How Do I Stop My Indoor Cat From Escaping?

You can stop your indoor cat from escaping by distracting him before you leave or by adding barriers that make it hard for him to dash. It is also good to get yourself in the habit of always knowing where your cat is before you open a door so he can’t surprise you and dart out. Taking these steps will help your cat stay safely indoors without escaping.

Create A Barrier 

There are many different ways to create a barrier that will disable your cat from escaping. The right solution for you depends on your home. Here are some things you could try:

• Blocking the front door entrance: If there is a door you can close to keep your cat away from the door you will be exiting, this is an easy solution. Some homes simply do not have this option.

• Create a barricade: Choose something that your cat can not easily jump over or slip through. You can do this with 36″ or higher folding metal/wire dog exercise pens or extra-tall baby gates or playpens, like the walk through kind designed for stairs.

• Create a "kitty lock" door: If you’re lucky, your home may already have a hallway or entrance with doors you can keep closed, but you can also build one. If you have a front porch, you could build a second door around that. You could also install a secondary interior door. This may be a more expensive option, but it works 100% of the time as long as one door is closed before opening another. 

Allow For Safe Outdoor Time 

• A small investment in an outdoor enclosure gives your cat a safe space where he can enjoy fresh air and sunlight. Enclosures are available in many sizes and configurations, so it’s easy to find one that is perfect for your pet. Check out this article from one of our staff members who built her foster cats a "catio"!

• If you can’t take your cat outside, giving them a wall-mounted shelf by a window can be similarly effective. If you go this route, just make sure that you have secure screens – if you can push on a screen and pop it out, so can your cat. 

Distract and Dash 

• Try keeping treats by the door for when you are about to leave. Get your cat’s attention and throw the treats as far away from the door as possible. Then, slip out the door as quickly as possible.

• If your cat tries to escape when you are entering the house, you can also leave treats right outside of your door to give your cat as you are coming in. 

Keeping your cat safe is the first priority, which is why all cats should be microchipped and registered with up-to-date information. That way, should your cat escape, he’ll have the best chance of being reunited with you.