# Strange cat behavior, in and out constantly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075 "2002-05-21T12:23:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/1 "2002-05-21T12:23:45Z")
Sorry if this has been answered, ‘cat’ is under the minimum word length for a search. My cat goes in and out of my house constantly, somtimes he is in for less than 5 minutes. Just now I let him in the back door and less than a minute later he was standing at the front door :mad: . He’s worse than my 6 year old. I have no idea what he does when everyone is working. Why does he do this? Is this normal cat behavior? Any way to break him of this habit? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/2 "2002-05-21T12:33:41Z")
Mine does this too - I don’t think it’s weird. My theory is that the boundaries of in/out don’t mean anything to the cat. If you watch the cat in the yard, unless it’s asleep, it (mine anyway) runs around all over the place. The cat just goes “I’m here, now I want to be here. Now I want to be here.” Part of this desire involves you opening the door for him. He doesn’t care! ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/3 "2002-05-21T13:01:33Z")
The cat doesn’t want **in** or **out** , the cat just wants the door to be open. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/4 "2002-05-21T13:33:38Z")
He’s just making the rounds of his territory. He has to be sure everything is ok. ---
**Author:** ![EchoKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@EchoKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EchoKitty)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/5 "2002-05-21T13:42:31Z")
I’ve got a cat who does this constantly. You just have to settle on where you want him to be while you’re gone, and live with that…or get one of those flapdoors installed…which also lets uninvited critters into your home!! ---
**Author:** ![S\_Puppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@S\_Puppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/S_Puppy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/6 "2002-05-21T13:50:54Z")
It doesn’t seem to be unusual behavior for a cat. I have had them come in through the back door and walk directly to the front door and go back outside again. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/7 "2002-05-21T15:01:45Z")
It’s just a cat’s way of testing his superiority over humans. Watch his attitude when you do let him in or out. I’ll bet it’s a great deal like, “Well, it’s about time!” ---
**Author:** ![zwaldd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a9adbd/32.png) [@zwaldd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zwaldd)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/8 "2002-05-21T19:41:30Z")
Mine does the same thing. I’ve always thought it had something to do with being neutered - motivations are screwed up. He has no real reason to be outside, so he has no reason not to come back inside, nor does he have a reason to stay inside, unless he’s hungry. His instincts are on autopilot, sort of stuck in a pointless loop. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/9 "2002-05-21T22:05:15Z")
Being a cat owner, I laughed out loud at the title to this post. It’s about as odd as a dog wagging his tail. Theories? Who knows? My cats treat outside like it’s just another room in the house- I just happen to be their very own, meow-activated door opener. ---
**Author:** ![jacksen9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@jacksen9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jacksen9)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/10 "2002-05-22T00:21:27Z")
NORMAL CAT BEHAVIOR. Ha. What is that? My vet once said, “cats ain’t right”. This was as we were trying to figure how she came to either jump or fall off my third story apartment balcony. She survived with just a small scrape on the end of her nose. Unbelievable. But…cat behavior is so strange and interesting. Who could guess what this cat has going on. Cat Business.😃 ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/11 "2002-05-22T01:34:15Z")
One of my cats does this, too. Its actually kind of cute, but irritating. This past weekend my grandfather was over, and sitting at the end of the table near the patio door for a good part of the day. He didn’t seem to mind opening the door for her, until it started to seem as though she was doing it JUST to see if he would do it again 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/12 "2002-05-22T02:12:00Z")
I figured on matters like this it makes sense to go to the source, so I turned to She Who Possesseth the Noble Fluffy Kitty Tail and I posed this question to her, and after closing her eyes a half dozen times and idly licking a paw for a bit, she condescended to say: > [@](#): > > This has been a test of the Humanoid Doorway-Opening Response System. If there had been an actual intention on the part of the Cat to go in or out and remain there, you would have been directed to return to your seat. These tests are conducted in accordance with Feline Outgo-Income Accessibility standards as established by Federal and State Godlines, and are acceptable to all cats. And incidentally you may let me out now. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/13 "2002-05-22T02:40:11Z")
One of our cats starts screaming to be let out as soon as I get home from work. Interestingly enough, according to my wife he usually doesn’t do this _until_ I get home; if she opens the door for any reason he will try to run out, but he doesn’t start sitting by the door and being vocal about it unless I’m home. Oh, and as far as I’m concerned, Normal Cat Behavior ranks right up there with Government Efficiency. Just once I’d like to see some. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/14 "2002-05-22T02:44:03Z")
I’m owned by four cats, and each has his or her own way to communicate. One does a head-butt against the nearest human when he wants out. One or another might stand near the door, but that is also the “fake-you-out” trick, too. Cats basically do whatever they damn well please. That’s part of a cat’s job duty description. You’ve heard the old story where God created an animal companion for Man? He designed an animal that is loyal, loving, obedient, kind, and compassionate. He rearranged the letters in His name for the animal, and called it “Dog.” Then, so the Man would not get a swelled head over the devotion of Dog, God created Cat. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![hazel-rah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/73ab20/32.png) [@hazel-rah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hazel-rah)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/15 "2002-05-22T03:32:52Z")
**Reeder** ’s got it. Quoting Desmond Morris from **Catwatching** > [@](#): > > (Doors) constantly block patrolling activities and prevent cats from exploring their home range and then returning to their central, secure base at will. Humans often do not understand that a cat needs to make only a brief survey of its territory before returning. It likes to make these tours at frequent intervals, but does not want to stay outside for very long. So, to summarize: 1. It’s not unusual. 2. The cat isn’t doing it to annoy you. -fh ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/16 "2002-05-22T04:00:08Z")
I believe it is a feline test of their superior ability to train their humans. It only makes sense… ---
**Author:** ![ejrn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@ejrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejrn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/17 "2002-05-22T05:52:03Z")
**Icarus** nailed it. Cats just want the door to be open. When I close the bathroom door, the cats sit outside and stick their paws under the door, trying to get it open. If I open the door and let them in, they are happy until I close it again. Then they immediately start trying to get out. God forbid I should close the bedroom door - don’t get a moment’s peace until I open it again. Hell, they would be ecstatic if they could get me to leave the closet doors open all the time too. ---
**Author:** ![Bullwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Bullwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/18 "2002-05-22T05:59:26Z")
Don’t forget that cats are natural predators. The ‘domestic’ cat is very little different from its ancestor, the African Wildcat. Your cat is hunting for food in the back yard and hunting for food in the front yard. In between, he’s got this little project going on where he figures that if he can tire you out enough you’ll fall over in a dead faint and he can eat for weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-cat-behavior-in-and-out-constantly/110075/19 "2002-05-22T22:02:07Z")
Every cat with whom I have ever cohabited has displayed this behaviour. We call it either “inagain outagain catagain” or “the flying cat circus”. It’s not so bad in the summer, when we can just leave the door open, but it’s a pain in the winter.