help with kitty issues

[Dznypal]

we have a 4 month old kitten that was 2 months when we got her
for the most part shes been pretty good--just gets into the basic kitty things
but theres 2 issues were having with her and not sure how to break her of it
the first is the one that scares me she now has a habit of rushing the door when we try to leave the house
she did mange twice to get out the back door but we have an attached garage so of course she just flew under the car
took a bit to coax her out from under but we got her out
so the last few times I put a treat in the living room and we rush out the door--not sure if thats the best way to do it but it does work
just afraid if she would try to rush out the front--

the other one is and this will be at least temporary it the Christmas tree--we just put it up yesterday but we found her in it alot yesterday--not sure if its cause its new
we have it tied to the wall so I dont think she could pull it over last night she was so bad with the tree that I put in her in the spare room for awhile like a time out not sure if that works for kittens

this is our 6th cat weve had throughout the years but the only one that charge t he door---the others if they saw you open the door they run in the other direction

so I am looking for advice or tips on how to stop these issues
thanks

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

You could get her a harness and take her outside & that would get her used to knowing what's out there. Then if she does escape without it, at least she has some familiarity and it's not a super strange new world that she's never been in - makes it less likely she'd freak out and go into major hiding in that case. Also you can leave the garage door down and let her explore out there - while making sure no one opens it of course. Just being able to explore those areas a little in a controlled manner might reduce her curiosity and the need to rush at it.

As for the tree, I don't know. Our kitten's first year he was in it quite a bit, but the following year he ignored it like the older one does. We'd just grab him out of it each time. He never broke anything luckily.

 

[dizneegirl]

We have 2 8-month old boy kittens... there's no way we're putting up a tree this year.

I don't think a treat in a different area of the house is a bad way to get out the door.

You could try rattling a can with coins in it to scare her away when you're using a door. We trained our last cat with a vocal "back, back, back" to go in/out, but that took time, and using a foot to stop forward motion/back her up (not kicking, just gently sweeping). She loved the door to the garage - it was the only door she REALLY wanted to go out.

A spray bottle of water can be useful when training, too.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

You're not gonna like this but you may just need to accept that this is your new reality.

There are things like a motion sensor horn or air spray or water spray that will basically scare her away from the doors but I would not recommend it as it will likely just create a scared cat that will want to hide.

With the tree again you can get sprays that cats don't like and should in theory stay away from but it may not work.
If its a real tree the smell of the tree is going to outpower the spray anyways.

Very happy my current cats don't try to run out the door (they love to sit and look out but when you start walking towards the door they will either walk away or you tell them to get on the bench and they will) but my previous one tried every time the door was open and we managed to only have her actually get out a handful of times.

My current cats loved the tree soooo much. Really it was more the smell that attracted them and then the water that made them go nutty over it.
A couple years ago we cut a piece of cardboard and put on top of the water and cut a slit so we could bend it up to put the water in and then back down with tape to keep it closed.

Last year and this year we have a fake tree so they are not nearly as interested in it however we just prefer if they stay out of that room. Its in the family room and while there is no door we did get a giant piece of cardboard wide enough for the doorway and high enough they can't jump over.
We do have to be quick about getting in and out but it works.

Bottom line is when you get a cat that well acts like a cat you kinda just have to deal with it and yes anchor the tree and be a ninja at the door.

Also quick question: Is she fixed yet?
I know if they come from a shelter/SPCA they generally are but not sure where you got her from.
Female cats can go into heat as soon as 4 months and that makes them be able to sense male cats and they really want to get out to find them.
This is why my previous cat started trying to get out and unfortunately I couldn't get a vet to agree to do the surgery earlier than 6 months even though a pediatric spay is healthy for cats.
I'd see if your vet would be willing sooner if you think this is a possible reason for the trying to get out.

 

[QueenIsabella]

We use the spray bottle technique to keep our kittens out of where they don't belong. It's effective and doesn't hurt them. Rattling coins in a can would also work--long enough to get you out the door.

As to the tree, well, DH is going to tie ours REALLY, REALLY well! We've had climbers in the past. Our two older kitties just play with low ornaments--we have non-breakable, fun ones at the bottom for them. But, I could totally see Pele "You're not the boss of me!" climbing to the top of the tree and flipping the bird. (Maui is likely to be mellower, he's a mellow cat, generally. But, that Pele!)

Good luck! Be careful about other things you might leave unattended around your little troublemaker (candles, delicate items on a coffee table, etc.)