How to train your cat/kitten to NOT try to go out the door?

There is absolutely nothing inhumane about squirting a cat with a water bottle. It's water, not mace. You can't train a cat like a dog, with simple commands. Dogs are pack animals, and their nature is to please their leader. Cats are solitary wild animals, and their nature is to please themselves. Cats get trained by showing them "good things will happen if you do this" and "bad things will happen if you do that".

Kittens are naturally curious, bold, and frisky. They will be as bad as you allow them to be! Thankfully, the wildness tends to subside as they grow up.

I have a 14 week old kitten right now myself, and she can drive me NUTS, doing behaviors over and over and over, no matter how many times you hiss, yell, etc lol. It's part of being a kitten!

My kitten is also determined to see what's outside the apartment door. I usually just make sure she's not near the door when I go out, and often sticking your foot in their faces while using a loud noise like "Ahhh!!!" can do the trick, and make them hesitate long enough for you to slip out. But if they're determined to make a mad dash for freedom, the water bottle/squirt gun trick might be the best. I wouldn't just douse them with water if they aren't actually trying to get out. But give them a good, loud "NO" if they start for the door, and if they ignore you, spray em with another loud "NO". Eventually they'll learn that hearing you say "NO" means they'd better stop what they're doing right away, and you won't need to use water anymore. As someone said above, soon all you'll need to do is show them that water bottle, and they'll run!

My dear little kitten gets wet quite often these days, while climbing my wicker shelves, the window screens, trying to climb into the refrigerator, etc. We love her to pieces, and she's spoiled rotten, but sometimes a little spritz is required to get her attention, lol.

And I agree, a shock mat is what sounds cruel, not a gentle spritz of water!!

Good luck!

Your space is fine for a cat. You just want to make sure the cat has plenty to do. Get toys, and maybe even a window perch where the cat can watch what is going on outside. And you are doing the right thing keeping your cat indoors, not just because of the traffic, but for lots of reasons--they can be poisoned, mauled by dogs, catch diseases, etc. I would adopt an ADULT cat. The reason is, shelters have a lot harder time placing cats older than 3. They are much more likely to be euthanized. Even adopting an adult off Craigslist is a good idea for these reasons: you are busy and adult cats don't need as much attention as kittens. The cat's personality will already be apparent, so you will know what to expect. And you can adopt a cat that is used to being an only cat. One thing you do have to think about--can you really afford a cat? You need to be prepared to pay for vet care. One option is to look into pet insurance. It's not terribly expensive, and will help in an emergency. I have my cat insured with Pets Best and they are great. Good luck!

My kitten always tried to run out the door and I got an empty spray bottle and filled it with water. If she was sitting there or made a run for the door I would spray her. It worked really well, now if she is on the entertainment center (where she shouldn't be) all I have to do is say her name and point the spray bottle at her and she gets down

This might sound a little mean but it isn't.

Stand outside your door with a squirt gun, open the door a crack and wait for the cats curiosity to bring it to the door. Squirt..

Do this a couple of times - they will get the idea that outside isn't a great place. Cats seem to forget after a few months.

i just read some of the answers to this question...About the Shock mats (Scat mats), after reading how they work,,,seems like it delivers an electronic shock to anything that touches the mat, like my child, my own bare feet..i don't think i would use one of these...

As far as the squirt bottles, i think my kitten likes to be wet, does not really bother her much...

What she does not like is the empty soda can with a few pennies shook at her, that gets her attention and I say NO or GO...might want to try that and see what happens,,,make sure to keep the can behind your back so kitty cant see it when u shake it..

Spraying them with water (but they can't know YOU did it) is the best suggestion I have. I don't think it is cruel at all. I think shocking them is a ridiculous idea and THAT sounds cruel to me.

I don't know, I have 6 cats and the only thing that works for me is to open the door just enough to squeeze myself through, waving my foot in their eager little faces the whole time and trying to keep them back!

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get a shock matt. it is not cruel by any means but it gives them like a carpet static shock when going near it or actually touch it. my cat kept jumping on the counters and this actually worked and it was safe. but good luck with a frisky cat wanting to go out side. They will only have that on their minds when they see a opportunity and it's hard to really keep them in . but safety is the issue so try the carpet/matt. you can get it at a pet store

what i do with ur cat is when they go outside is pick them up... put ur face up to theirs and strongly and firmly say no no no and shake ur finger in there face and tap there nose very very lightly... or tap there butt ONLY there their butt. then put them on the floor and walk away and ignore them for about 15 min or so no matter how much they want ur attention... after 15 min has went by let them come to u and give them ur love... that is how i have been training my cat... it works for everything that they do wrong... my friend who works with animals showed me this technique and it is awesome...

well if its not fixed yet it will still go outside to find a mate but if you get a spraying water bottle and wet his/her head every time it goes outside the door i will stop in a period of time

P.S use cold cold cold water