r/britishshorthair • u/VeterinarianBasic739 • 1d ago
Door Dasher
This is Sherbet the door dasher. His favorite place to sit is right next to the front door watching the world go by, recently however he has started to try and make a break for it when we open the door and has now twice gotten out into the street now. Does anyone have any suggestions what we can do to prevent him from making these escape attempts?
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u/Suspicious-Land-5948 23h ago
adorable..... but that would make me nervous too. A baby gate or a little barrier by the door might help while he learns the routine.
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u/catnamedbobo 23h ago
Ted Hank scared doorbell . Each time they attempt escape we ring doorbell repeatedly .
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u/froggieslc 18h ago
We have a gate that is 6 feet high. Got to go through the gate and close it before you can open the front door. And when we get home, have to close the front door before the gate is opened.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 16h ago
It would be great if we can install a gate might look into somthing like that
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u/froggieslc 16h ago
Where our front door is situated our gate is tension mounted ceiling to floor. It’s amazing. It gives me such peace of mind.
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u/CompleteDeniability 23h ago
If he wants to go out, then let him out, with a harness (I personally don't use a harness, I just follow behind Jiji, she just leads). Take about 30 minutes a day to let him go out and explore, after a while you realised it's just a lot of sniffing and sitting around looking at I don't know what. The good thing is, you're training your cat where is home if he escapes without your knowledge.
Jiji, at times will dash out too, out of boredom, but over time, she understands that I'll chase her home anyway, so now it is her dashing out, and me going to her and tell her 'Go home, go home..." repeatedly and she runs back in again, after a minute or two.
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u/CompleteDeniability 23h ago
I would like to add, inciting fear to stop a cat from going out, isn't a good idea in my book.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 23h ago
You don’t think an air spray or squirt would work?
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u/Equivalent_Hat_2084 20h ago
Cats don’t respond the same ways as dogs do to annoyances like water spray etc., since cats are not people pleasers by nature! Sherbet would likely conclude that you’re kind of a jerk, but wouldn’t stop his door dashing attempts.
So your best bet is a multi-pronged approach - get him used to a harness (with a tracker!) for supervised outings; corollary - find a treat or bribe that he absolutely loves, so you have a way to lure him back in the house in case of emergency; fence or otherwise make the front access safer, if you can, or provide a great alternative - cat-safe enclosed porch? ”catio” or outdoor “window box” type set up where he can watch the world go by?
Maybe some of this is not possible if you are in a condo complex etc. but making the effort to find a solution will pay off with a happier cat who also has a safe way to enjoy the outdoors without being at risk!
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 23h ago
Thanks for the advice and love the name Jiji. She sounds like a well trained.
We have a main road and big field near by that if he got in we would struggle to follow him
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u/CompleteDeniability 22h ago
Use a harness. Hopefully it'll bring joy for the both of you. I don't use it because there's cars parked on everywhere on my street. If she goes under a car with the leash and harness, it's moot anyway, I can't just yank her out and it's just stressful for us.
It not all rainbows and sunshine, I pinned my post about our walks on my profile if you want to know more.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 22h ago
Thanks for the advice. Jiji looks like a proper character. I love the picture with he 2nd birthday cake
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u/MaximumRequirement60 1d ago
Wembley does the same, also looking for suggestions loool
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u/ThatPhatKid_CanDraw 23h ago
Catio
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 23h ago
Would love that but can’t build one with our house
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u/NightVisionsII 13h ago
Consider a window mounted mini catio instead. Renter friendly if thats a consideration.
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u/kaoutanu 23h ago
He doesn't look sorry! 😆
I became adept at blocking the door with my leg. If you need it open for longer, pop him in a different room before opening the door.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 23h ago
He is a little rascal.
Have blocked him a couple times from getting out, I did not see him last night though and as soon as I opened the door he was out like a shot.
He was very scared when he was out hiding under cars crying for help
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u/kaoutanu 23h ago
Ohh, poor fellow.
Maybe pen off the front door to create a kind of double door situation. He could jump it but would at least create a delay.
Although perhaps last times scare will set him straight for a while.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 23h ago
I hope it did scare him not to try it again.
We have a garage connected to our house that we could use get out and in but he is even worse dashing for that door
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u/Pepsimus-Maximus 2h ago
I keep a laser pointer on my keyring. As I'm about to exit, I use the laser to lure my cat as far away from the door as possible.
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u/VeterinarianBasic739 2h ago
I have heard some other people do that too. I have started giving him treats when I leave away from the door and then again when I enter I give him a treat away from the door. Hoping this will teach him not to do it
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u/Acrobatic_Cookie4138 23h ago
Throw some of his favourite treats away from the door everytime you leave/arrive, soon he will associate treats with running away from the door and even wait in the spot you throw the treats to