Why does my cat hesitate at the doorway when he wants to go out?

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Hello, my cat is lovely, gentle, affectionate and a great hunter; the mice and rats at the farm next door are his pride and joy. He loves being outdoors, and the rain and cold don't bother him at all. Indoors, it’s all cuddles and playtime—I’m truly spoilt by my "landlord." And yes, I live in my cat's house with my cat! But, there is a "but": whenever he wants to go out or come back in, he hesitates on the threshold. He looks left, right, and down, and sniffs the mat before putting a paw down. Even my clogs seem to bother him, even though they've always been there. I stay with him to reassure him, which helps, but there is always a hesitation and sometimes he has little twitches. I’ve had him since he was 14 weeks old and he didn't have this issue then. He’s 5 now, and it has come on gradually, I'd say over the last two years. I’m at home all the time, and we go for long walks of one to two hours a day. He loves climbing trees and is a bit of a daredevil; he isn't afraid of anything or anyone—dogs, cats, horses, goats, and chickens are all his friends. Only the mice and rats have anything to worry about! I would like to understand why he is so apprehensive about the doorway and help him overcome this problem. <\/p>

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2 answers
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    • C
    Chatzen Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, Your post caught my attention as I’ve experienced something similar with a cat I know. When a cat always hesitates in the same spot but isn’t scared anywhere else, I sometimes wonder if it’s more to do with an association than a genuine fear. A change in the environment, a bad experience forgotten by us but not by him, a noise humans can't hear, or even a change in smells can sometimes cause a very specific hesitation. The fact that he looks left and right and then at the floor before crossing the threshold makes me think he’s “analysing” something rather than actually panicking. Since this started around the age of 3, even though he used to go through without any trouble, I’d try to see if anything has changed around that door: rugs, cleaning products, draughts, reflections, or sounds coming from inside or outside. As long as he eventually goes out and continues to lead an active life, this behaviour doesn't seem particularly worrying to me, though it is certainly curious. I’d be interested to know if this hesitation also happens when he comes back into the house, or only when he’s going out. Chatzen 🐾
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    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    This behaviour isn't concerning in itself. I understand, however, that you want to make them as comfortable as possible.

    You could try "clearing out" the entrance to see if it is indeed the objects (like the clogs) that are scaring them. Alternatively, you could try associating coming inside with something positive, like a little treat.

    Best wishes,

    Quitterie

    Translated from French

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