Rescued and returned a sphynx in January, now owner wants to give it to us.

[NaomiIndelicato]

Hey there!
So January 2017 we heard a cat making awful noises outside (sounded like a baby crying!!!) and went outside to investigate. It was one of our colder nights here in Canada with the temp hitting around -30C (-22 F) so I was very surprised to find a naked kitty under our snow covered deck :jawdrop:!We took him in and loved him for the night until we could find the owners.
Owners were found, kitty returned, all is right in the world again.
Fast forward to today (June 20th) the owner has contacted me asking if we want him because she doesn't have the time he deserves.
WE ARE SO EXCITED! Well, me and the kids are (especially since me and oldest are allergic to cat hair!!) , husband thinks naked cats are creeeeeepy
So I'm sitting here thinking... if this kitty likes to escape... how can I keep him safe?? We have 3 very energetic kids who are in such a rush to go out and play they often forget to close the door
We have temps below zero degrees for 9 months of the year so I'm scared he will escape and freeze to death, or someone will take him (we had our very expensive yorkie puppy escape and someone stole him, I'm assuming to sell him for $$ :cry
Anyway, suggestions are welcome on how to combat this possible issue!
Thanks in advance :happy:

 

[dare2Bbare]

Hey there!
So January 2017 we heard a cat making awful noises outside (sounded like a baby crying!!!) and went outside to investigate. It was one of our colder nights here in Canada with the temp hitting around -30C (-22 F) so I was very surprised to find a naked kitty under our snow covered deck :jawdrop:!We took him in and loved him for the night until we could find the owners.
Owners were found, kitty returned, all is right in the world again.
Fast forward to today (June 20th) the owner has contacted me asking if we want him because she doesn't have the time he deserves.
WE ARE SO EXCITED! Well, me and the kids are (especially since me and oldest are allergic to cat hair!!) , husband thinks naked cats are creeeeeepy
So I'm sitting here thinking... if this kitty likes to escape... how can I keep him safe?? We have 3 very energetic kids who are in such a rush to go out and play they often forget to close the door
We have temps below zero degrees for 9 months of the year so I'm scared he will escape and freeze to death, or someone will take him (we had our very expensive yorkie puppy escape and someone stole him, I'm assuming to sell him for $$ :cry
Anyway, suggestions are welcome on how to combat this possible issue!
Thanks in advance :happy:

This is really awesome! As far as getting out I'd make sure he has a microchip and just teach the kids about door safety? Lyle has gotten out once a year for the past 2 springs!!!! It's because I'm lax about the door rules in the fall/winter since it's cold. They also don't want to keep them open but as soon as spring hits my kids lose their minds and I spend 2 weeks stressing and freaking on them to close doors


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[MaoSphynx]

Why don't you put one of those gates used to keep kids from going to places they can't walk?

 

[Yoda mom]

@NaomiIndelicato , great advice on microchipping
Ome other thing you can do and involve the kids is to train kitty like s dog Using kitty treats .
Pick a spot - chair , etc for kitty to wait for you when you open and close doors.
I put a treat on "the spot" amd they Sicily les r its s good place to wait
I did this with my kitties. For another part of thr house , I put a smart cat climber on the door ..
They actually run and jump on it to wait for a treat when they here me coming .
Also teach the family to open and close doors very slowly .. I gently push kitty bsck from door amd a verbal "ah get back"
In the beginning , I got in the habit of crouching down opening doors slowly to check for kitties .
Now they wait on their spot amd dorm eve. Try to bolt . They will look but I say ah amd they wait for their treats .

As for cold weather , they are hest seekers . They won't freeze ..Many find throw blankets around the house keeps them warm enough.

I personally don't put sweaters on them because om of mine got her nail stuck on the sweater and got tangled nearly falling from on top of the head board bridge . Glad I was home.
So mine run naked without collars , microchipped . Had a kitty get bottom jaw stuck in collar so I don't judge them.

There are members that can recommend cold weather options and quality break away collars .

I would make it a family affair

Keep us updated
** if you do microchip please remember to actually call the company amd pay thr registration fee so they are In the system amd update regularly with any new cell phone numbers .
I use Homeagain microchip brand because I can manage my account online and add photos amd they have an email alert system.

*I pay a one time registration fee for life thst is in addition to the microchipping fee that does not automatically register them . It is a separate fee.
Homeagain has an option for email alerts for lost pets .
They do send emails saying you can continue to pay every year a fee if I want the extra benefits of travel insurance , pet flyers etc. I just wemt with thr ome time registration fee amd confirmed with them they are registered for life even if I opt out of the yearly added fee if I want thr other perks

Here are some, pics of thr smart cat climber

 

[Catzzzmeow]

How exciting! Do you know if it is neutered ? Often intact males try to get out to mate.

 

[celsei]

A few more tricks: having a spray bottle in front of the outside door and opening just a crack first to see if there's a kitty, if so spray through the crack and close the door and wait a second (you want them to associate the spray with the door not you so they understand it's a dangerous/unpleasant place) or a can of compressed air for the sound (don't direct it at them).

Also I like to hold my handbag down at their level as I open the door which blocks them and I can gently push them out of the way with it.

Most reliable/easy ways for kids also are either a baby gate in front of the door (they are able to climb/jump over it but it'll slow them down enough to prevent an insant slinky run between your legs when you open door) or better yet making a double door with a screen door with enough space behind you to close the real door before opening the screen door. If it's possible to entirely keep them out of the hallway/have a screen door blocking that off that's great also.

It'll also help if you train them to come to you when you call/stay at your stay, easy with treats, so that even if they do get out they'll be easier to retrieve.

I think they're most likely to escape when they're bored/not getting enough attention or entertainment though so maybe that's why they were such an escape artist. Walks/outside enclosure/catio/cat proofed garden helps get their outside time in a safe way.

 

[BlueJune]

You are one lucky mate! You are just going to have to reinforce with your kids the importance of closing the door behind them. . . and perhaps invest in a SCAT mat to deter your little naked escape artist from wanting to be around the front door?

A SCAT mat is just a thin, plastic mat that produces a low static shock when stepped on. We had to use one for our Bengal cat to keep him from wandering the kitchen at night and breaking dishes. I woke up several mornings, half awake, ready to make coffee and stepped on it (it just feels like static electricity). After once or twice getting zapped, our Bengal doesn't go near the mat

 

[NaomiIndelicato]

Why don't you put one of those gates used to keep kids from going to places they can't walk?

Wouldn't he just jump it?

 

[NaomiIndelicato]

This is really awesome! As far as getting out I'd make sure he has a microchip and just teach the kids about door safety? Lyle has gotten out once a year for the past 2 springs!!!! It's because I'm lax about the door rules in the fall/winter since it's cold. They also don't want to keep them open but as soon as spring hits my kids lose their minds and I spend 2 weeks stressing and freaking on them to close doors


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I sooo wish we had one of those metal storm door things that close on their own instead of a sliding door! Ugh! I do try to warn the kids about leaving doors open and letting the butthole wasps in but the 3 year old doesn't really care haha.

 

[NaomiIndelicato]

How exciting! Do you know if it is neutered ? Often intact males try to get out to mate.

When we had him at our house he was not neutered, but we do plan on doing that once we get him

 

[NaomiIndelicato]

You are one lucky mate! You are just going to have to reinforce with your kids the importance of closing the door behind them. . . and perhaps invest in a SCAT mat to deter your little naked escape artist from wanting to be around the front door?

A SCAT mat is just a thin, plastic mat that produces a low static shock when stepped on. We had to use one for our Bengal cat to keep him from wandering the kitchen at night and breaking dishes. I woke up several mornings, half awake, ready to make coffee and stepped on it (it just feels like static electricity). After once or twice getting zapped, our Bengal doesn't go near the mat

I've never heard of one of those before!!! Maybe it'll also deter my youngest from venturing outside as well hahaha I'm definitely going to get one!

 

[Hairless Blessing]

Welcome to sphynxlair, good to have you.
Sphynx, are very smart and easily trained.
I, would, keep the doors locked, where, they, can't open
them, without your help. The 3 yr old, anyway.
If, you, have older children, tell them, they, can't go out, without,
you watching the cat.

 

[Sheldon13]

I am so excited for you! Another thought is to have a little area with a heated mat and a blanket outside in a place your baby knows (take him out on a leash to show him about once monthly). Then, if you can't find your kitty you can go turn it on just in case so he has a place to survive until you can find him.


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[Catzzzmeow]

Once you get him neutered it should help a lot. Kudos to you for doing it as soon as you get him. The last thing you need is spraying or other behavioral problems. I also recommend hanging something on the doorknob to remind the humans of the house to look as they exit/enter the house...it helps to bring awareness.

 

[cleozmama]

Everyone has such great ideas! You can also train them to only go out when someone carries them out.

 

[Zyra]

I know it can be hard with kids as they tend to bound around a lot like kittens - but we make sure Nietzsche is upstairs before we open the front door as he too likes to make bids for freedom (he tends to come straight back one he realizes nobody is following him though, clingy kitty, haha).

I used to have a problem with him going out of the window, also. However, I let him up there with a harness and leash a few times and after that the novelty must have worn off as he never tries to go out of the window anymore. Perhaps you could try this at your door?