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Komodo accidently got out one day a few weeks ago when a door was left open and now he seeks ANY oppurtunity to get out. He even goes so far as to push open our screen door if one of the kids didnt shut it tight. We have been trying very hard to make sure all doors are shut tight but with kids going in and out often and neighbor kids coming and going I know its only a matter of time. Thankfully he has always returned within about 20 minutes of getting out. **Once i realize he is out i block open the door so he can come back in** He waltzes back in like nothing at all in the world is wrong.

Any advice other then the continuing watch of the doors? He now carries a tag with our addy and phone number just in case.

Both Bentley and Finster went through this...Bentley found a hole in my first house's screened porch and kept escaping...took us a little while to figure it out and fix it...then he slipped through the door one night while we were letting the dogs in...unfortunately for him, we didn't notice until a few hours later and it was pouring rain outside...needless to say we found him cowering by the door soaking wet...he never tried to get out again...

Fin, on the other hand slipped out three days in a row when we first moved into the new house...luckily he didn't venture into either neighbor's yards...they both have Mastiffs...and after a couple of weeks he lost interest in trying to escape...

Hopefully Komodo will also lose interest and realize he is much better off on the inside...

I think you should plan a suprise for him. Have someone wait outside the door and then you open the door. When the cat runs out, have the outdoor person spray them with a water bottle, clap hands saying no, or whatever you think would work best. Getting out can be seriously bad for your cat, so I'd try to train him as best as you can not to go outside. We live in the city with lots of stray cats, being outside even for a short time would be very dangerous for our boys. Riker was sooo bad. We had to have my husband outside with water and I would open the door. Riker ran out and I think we only managed to get his tail slighlty wet but that was enough for him. He still would like to go out, but now he doesn't cross the threshold of the door.
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Ms KC

yep, i have a little water spray bottle that i used to keep by the front door....if anyone tried to make a break for it, i'd squirt the ground and they'd back off. it's a good technique.

Thanks guys...great ideas! Thankfully the very wet weather and impending cold seems to have changed his mind. He doesnt run out the door when anyone is around...he will only do so slowly and cautiously when no one is looking. I only caught him doing it once cause I was really hiding! So far he hasnt gotten back out...but we are VERY cautious!

Well, that's one problem I don't have. Neither Emily nor Eddie appears to understand that there IS an outside. I had the window in my office open a few weeks ago. A sparrow landed on the screen and sat there, cheeping and looking around. Eddie opened one eye, glanced toward the window, and went back to sleep. Emily didn't even bother to look...

(Or maybe they just know how good they have it on the inside!)

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>Thanks guys...great ideas! Thankfully the very wet weather and impending cold seems to have changed his mind. He doesnt run out the door when anyone is around...he will only do so slowly and cautiously when no one is looking. I only caught him doing it once cause I was really hiding! So far he hasnt gotten back out...but we are VERY cautious!