Almost lost the cat today, he got outside.....

Was cleaning the kitchen ceiling with anmonia and had the door open to vent the fumes. The cat never showed much interest in the outdoors, so didn't think of that. Well, he got outside unobserved. Just as I noticed the absence of the cat, my brother finds him at the outside of the kitchen door. We live on a busy traffic road.....

I fed the cat when he came in, to give him the idea that coming back is a good idea if he should get out again. And more petting and such. The cat seemed a bit distressed by the whole incident.

Have to tighten up cat security around here.

My semi-feral Izzebelle got out about two weeks ago. I was going in with my bicycle and she snuck out. This was the first time since I got her about two years ago. She got scared and went up a tree. She stayed there all night and was still there when I came home the next night. When I would call out her name she would meow back. Later that night she came down but she would not let me near her. She would just back off. The next morning I could here her if I called out her name. That evening the same thing. I finally left the back door open with some food inside. After waiting for an hour she came in and I ran out the front door to shut the back door. When I tried to get near her she would still run away. After about an hour I could get near her. The next morning she was back to her own self. Now I am more careful when I came in.

<Was cleaning the kitchen ceiling with anmonia and had the door open to vent the fumes. The cat never showed much interest in the outdoors, so didn't think of that. Well, he got outside unobserved. Just as I noticed the absence of the cat, my brother finds him at the outside of the kitchen door. We live on a busy traffic road....>

You say your cat never showed much interest in the outdoors? Does that mean that he didn't ever stick his nose and sniff the outside air when someone opened the door? attempt to get out when someone opened the door? stare outside when by an open window and become interested in an outside activity such as a bird landing or taking off? Has your cat ever refused to go through an open door? If he has NOT refused to go through a door, what gave you the impression he'd stay inside? <just curious...especially, since you state that you 'live in a busy traffic road.' I live in a 4th floor apartment and I discourage my cat from going in the hall. My cat does show an interest. He's by a window at least 50% of the time looking out. Also, by keeping the door open, you invite (the more bold) outside creatures inside.

<The cat seemed a bit distressed by the whole incident.>

Yes, an encounter with cars wizzing back and forth would be distressing. Perhaps, next time, you'd sequester the cat - that is, put the cat in the bedroom temporarily. This way, you're not only keeping cat in/others out, you'd be keeping the cat from the fumes. You are very lucky the incident was

You know it! I'll put the cat in a bedroom and close that door when I have to leave an outside door open again.

<Yes, an encounter with cars wizzing back and forth would be distressing. Perhaps, next time, you'd sequester the cat - that is, put the cat in the bedroom temporarily. This way, you're not only keeping cat in/others out, you'd be keeping the cat from the fumes. You are very lucky the incident was uneventful.>

<<You know it! I'll put the cat in a bed- room and close that door when I have to leave an outside door open again.>>

Don't let time dull the importance of this lesson. Always remember that it could've turned out worse!