Dear Critter Corner: My cat has been an escape artist all of his life, and might I add a very determined door dasher since he was a kitten! He is an indoor cat but does really like being outside to sunbathe. He will wait by the door and zoom past me as soon as I open it. I am not comfortable letting him outside of the house when I am not able to supervise, since we live in a high traffic area where cars are always driving too fast when passing by our house. Do you have any tips on how to keep my cat from door dashing or any safer alternatives that would allow him to safely spend some time outdoors?
Cats are naturally curious, which oftentimes can cause them to get into things or go to places where they are not supposed to be. I would suggest continuing to stay vigilant when you are opening any doors and possibly setting up a couple of barriers to restrict access to the door. You can also try clicker training with your cat and use that as a tool to help move your kitty away from the door by having him follow a target instead of the open door.
Catios can be another great tool to use for cats who enjoy being outdoors – without all of the potential dangers! The term “catio” refers to an enclosed outdoor space that can provide multiple types of mental and physical stimulation for your cat. It can give your kitty a safe place to explore and practice normal cat behaviors. You can also add in a couple of perches and spots where your kitty can bask in the sun and take a nice nap. The great thing is that you can customize the catio to suit your cat’s specific preferences.
Not all cats like to be outside, so it is important that you slowly introduce your kitty to the catio and allow him to enter for as long or as little as he wants. As he acclimates to his new surroundings, you can slowly begin increasing the amount of time he is out there!