I have a couple of inside cats that make a break for it
when the door is open for a split second too long.

I got in the habit of making loud noises and slapping a book
or paper when I was ready to go out. Kind of conditioned some
of them to run the other way when the door opened but there
are still "jail break" attempts.

We have 3 black cats and one of the two indoor-outdoor cats (came as strays, can't convert them ) is black too. Sometimes
the inside black female gets let out due to mistaken identity (usually the outdoor boy cat has on a red collar). I swear she knows how to impersonate his walk and takes full advantage. She has been out for a few hours at a time and then waltzes right back in.

Once they have tasted the outdoors it is doubly hard to dissuade
them from trying it again.

I suggest doing everything they hate as soon as you head for the door. Loud noises and squirts from the water gun if they even get anywhere near to the door. I used to now and then hold one of my cats securely and step outside just as a loud car or truck went by then make all kinds of hissy, scary noises along with it then quick take them back in and let them run for safety.

Kind of Pavlov conditioning to associate being outside that door
with noisy, frightening things.

Best of luck with yours.

Petsitter Ang

[ Reply To This Message ] [ Subscribe to this Thread ] [ Show Entire Thread ]