Does anyone else with indoor cats know this fear?

**lvpets2002** · 03-10-2006, 03:36 PM

Yup sure do know this fear & I used to worry all the time.. But with my house now I come in thru the garage in which has a direct door to the kitchen & if a girl slips thru she will just be in the closed gargage & then comes back in.. But I do still count heads before bedtime..

**kb2yjx** · 03-10-2006, 04:02 PM

Kirsten, you are not alone in your fears!!! I do a head count at bedtime for all 8 cats. I have signs on doors to alert people that these are indoor cats and they DO NOT GO OUT despite how they might behave!! We recently had the township tax reassessor at the house. He WAS told about the cats and to close doors quickly. As he was leaving, he was talking with the kitchen door open. and Norton took advantage and flew down the steps to the basement!!! I inform workmen, telephone repairers, EVERYONE that we have cats and if they are in my house doing work, they, too, are responsible for the safety of the cats. Most are cat folk and understand completely! My greatest fear was when we were on vacation on Cape Cod. I was so afraid that one of the cats would get out. We would still be on Cape Cod if that was the case!!!
Sometimes when Barry and I go out, I put treats down for each cat on the floor. They are so busy eating that they do not notice us leaving.
Our fault is we love our cats and would not want anything to happen to them!!!
PS: One fear is that if someone breaks into the house and leaves a door or window open....you know what will happen....All have breakaway collars with ID's and are microchipped(still my mind does not rest easy)...

**Kirsten** · 03-10-2006, 04:16 PM

I'm glad to read that I'm not alone with this!

I have signs on doors to alert people that these are indoor cats

I have such a sign, too, but still people tend to stand in the open door to talk, something I really hate. But people like my landlords are too old to keep in mind that there are cats that will leave the apartment when the door is open.

One or two years ago, I got a real shock when I got up one Sunday morning and found the apartment door open, and the cats gone. There was a storm that night and I guess the wind has pushed the door open. Luckily I found both Lily and Luna in the stairway, but the very next day, I fixed a hook to make sure the door cannot open again.

Kirsten

**jackie** · 03-10-2006, 04:39 PM

Oliver is an indoor/outdoor cat, so I never worry about him, but once Bella slipped out the front door, and was alone outside so about an hour before I realized. Thank goodness she didn´t go farther then the doormat.

**heidiv** · 03-10-2006, 06:16 PM

I am so thankful just to know there are others that struggle with leaving the fur kids in the morning. I can't tell you how many times I have drove around the block and then quickly ran back into the house to make sure everyone was o.k. I also worry about house fires probley more than I do about them sneaking out of the house. I will check and then double check to make sure that my curling iron has been turned off along with all of the our heaters ect. My husband sometimes thinks I am losing it but I love them like they are my children only my children would go to day care and they don't get left home all alone with no one to care for them till I get home. I have gone so far as to figure out what I would do if there was a house fire and how I would find all three cats before I would get out for myself out. Every night before I go to bed I make sure that all of the fur kids are in bed with me before I can truely fall asleep and really sleep. I can't tell you how much I appreiciate knowing there are others of you out there that do the same things. Thank Goodness

**catmandu** · 03-10-2006, 06:18 PM

I Didnt Until The Recent Escape Of Pouncierge This Week,and Now I Make Sure That Theres Noone Near The Door When I Leave.

**jenluckenbach** · 03-10-2006, 06:36 PM

I always come in and go out of the doors to the outside looking DOWN.

I can't realistically do a head count any more, I'd never find them all and by the time I did I would forget who I counted.

But I always look around before I leave and shoo them from the door and go in extra carefully.
I do not have "door runners", but I never allow the door to stand open. I step all the way out even if it is just for the pizza delivery person and close the screen/storm door behind me.

**icedtea** · 03-11-2006, 01:31 AM

if anyonegets really worried, they can always put child gates around the door, and by the time the cats realise whats happening, you can get out the door. just open the gate go in, shut the gate.open door, go out, close door. pretty complex but thats if anyone gets really desperate. omg i get annoyed too when someone stands there taslking or holds onto the door and is standing inside. you cant exactly grab the door from them lol. my two get outdoortime and i spend 20 minutes a day getting them out of trees etc, the family tells me to leave them. i wish they would understand that after reading hundreds of cat books,I know cats ok. it drives me mad.
perhaps you could keep the door to the room with front door in it closed??

**chocolatepuppy** · 03-10-2006, 06:41 PM

I have to watch my Missy around the back door. I know she would walk right out if given the chance. I usually shoo her away from the door if something's going on. If anyone is over, I'm careful to watch the cats. If a repairman is coming I lock them in a room. I only have two and I'm sure it would be difficult to keep track of more cats.

**Cataholic** · 03-10-2006, 07:50 PM

Hopefully, Lillycat won't see me post this here! She is the ULTIMATE worry wart. I do admit one of her cats is 'cagey', but, she is soooooo hyperviligant. Even with me, the cataholic of the family.

She is always shaking a plastic bag, and nearly clipping heels when the door is closed. Sometimes, I have to say, "uh, mom, I cannot fit through 3 inches of opened door".

Mine? With the exception of Minnie, who wouldn't come near a door anyhow, most of mine are 'okay' outside. They don't take off for the trees. In fact, several of mine are yard cats. They don't venture out of the yard if I am out there with them. Since Jonah is now here, I don't think I would let cats outside anymore. While they don't run from me, they do from him (not that I blame them!!).

Like someone above, I enter/exit through the garage, and my porch is enclosed. So, there is a safety net, so to speak.