Why does my cat often sit by the front door?

Cats living in apartments or private houses often try to escape through the open front door. From the animals' perspective, this is a great opportunity to explore a world full of new and interesting things. But sometimes cats sit by the door without attempting to escape. What does this mean?

Your pet senses that someone is coming into your house.

Cats are known to have excellent hearing. They can easily detect footsteps when someone is entering the house, and they can predict the arrival of their owner or guest by perching on the threshold.

The cat is looking for a cool place

This behavior doesn't always foretell someone's arrival. Cats often prefer to hover near the door, seeking the coolest spot in the room.

Perhaps your furry friend is truly overheated. The only way to find some cool air is to get closer to the fresh air. And they sense a draft near the door. In this case, the owner needs to take their pet for a short walk.

The cat heard unusual sounds outside the door.

A cat is a naturally curious creature. If it doesn't move away from the front door, it means it's hearing strange sounds outside and wants to know what's going on.

But the owner should be concerned if the cat stands by the door and rests its forehead against it. It may be suffering from a severe headache and is trying to alleviate its pain in this way.

The cat feels that there is freedom behind the door

Animals understand that the front door allows them to leave the house for a walk. Opening the door allows a multitude of enticing aromas to enter the home. There's fresh air, and birds are singing. For a pet, this is the main sign of freedom. So they try to escape for a walk whenever possible.

It's best if your pet is trained to do this and returns home promptly. Otherwise, you'll need to constantly watch to ensure your cat doesn't escape through the door or window. Some pets announce their plans to escape through the door well in advance. They wait for any opportunity to escape in the following situations:

• the owner's return with bags in his hands;
• sending a child to school;
• arrival of guests.

In this case, the owner does everything possible to block the animal's access to the outside world. But the animal hopes to find a moment when it's not being noticed and can slip away unnoticed.

Sometimes an adult cat, whose place was previously by the front door, may lie down in the passageway out of habit.

Every animal has its own needs, desires, and personality. And loving owners tolerate this. So, don't scold your pet if it chooses a spot near the front door.