Does anyone else with indoor cats know this fear?

[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.

[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.

[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