cats and new pet door

how about keeping your cat indoors so they do not get hit by cars.


"snydley" <snydley2REMOVETHIS.RemoveThis@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
news:469449a2$0$4717$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and
> are trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open
> for them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are either
> scared or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on how to
> train these guys to use it?
> Thanks,
> Snyde
>
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

"SantaSteeler" <hemi16.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:_Nednf986aeZwwnbnZ2dnUVZ_rGinZ2d@suscom.com...
> how about keeping your cat indoors so they do not get hit by cars.

Because they live on a farm where there aren't any cars for miles in any
direction?
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

snydley wrote:
> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and are
> trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open for
> them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are either scared
> or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on how to train these
> guys to use it?
> Thanks,
> Snyde
>
>
If it is a cat flap, I propped the flap open for a week or so till they
got used to going through the 'hole' After they knew they could go
through, the plastic flap was not such a threat.

Astrog
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

>> how about keeping your cat indoors so they do not get hit by cars.


>
>Because they live on a farm where there aren't any cars for miles in any
>direction?
>


What about predastors (Animals) ?!?!?




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 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

"kraut" <NewsGroupsPlease.TakeThisOut@NewsGroupsPlease.org> wrote in message
news:b8m993pmu96bsetpvjf6ul8mqdjcknkhh5@4ax.com...
>
>
>>> how about keeping your cat indoors so they do not get hit by cars.
>
>
>>
>>Because they live on a farm where there aren't any cars for miles in any
>>direction?
>>
>
>
> What about predastors (Animals) ?!?!?
>
Well, once I considered checking myself into a padded cell, so I would never
have to worry about being hurt in any way. but then, I was told that someday
I would still die, because my body's ability to renew cells would gradually
go away. So, I decided to take my chances and enjoy what life I had rather
than live a long, miserable life trapped in a padded cell.
The point is that there is a trade off in almost everything in
life.....You can live on the edge of disaster every minute, and probably die
young, or you can live as conservatively as possible and live a long, boring
life. It is impossible to know for sure which lifestyle your cats would
prefer, but since they are not aware that death awaits them eventually, my
guess is that the more freedom they have, the better they are going to like
it. So that's the way my cats live....but, you may decide that your cats are
better off trapped inside the house....And, ultimately, the circumstances
dictate which is better, don't they?....After all, if you live in an
apartment building in downtown NYC, your outside cats probability of
surviving more than an hour or so is pretty bad. But, if you live on a farm,
his probability of living a long, enjoyable life is quite good..........Can
he be eaten by a coyote? - Sure, but that was true long before the first
human being walked on this earth, too....If you are unhappy about things
like that, they consider blaming God.......He made the rules, not
us........:^)
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

William Graham wrote:
> "snydley" <snydley2REMOVETHIS.RemoveThis@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:469449a2$0$4717$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and
>> are trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open
>> for them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are either
>> scared or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on how to
>> train these guys to use it?
>> Thanks,
>> Snyde
> Simple. When a cat wants out, pick him up and push him through the cat door.
> When they want back in, go out another door, and then pick them up and
> thrust them through the cat door the other way.....It won't take them long
> before they learn to do it themselves.......
>
>

you hope or they could expect you to do that all the time ;)

just leave a treat on the otherside of the door?
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

"Little Hawk" <star-walker.RemoveThis@Cookieshaw.ca> wrote in message
news:y4ali.106345$1i1.124@pd7urf3no...
> William Graham wrote:
>> "snydley" <snydley2REMOVETHIS.RemoveThis@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
>> news:469449a2$0$4717$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and
>>> are trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open
>>> for them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are
>>> either scared or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on
>>> how to train these guys to use it?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Snyde
>> Simple. When a cat wants out, pick him up and push him through the cat
>> door. When they want back in, go out another door, and then pick them up
>> and thrust them through the cat door the other way.....It won't take them
>> long before they learn to do it themselves.......
>
> you hope or they could expect you to do that all the time ;)
>
> just leave a treat on the otherside of the door?

Oh yeah....They will never actually LIKE using the cat door.....It's always
preferable to have a human doorman at your disposal......:^)
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

High five Bill. I too live in a rural area - not a farm - and the cats my
parents and I have all been allowed outside. Admittedly, my parents (in
another town, a tourist area) lost the last two, Siameses' Snowball and
Blizzard, in a hit and run on their blind street corner, the other one,
killed by stray dogs. Aggrieved, they'll never get another. But in the time
they had each other, they each were very happy.
My second last, Bear, preferred to be indoors, and I respected the choice.
He eventaully died after a fairly long life. Renal failure. I found him
after his food seemed untouched hiding away downstairs, slow and listless. I
brought him up, brought everything he needed close, laid sheets on the floor
so I could sleep next to him on the floor and keep him warm.Which he peed on
but not his fault Needless to say, I had taken him to the vet when I first
noticed. When the electrolytes given weren't helping over time, I brought
him in and stayed with him to be euthenized.
I wouldn't want to let a cat out in the city. But in a non-urban area,
they're healthier, happier, and not feral. . My current, a tabby, 'Taboo'
loves climbing trees, chasing crickets, laying in the sun. (Has his
up-to-date shots of course) And has a healthy respect for the sound of
motors. Arguing danger on the premise of what-ifs, that sounds like my
maternal grandmother, who had her regularly used saw "You never know". Which
sounds like a good reason for staying safely in bed all day.
As I once read on a poster at school back in the good ol' days.:
* Don't look-you might see
* Don't listen-you might hear
* Don't think-you might learn
* Don't make a decision-you might be wrong
* Don't walk-you might fall
* Don't run-you might stumble
* Don't change-you might grow
* Don't live-you might die

Ah, frell. Pet door. Me, I'm thinking of having a thick string going through
the door. Let 'em see the string, chase it, and follow it though the door.
Playtime reward. But I'm sure he'll use it when he's motivated.

> >
> Well, once I considered checking myself into a padded cell, so I would
never
> have to worry about being hurt in any way. but then, I was told that
someday
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

"Yojimbo" <yojimbo39.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:Cmjli.12801$Oz7.11067@newsfe19.lga...
> High five Bill. I too live in a rural area - not a farm - and the cats my
> parents and I have all been allowed outside. Admittedly, my parents (in
> another town, a tourist area) lost the last two, Siameses' Snowball and
> Blizzard, in a hit and run on their blind street corner, the other one,
> killed by stray dogs. Aggrieved, they'll never get another. But in the
> time
> they had each other, they each were very happy.
> My second last, Bear, preferred to be indoors, and I respected the choice.
> He eventaully died after a fairly long life. Renal failure. I found him
> after his food seemed untouched hiding away downstairs, slow and listless.
> I
> brought him up, brought everything he needed close, laid sheets on the
> floor
> so I could sleep next to him on the floor and keep him warm.Which he peed
> on
> but not his fault Needless to say, I had taken him to the vet when I
> first
> noticed. When the electrolytes given weren't helping over time, I brought
> him in and stayed with him to be euthenized.
> I wouldn't want to let a cat out in the city. But in a non-urban area,
> they're healthier, happier, and not feral. . My current, a tabby, 'Taboo'
> loves climbing trees, chasing crickets, laying in the sun. (Has his
> up-to-date shots of course) And has a healthy respect for the sound of
> motors. Arguing danger on the premise of what-ifs, that sounds like my
> maternal grandmother, who had her regularly used saw "You never know".
> Which
> sounds like a good reason for staying safely in bed all day.
> As I once read on a poster at school back in the good ol' days.:
> * Don't look-you might see
> * Don't listen-you might hear
> * Don't think-you might learn
> * Don't make a decision-you might be wrong
> * Don't walk-you might fall
> * Don't run-you might stumble
> * Don't change-you might grow
> * Don't live-you might die
>
> Ah, frell. Pet door. Me, I'm thinking of having a thick string going
> through
> the door. Let 'em see the string, chase it, and follow it though the door.
> Playtime reward. But I'm sure he'll use it when he's motivated.

Yes....Our feral cat, (Smokey) didn't know how to use the cat door, and
picking him up and shoving him through it was dangerous....So, I tied a
string to the sliding glass door that butted up against the cat door
section, and waited until he was inside eating, and then pulled the string,
trapping him inside....He ran back into the house (where he frequently went
in the middle of the night anyway) and then, about 10 minutes later, he came
running like a streak, and ran right through the cat door and outside! - He
never had any trouble using it after that, but he still tends to grab the
flap with his claws when he's outside and wants in, and pulls it toward him
to get in.
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

I had the same problem but found if I crawl through a few times on my hands
and knees they follow me through.
Try it.

-- Rev. Dr.Bifford B. Biffington
-- They X-Rayed my head and found nothing.

http://biffstoejam.com/paypal.html


"snydley" <snydley2REMOVETHIS.TakeThisOut@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
news:469449a2$0$4717$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and
are
> trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open for
> them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are either
scared
> or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on how to train
these
> guys to use it?
> Thanks,
> Snyde
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door 

If you can fit through a cat pet door, you are either a magician, or really
really tiny ;-)

Our cats refuse to use the door we put in so they can get to the basement.
If the flap is down, no go! We keep the flap up and they use it all the
time. I know that's not an option for you, and I hope the other suggestions
work for you.

Oh, and to the people who say the cats should not go out....Maybe they have
a sunroom, or a screened porch, or a covered deck. Not everyone is as
irresponsible as you seem to think.

Chris

"revbiff" <biff.RemoveThis@biff.biff> wrote in message
news:01f914b1$0$15522$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>I had the same problem but found if I crawl through a few times on my hands
> and knees they follow me through.
> Try it.
>
> -- Rev. Dr.Bifford B. Biffington
> -- They X-Rayed my head and found nothing.
>
> http://biffstoejam.com/paypal.html
>
>
> "snydley" <snydley2REMOVETHIS.RemoveThis@stny.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:469449a2$0$4717$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> We just installed a pet door in our sliding glass door's screen door and
> are
>> trying to get our cats to use it with no success. If we hold it open for
>> them we can get 1 of them to walk through, but the other 3 are either
> scared
>> or confused by it. Can anyone give us any suggestions on how to train
> these
>> guys to use it?
>> Thanks,
>> Snyde
>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: cats and new pet door