Letting cats out for the first time
Discussion
So 8 months with the door shut (we didn't want to throw them out over the winter) running in and out of the door making sure there are no escapees and this is the thanks we get 
Any tips for the first time? We have a low fence to the left that we would rather they didn't go over.
photo by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr
Any tips for the first time? We have a low fence to the left that we would rather they didn't go over.
photo by Scott W McCormack, on Flickr
Put some of their used litter around the your garden for scent, carry then into the garden for the first time so they can have a good sniff, then when you let them out do it in the morning don't give them breakfast, allow them out for 10 mins then call them back and offer them some really nice food (eg tuna or whatever they like) progress from there.
Dobt you'll b able to do much to stop them jumping a low fence. As they get braver they will explore further.
Finally - I assume they're chipped
(I have moved house several times and always followed the above, so far never lost a cat as a result of letting them out in a strange place!)
Dobt you'll b able to do much to stop them jumping a low fence. As they get braver they will explore further.
Finally - I assume they're chipped
(I have moved house several times and always followed the above, so far never lost a cat as a result of letting them out in a strange place!)
We took ours out on a lead for several times before letting them loose. Our younger cat Isy is let out into the back garden but at the moment does not go anywhere else. Im not sure if she just likes being close or can't figure out how to jump the fence. The older one Ryu was over the fence within a week whereas Isy has been wandering the back garden and watching Ryu jumpr for 2 months now!
I think ours were about 8 months when they went out too.
6 months before they are old enough to have the snip etc and then a few weeks to get over it.
Practically 8 months before you should be letting them out. Unless of course you don't mind yor cats running around fathering kittens everywhere or coming home knocked up.
6 months before they are old enough to have the snip etc and then a few weeks to get over it.
Practically 8 months before you should be letting them out. Unless of course you don't mind yor cats running around fathering kittens everywhere or coming home knocked up.
Simpo Two said:
sc0tt said:
I do, thats why there is a cat hanging out the door?
No, I meant why did you keep them indoors for eight months? You've effectively trained them never to go out, then expect them to revert to being normal cats instantly... poor confused buggers.Simpo Two said:
No, I meant why did you keep them indoors for eight months? You've effectively trained them never to go out, then expect them to revert to being normal cats instantly... poor confused buggers.
They are supposed to be in for 6 months anyway or until they have had the snip?Simpo Two said:
TBF from the first post it wasn't stated they'd been kittens; I thought you'd just moved house. My cats have either been adult rescue cats, or one that just turned up, so I've never had to learn about any special needs that kittens may have.
Np simpo. These little ones are from a rescued adult cat. Apparently brother and sister ??? We moved from a flat, with 2 5yo neutered toms who never went out, to a cottage in the country, and had no bother whatsoever with them going out, although the Aby really didn't like the outside much as it didn't have carpet. And rain was a whole new level of torture. He had some spectacular bladder control in the winter.
We just did the whole "food bowl on the inside of the cat flap, cat on the outside, shove him through" trick a few times and it took about 10 minutes for them to figure out how to use the flap.
We're in the middle of nowhere, so we ensure that we train our cats to come to a whistle - easily enough done, if you do it at food o'clock. All four of ours learned quite quickly and they do come, eventually, providing they heard you of course! Might not work if you're in a builtup area - roads/traffic etc not ideal for a cat hurrying home for his tea.
TBH you'll not stop them going over the fence. Just make sure they're chipped.
If we can get Sweary Mary to learn, you can teach any cat.
IMG_1687 by katy_nicolson, on Flickr
We just did the whole "food bowl on the inside of the cat flap, cat on the outside, shove him through" trick a few times and it took about 10 minutes for them to figure out how to use the flap.
We're in the middle of nowhere, so we ensure that we train our cats to come to a whistle - easily enough done, if you do it at food o'clock. All four of ours learned quite quickly and they do come, eventually, providing they heard you of course! Might not work if you're in a builtup area - roads/traffic etc not ideal for a cat hurrying home for his tea.
TBH you'll not stop them going over the fence. Just make sure they're chipped.
If we can get Sweary Mary to learn, you can teach any cat.
IMG_1687 by katy_nicolson, on Flickr
We kept ours indoors for two weeks, then taught him how to use the cat-flap out to the back garden, then stayed with him the first couple of times as he didn't want to stray too far away from us.
After a couple of days he had sussed out the garden, i.e. his territory, and he was fine.
After a couple of days he had sussed out the garden, i.e. his territory, and he was fine.
When we first got our chappie ( Mr Jasper), he stayed in the house for a couple of months. In the spring, we let him wander into the garden, but he was nervous and kept running back into the house.
Once he got a liitle more brave, he started to explore and soon mapped out his territory.
We moved house and we kept him in again so he got used to the new place. He quickly showed us he wanted to be outside.
This is when I realised he has 'learning difficulties'.
I invested in the top of the range cat flap. Micro-chip operated so it only allows him in and out. His own VIP entrance. At vast expense, we had this fitted, and a new glazed unit fitted, so it all looked like a lovely professional unit.
Off you go then.......
After he sat in front of it for the best part of a fortnight, and with me down on all fours attempting to show him how the damn thing works, I was just about to give up.
Eventually, the penny dropped, and he made his debut into the garden, via his own little doorway.
He has now managed to 'secure' the surrounding houses and gardens as his 'patch'. God help any passing cats that take a short cut !! He's always on patrol, which generally involves much staring out of the windows ( from a number of favourite vantage points), and plenty of sniffing of important markers around his zone. often see peeping out of his little hidey-holes, on the lookout for any intruders or sparrows that have the ordacity to encroach onto HIS patch.
He is a busy chap, and loves the outdoors. He often comes in and 'announces' the ' All's well' by letting out the loudest MEE-Oooow that you'd ever imagine !
Its gotta be done. All in a days work. He then needs to be fed, of course.
he is an outdoor lad, thats for sure.
I am hoping to get a shed load of benefit money from the local Council to assist with his 'learning difficulties. A disabled parking badge would also be useful too.....
Once he got a liitle more brave, he started to explore and soon mapped out his territory.
We moved house and we kept him in again so he got used to the new place. He quickly showed us he wanted to be outside.
This is when I realised he has 'learning difficulties'.
I invested in the top of the range cat flap. Micro-chip operated so it only allows him in and out. His own VIP entrance. At vast expense, we had this fitted, and a new glazed unit fitted, so it all looked like a lovely professional unit.
Off you go then.......
After he sat in front of it for the best part of a fortnight, and with me down on all fours attempting to show him how the damn thing works, I was just about to give up.
Eventually, the penny dropped, and he made his debut into the garden, via his own little doorway.
He has now managed to 'secure' the surrounding houses and gardens as his 'patch'. God help any passing cats that take a short cut !! He's always on patrol, which generally involves much staring out of the windows ( from a number of favourite vantage points), and plenty of sniffing of important markers around his zone. often see peeping out of his little hidey-holes, on the lookout for any intruders or sparrows that have the ordacity to encroach onto HIS patch.
He is a busy chap, and loves the outdoors. He often comes in and 'announces' the ' All's well' by letting out the loudest MEE-Oooow that you'd ever imagine !
Its gotta be done. All in a days work. He then needs to be fed, of course.
he is an outdoor lad, thats for sure.
I am hoping to get a shed load of benefit money from the local Council to assist with his 'learning difficulties. A disabled parking badge would also be useful too.....
Edited by bomb on Sunday 18th March 00:28
Edited by bomb on Sunday 18th March 00:37
My younger one was outside at 3 months, but wasn't unsepervised until 7months, luckily he used to come running every time you shook the cat biscuits.
The first time he ever went outside there was 4 inches of snow and i am convinced he thinks this if how it should be and the rest of the year is a little strage, when it snows he refuses to come in until he is practically frozen, then he warm,s up and heads straight back outside.
I'm also just about to move house and i will have the torment of keeping Horatio inside for a couple of weeks. FTC wil be fine about it as long as she get some regular attention and her litter is changed daily, but horror is now an outside based semi-feral beastie. I can see him sitting at the window making the most pitiful sounds until he can finally go out and kill the local wildlife.
The first time he ever went outside there was 4 inches of snow and i am convinced he thinks this if how it should be and the rest of the year is a little strage, when it snows he refuses to come in until he is practically frozen, then he warm,s up and heads straight back outside.
I'm also just about to move house and i will have the torment of keeping Horatio inside for a couple of weeks. FTC wil be fine about it as long as she get some regular attention and her litter is changed daily, but horror is now an outside based semi-feral beastie. I can see him sitting at the window making the most pitiful sounds until he can finally go out and kill the local wildlife.
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