Does anyone else with indoor cats know this fear?

[jackie]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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??

[orangemm]

I'm glad I'm not alone! I always check before I go to work to make sure my boys are safe; head-count, saying "I have to go to work", and kissing good-bye. Nighttime isn't as bad because my hubby stays up later than I do, and he makes sure they are all right for the night.

[chocolatepuppy]

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]

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.

[sandragonfly]

well, not a worry syndrome to me until that incident where shaddow went missing after a guy came in when I wasn't home! well, before that, with 13 cats and you can't hear, it just becomes a habit!

I can't hear them crying if stuck behind refrigator/stove, in closets/cabinets or bedcats who think frightenly that s/he can't find way out under king-size blankets so I check frequently. even though my doggie, he would often alert me when one of them is crying. sometimes it's hard to tell if he was trying to tell me when I'm on way out or in, he gets too excited!

for going out, I usually have my eyes down behind me (facing the room, not outside) before I open the door, squeeze backwards without blinking through it if any comes close and shut quickly. the same for going in.

extra work with my furtravelers, they're more naughty when we're at other houses, since they are at new house, they curiously explore & go anywhere, in any directions (even into ceilings) than knowing a way to escape. at home, the very same door you get out in and after many times you say "no no no!" they knew where, when and would attemp! anyway, there, I headcount extra, at bedtime and after I get up, not just when I go out and in because you don't know their house very well. for me, better late than sorry!

thank god they all are one big ark, (and most are followers) so they all often cuddle together, stay in a pack or at least all in one same room so that made my headcountings faster. I headcount the cats in order I got them so I won't get lost my count. poor you, you only have two and this already is a big worry for you!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Yes, I always try to do a head count every morning before I leave for work. Sky used to be a door dasher but he's calmed down quite a bit and Starr and Pearl are sometimes very curious about what's outside the front door. Luckily my front door opens up to a hallway and not the great outdoors.

Since I've had Starr and Pearl I've been making sure that both bathroom doors are closed when I leave because they like to play with the toilet paper and get into mischief. A few weeks ago, I was running late so I don't even remember doing a head count. Some how I managed to lock Starr in my bathroom all day. I didn't even notice that he wasn't there greeting me like he usually does but for some reason or other I went straight to my bedroom and opened the bathroom. Out came Starr like a speeding bullet. He didn't run to the litterbox but he did run to the nearest water dish because he was very thirsty. I felt so bad. Now I always try to do a head count before I leave.