Does anyone else with indoor cats know this fear?

[K & L]

This happened to us! I felt terrible cause I went to take the garbage outside (it was dark) and when I walked by the driveway I see a cat. I bent down and said "hi kitty, who are you"? Lo and behold it was Olive! I don't know how long she had been out, or how she got out. I grabbed her up fast and have been paranoid about this since.

[sirrahbed]

This thread is very interesting and like heidiv, it is rather comforting to know that many of us are this way. I don't know if it is paranoid or not - maybe - but it seems to be pretty common I see

Now that I have six cats - I also want to see everyone before I leave through the door, and count tails in order of the way we adopted everyone (starting with the first residents and then counting down)

I cannot leave without looking down and watching the door close. Lizzie and Robbie like to be near the door Emily, Eliot, Robbie and Lizzie never seem to be near an opening or closing door.

I have to find everyone regularly throughout the day. When I have to leave - I say goodbye to them and leave the radio playing for them.

Oh and I MUST find everyone before I fall asleep, though most of the time - they are in bed with me and Eliot will be in his bed on the dresser.

Kirsten - it sounds like you are just a caring and careful meowmie. Luna and Lily are your girls and you make sure life is safe and happy for them. They are your family

[Kirsten]

if anyonegets really worried, they can always put child gates around the door,

Actually, I did, sort of... I made this thing when I moved in here:



I only set it up when I plan to go out... It cannot hold them back, but I should notice when they pass this "gate". It was much easier in the old apartment. There, you first entered a tiny little hall, and from there, you entered the rest of the place. Pretty safe.

Kirsten

[Miss Z]

Well, when we had Brando (Zsa-Zsa's late brother ) and Zsa-Zsa was fit and healthy, they both loved the outdoors, travelling about the park near our house and having a good stroll throughout our neighbour's gardens. Brando used to have a gentleman's lounge with his friend Yoda, a cat who still lives and belongs to one of our neighbours, and Zsa-Zsa used to love climbing along fences and generally being in the warmth of the sun (when we did actually have sun!). So i was never paranoid then, the cats clearly enjoyed having a little independance and free-time. Well, old age began to set into Brando, so he began to venture no further than the garden, although Zsa-Zsa would still venture out. But then, just after Brando passed away, Zsa-Zsa went blind. I daren't let her go outside save for the garden now in fear of losing her. She could become disorientated and lose her way, get attacked by dogs as she wouldn't see them coming, wander into a road... the possibilities are too much to think about. But i swear that even though she is blind she knows when the front door is open, as if anyone comes to the door she's there and attempting to get out. We thought about getting her a collar with a tag stating that she's blind in case she did ever get out, but being a very dignified lady she won't have it. So yes, i do get a little paranoid now she is blind. I never doubted her sense of direction before her disability, but now i would tear myself up thinking about her if i let her out.

[Kirsten]

But i swear that even though she is blind she knows when the front door is open, as if anyone comes to the door she's there and attempting to get out.

Oh yes, I'm sure she can sense it because the sound is different, and the scents, too... It's definitely better to be careful!

Kirsten