Advice on letting cats outside for first time...worried!
Discussion
I have two 3 year old boys, brothers, who have lived a very happy sheltered life as indoor cats, until recently when we finally moved to a place where they can go outside. We've been here for several months and recently started letting them out into the garden with us which they absolutely love. Their different personalities mean that one is very confident and savvy and we don't really worry about him, his brother Monty however appears to have considerably less brain cells and is a nervous little soul. He still possesses the usual cat curiousity though and loves it outside, until his fear takes over and he can't seem to function.
At the weekend they both discovered they can scale the garden wall and venture into the neighbourhood. After about 15 mins we decided to test their recall ability and called them, along with a food bowl rattle. Keiko the confident one immediately appeared (on the roof of our garage no less) and came trotting in. Monty however did not. To cut a long story short we spotted him from afar, creeping around in a neighbours back garden but he wouldn't come when we called him (and he always does) and I thought knowing him, he's got panicked and can't remember how to get home. So we went round there and into their garden and after searching managed to find him in the back of their garage, absolutely terrified of the resident cat who was watching him with amusement from the conservatory. He bolted past us and got himself wedged next to their shed where I eventually managed to coax him out and carry him home.
Now. That can't happen every time he leaves the house! How do you know they're going to find their way back when they go out in the beginning? How do cats not get constantly locked in other people's garages? What are we supposed to do as owners instead of worrying like parents every time the boys leave the house?!
I know I sound ridiculous I'm sure.
At the weekend they both discovered they can scale the garden wall and venture into the neighbourhood. After about 15 mins we decided to test their recall ability and called them, along with a food bowl rattle. Keiko the confident one immediately appeared (on the roof of our garage no less) and came trotting in. Monty however did not. To cut a long story short we spotted him from afar, creeping around in a neighbours back garden but he wouldn't come when we called him (and he always does) and I thought knowing him, he's got panicked and can't remember how to get home. So we went round there and into their garden and after searching managed to find him in the back of their garage, absolutely terrified of the resident cat who was watching him with amusement from the conservatory. He bolted past us and got himself wedged next to their shed where I eventually managed to coax him out and carry him home.
Now. That can't happen every time he leaves the house! How do you know they're going to find their way back when they go out in the beginning? How do cats not get constantly locked in other people's garages? What are we supposed to do as owners instead of worrying like parents every time the boys leave the house?!
I know I sound ridiculous I'm sure.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff