I've had my cat, DJ, for about 8 months. I got him when he was about 6 months old. He has been mostly indoors only. However, he would yowl at the door so I began leash training him. We now go on walks daily. I have tried to get him to obey come commands, but he has never listened when outdoors. He is neutered.
I live in a bungalow behind my parent's house. DJ and I frequently both houses. I usually carry him, occasionally he'll walk on his own. I allow him to spend time in the backyard whilst secured to a long leash (30ft). But hes usually disinterested in the yard during the daytime, and will only pace a few steps, sniff a few things before flopping over for a nap.
Recently, I went on a camping trip and foolishly left DJ in the care of my parents. DJ escaped three times in 3 days. All 3 times were for long periods of time >4hours. One of which was overnight. Each time, he returned home, meowing at the door, or slipping through our patio door screen.
Since I've returned, I have noticed DJ increasingly eager to escape. When he gets out during the daytime, he will scurry out end of the driveway, where I think he is spooked by cars, allowing me to retrieve him.
However he has now run off twice in the last 4 nights. And in the silence and cover of darkness, he escaped my vision (damn you, crappy phone light). I have no idea where he goes. I'm not super worried, but I do get a little anxious knowing there are many other cats, some intact tomcats, in my neighborhood. My main concern is him getting struck by a car, or attacked by a dog/raccoon. Fortunately he is quite afraid of cars, so I think he stays out of the streets (based on his behavior on our walks)
Now that backstory is out of the way. How can I, if its even possible, keep DJ from wanting to escape? I get that he wants to go outside. I feel I am mostly at fault for walking him in our neighborhood, which I'm sure he is now quite familiar and comfortable with. But is there really any true deterrent to this? Or must I simply keep a more watchful eye on him at all times?
edit 1: forgot to add he is neutered. Ever since I got him, I left a pet fence that surrounds my bungalow entrance. DJ up until the last week, was perfectly content with sitting right outside my door, within the confines of the fence. He would mostly sit and hunt for bugs. Even after he learned he could leap over said fence, he would only leap over when going to the Big House or returning to the bungalow.
edit 2: I found DJ a few houses down. He would not come when called, but he knew it was me. He approached, keeping about 10ft distance. I sat and waited for him to come closer, but he eventually darted off and I ended up having to follow him around a few houses before cornering him in my neighbor's yard (he often mistakes their driveway as our own on walks). He seemed happy I was there, but also seemingly afraid of me at the same time.
But, as I was carrying him home, he tried to leap out of my arms, and I grabbed him by one of his hind legs. He did not like this as he immediately curled up and bit me, hard, on my hand. By far the hardest he has ever bit me. It was a bloody mess. DJ is back home, and quickly back to his normal cuddly self. My thumb and hand is pretty swollen but its superficial.
A happy ending tonight, but I would still like to solve this problem. I have two theories: DJ wanting to hang out with other cats in the neighborhood (he tries to approach other cats while on walks), or he wants to hunt. My guess to a solution is more playing time.
edit 3: Adding a few cat tax photos
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/hj6w6s/cat_keeps_running_off_into_the_night_can_i_stop/
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