How to react/behave after my cat ran away?

Hi,

I’m new here, I hope this post isn’t inappropriate or unwanted. I’m really just looking for advice from fellow pet owners.

Brief history; I’m a 30yo girl, live in a small town in England. Me and my partner have had our beautiful rescue cat for just under 2 years. He’s a 7 year old pedigree British short hair. When we adopted him we were informed that he has NEVER been let out, and is an indoor cat. Fine.

We have an enclosed, walled back yard so we let him out there, he loves to sit and watch and imitate the birds, and play with bugs and flies etc. But we only let him out in the yard while we have our back door open and we’re keeping an eye on him. He loves it, and as soon as we call him he comes running in.

This last week, however, he has escaped out the front door twice. The first time I wasn’t too worried and tempted him home quickly with his favourite toy.

Tonight, however, he ran off and has been gone for nearly two hours. I’ve literally JUST got him in after a long game of cat & mouse with all sorts of food and treats and me squidging under cars in my Christmas onesie. It’s really stressed me out and I don’t know how to react to him. How do I show him that this isn’t right? Am I being cruel? He has only ever had one other owner from, and like I said, that owner said he has NEVER been out, ever. So he has no experience or street smarts. We live on a very quiet side road but only about 50 yards off the main road. When I was at Uni I had a cat who was killed by being run over which broke my heart. I’ve always grown up with “outdoor” cats, so I don’t think I’m being over sensitive with my current cat, but he’s a pedigree, he’s pretty daft and I repeat he has no experience outdoors.

So how do I respond to my beautiful cat now? How do I teach him that he mustn’t go out and run away? I don’t want to reward him, now he’s home, and of course I don’t want to punish him. I’m scared he’ll keep trying to run away now he thinks it’s a game.

Obligatory apologies for the long/rambling post. Any insight would be really gratefully appreciated.

Meow

submitted by /u/ItsOnYourTray
[link] [comments]

from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/agdhgi/how_to_reactbehave_after_my_cat_ran_away/