himself against a wall too.  I was sure I was going
    	to have to call the kitty hospital soon and tell them that
    	my cats were trying to commit suicide!!
    
    
    	then i saw the bug flying aroung.....
    
    	Karen

    It's just a thought--but what about cat leash for them both?
    I put my cats on them when I can still watch them and see 
    whats going on.   My cats are also declawed, but love to go
    out!  They didn't like being tied at first, but now look forward
    to it.  Just a thought, as long as its completely flat ground and
    nothing for them to get hooked or tangled around.
    
    Nan

    If you do this, be careful that they can't get out of the leash,
    and _do_ stay in sight -- you don't want them attacked by a roving
    dog, etc. when they can't run away.
    

    We took my former Siamese kitty Lucky out on a leash for years,
    and she loved it!  She used to pick up the leash and carry it over
    to my Dad to let him know she wanted to go out.  We were always
    out with her in the yard, and the yard was completely fenced in.
    However, she broke leash on us twice to chase other cats out of
    "her" yard, so make sure the leash and collar are strong ;-)!!
    
    Mary-Michael, Niniane, Charm (and Chelsea soon!)

    Tenzing used to occasionally get out.  I'll never forget the night
    she got out after dark.  She headed off into the woods with me hot
    on her trail.  I couldn't see very well in the dark so went back
    to the house for a flashlight.  When I got back outside, there was
    Tenzing, headed towards me, meowing for dear life!  I think she
    got scared as soon as she realized I was no longer behind her!
    
    Anyway, to the point.  Whenever she got near an opening door, we'd
    gently push her aside with our foot, say "BAD KITTY" and not leave
    until she was away from the door.  It worked and she only needs
    an occasional reminder now.  Also, from dog training, I believe
    that you should not punish the cat after you've caught it or it
    comes home.  This just tells them that it's bad to come back home,
    *NOT* the idea you want to convey!  Being by an opening door is
    *BAD*!  Being with your owner, back home is *GOOD*!
    
    Good luck!!!
    Karen, Tristan and Tenzing.

    I've just remembered that on the rare occasions when Sweetie gets
    near the door when I'm leaving, I say "We're going to the vet",
    and whoooshhhh....
    

    Karen (Luby),
    
    Have no sure fire ways to keep them in but you might attach a bell
    to the flea collar so you can find him more easily.  Problem is
    you will have to remember to take it off at night so you can sleep
    and put it on in the morning before "Let's make Mom Run Time"
    
    Frank

    RE: .4 (being out in the rain won't stop them from trying)
    
    Ebony got out a couple weeks back and was apparently out for quite
    some time.  I went to a party at noontime and when I got back
    about 11pm, he was gone.  It was raining so hard and I was so afraid
    that he was really gone for good (I live on busy road and there's 
    not much around me but woods).  Of course I immediately ran out 
    calling him and shaking the "crunchie" box (he loves CRAVE) and when 
    he didn't answer after about an hour, I was sure he was gone - then 
    it was time to get in the car and look........and by this time I
    was crying and feared the worst.  Well about 2 hours went by and
    still no Ebony.   At this time I decided to leave the door to the
    screen porch open to see if he would come home on his own....not 5 
    minutes later I hear this mmeeoowwwwwwww at the open window inside 
    the screened in porch....there he was soaking wet and crying...boy, 
    did he look funny, all I could do was laugh as I wrapped him in
    a towel.   I still don't know HOW he got out, he (and his sister) 
    were eating when I left!!??)
                    
    To this day, he always runs to the door to get out and I don't think
    I'll ever break him of this habit.....I've tried for 7 years now and 
    nothing seems to work!
    
    Maybe I'll try the leash again - I did try this once, and he didn't
    like it at all!
    
    BC

    
    
    	RE: LEASHES....
    
    	Won't this just encourage him to like going out???  I don't
    want him to realize how fun it is!!
    
    	And it I did decide to go with a leash, aren't there harness
    type leashes that you can get???
    
    	And, the problem might lessen because my roomate is moving out
    and she was the one who usually let him escape and she never scolded
    him.  Talk about spoiling a cat!!!!  If I wasn't around just imagine
    how much of a terror he would be!!!
    
    Re: scolding them
    
    	I usually just say no and push them away with me feet when
    they make for the door.  But most escapes happen when my roommate
    and I are entering with our arms full and have to open the door
    wide to get through.  Usually I just squeeze in the door blocking
    T.K. who is trying to slither out between my feet...
    
    	Karen