House cats - letting them out for the first time
Discussion
Hoping for any tips on best way of handling this (if there is a best way).
We have two young cats that we got from a rescue centre about 18 months ago. At the time, we were told that they had always lived indoors but over the last few months I've been less and less convinced by this. They certainly seem keen on getting outdoors.
Anyway, we moved not long ago to a new place that has meant we now have a choice as to whether they can go out or not and we would like them to be able to.
Fitted a microchip reading catflap last weekend and both cats were microchipped a few weeks back. We're planning to allow them out for the first time on sunday.
Is there anything much we need to consider or do we just let them out?
Also, to the front of our house is a road with a lot of parked cars and a double decker passes by every 5 minutes. To the back (where we have fitted our catflap) is a garden that backs onto park land. Obviously we'd like them to keep to garden and park but is there anything we can do to encourage this?
We have two young cats that we got from a rescue centre about 18 months ago. At the time, we were told that they had always lived indoors but over the last few months I've been less and less convinced by this. They certainly seem keen on getting outdoors.
Anyway, we moved not long ago to a new place that has meant we now have a choice as to whether they can go out or not and we would like them to be able to.
Fitted a microchip reading catflap last weekend and both cats were microchipped a few weeks back. We're planning to allow them out for the first time on sunday.
Is there anything much we need to consider or do we just let them out?
Also, to the front of our house is a road with a lot of parked cars and a double decker passes by every 5 minutes. To the back (where we have fitted our catflap) is a garden that backs onto park land. Obviously we'd like them to keep to garden and park but is there anything we can do to encourage this?
AS long as you've been in that house long enough for them to be used to it, you just let them out. You can always sit out in the garden when you first let them out and keep an eye on them, but you won't really be able to stop them going round the front I don't think, cats just go where they please.
We're in the process of getting our 9 month old cat used to being outside. My girlfriend kept hold of ours and showed her round the back garden at first, letting her have a sniff around the lawn and the flower beds. Despite being the most exciteable creature in the world, being outside seemed to be a bit of a shock to her system and she didn't just go haring off as I expected! We let her have a wander round the patio and showed her back to the kitchen door and her food before taking her back in again. I think if you just take it slowly and keep an eye on them at first, they should be fine 
Gad-Westy said:
Is there anything much we need to consider or do we just let them out?
Also, to the front of our house is a road with a lot of parked cars and a double decker passes by every 5 minutes. To the back (where we have fitted our catflap) is a garden that backs onto park land. Obviously we'd like them to keep to garden and park but is there anything we can do to encourage this?
Nothing you can do to stop them going further afield if they want to.Also, to the front of our house is a road with a lot of parked cars and a double decker passes by every 5 minutes. To the back (where we have fitted our catflap) is a garden that backs onto park land. Obviously we'd like them to keep to garden and park but is there anything we can do to encourage this?
At first they'll probably have a sniff around. Spend some time out there with them rather than just opening the door and letting them out.
As mentioned above as long as they've been used to the house it should be fine. Before my sister let her cat out for a first time she had to let him get used to the house and see a few sunset and sunrises so they know where the house is at different times of the day ect... I'm sure you can probably get special scent stuff aswell... :S
Firstly, well done for deciding to allow them outside. This just goes to show to any cat imprisoners reading this thread that even if a cat has spent its formative years inside you just cannot remove its desire to explore, bask in the sun and chase birds.
Good advice re: sitting in the garden. Also leave the door open at first so they know they can go back inside if they want.
The microchip reading cat-flaps can be trouble, it's very possible for the chip to move under the skin to their elbow and other places that are not within range for some cat-flaps - you may be fine though, it really depends. You definitely want to test this though before leaving them alone.
Right after letting them outside you might see them crouch low to the ground and scurry about looking a bit worried for a few minutes, but before you know it they'll be loving it and will thank you with a headless bird corpse the next morning.
Good advice re: sitting in the garden. Also leave the door open at first so they know they can go back inside if they want.
The microchip reading cat-flaps can be trouble, it's very possible for the chip to move under the skin to their elbow and other places that are not within range for some cat-flaps - you may be fine though, it really depends. You definitely want to test this though before leaving them alone.
Right after letting them outside you might see them crouch low to the ground and scurry about looking a bit worried for a few minutes, but before you know it they'll be loving it and will thank you with a headless bird corpse the next morning.
Edited by bonsai on Friday 4th June 15:13
You just have to let them get on with it really. We let our cat out once he was used to the house and had been able to recognise it as home. Obviously, he also knows where he gets fed! Let him into the garden first but he soon got out of there. He now gets about a fair bit so not sure how you can ensure they don't go round the front.
He now stays out all night and I don't worry at all about him. We live a couple of blocks away from the coast road in Jesmond but he seems smart enough to stay away from there. Although he does lie in the middle of our street sometimes like its his personal property. Idiot.
Anyway, in short, just go for it. First time you'll worry about he/she/it returning but as I said, I don't even think about it now.
He now stays out all night and I don't worry at all about him. We live a couple of blocks away from the coast road in Jesmond but he seems smart enough to stay away from there. Although he does lie in the middle of our street sometimes like its his personal property. Idiot.
Anyway, in short, just go for it. First time you'll worry about he/she/it returning but as I said, I don't even think about it now.
The cat could be taken out on a lead for the first few times to give it a chance to get used to the smells, sounds etc in the garden.
Then build up to leting it out without the lead and just spend some time with it and eventually it will probably hop over the fence and explore elsewhere.
Our cats being raised as house cats, will go out for a wander, come back and use the litter tray and then go back out again.... sods.
Then build up to leting it out without the lead and just spend some time with it and eventually it will probably hop over the fence and explore elsewhere.
Our cats being raised as house cats, will go out for a wander, come back and use the litter tray and then go back out again.... sods.
k me, a cat that can read! Where? How do you know? I'll only be impressed if it can read aloud.
Isaac Hunt! Hahaha....I've just got it....brilliant!Were just getting to the stage of going through all of this again (4 month old kitten). She's had her jabs and we've just been letting her out in the garden for the time being whilst we are there, luckily she can't escape from the garden, we've blocked all exits! When she's been "done" we'll set about letting her go further a field the same way we did with our 2 year old male. Basically going with him for the first few days, watching where he went and getting him to follow us home, each time going a bit further away. He now uses the cat flap and comes and goes as he pleases, the kitten has not sussed out that she can use the cat flap as well, I thought she'd be straight out of it but it seems cats aren't that clever.
As for not going round the front, we had the exact same worries due to a fairly busy road. However the 2 year old will not go round the front of the house, he follows me to take the bins out but he stops short of actually going through the gate, in fact he runs off if a car comes, fine by me!
As for not going round the front, we had the exact same worries due to a fairly busy road. However the 2 year old will not go round the front of the house, he follows me to take the bins out but he stops short of actually going through the gate, in fact he runs off if a car comes, fine by me!
Err...when i had cats I just let them out.
They came back.
Then they lived with my parents for a bit. They just let them out, they came back.
Then when I took them back when I got a new house, I just let them out...guess wot.
They came back.
I really think yer all worrying unnessasarily.
Just let the buggers out, they don't go haring off until they don't know where they are.
Cats aren't thick.
(They both lived to 19 btw)
They came back.
Then they lived with my parents for a bit. They just let them out, they came back.
Then when I took them back when I got a new house, I just let them out...guess wot.
They came back.
I really think yer all worrying unnessasarily.
Just let the buggers out, they don't go haring off until they don't know where they are.
Cats aren't thick.
(They both lived to 19 btw)
Well, I said I'd post an update.
Let the cats out on Saturday evening. They seemed to enjoy themselves in our garden for a while and then promptly disappeared for 3 hours. They went out again yesterday and seemed very at home outside.
Only problem is that one of them doesn't seem to know how to get back in using the cat flap. He can get out fine but it would appear that he's a bit thick so they're staying indoors today until I get home.
Anyway, main point of this post was to thank everyone for the advice.
Let the cats out on Saturday evening. They seemed to enjoy themselves in our garden for a while and then promptly disappeared for 3 hours. They went out again yesterday and seemed very at home outside.
Only problem is that one of them doesn't seem to know how to get back in using the cat flap. He can get out fine but it would appear that he's a bit thick so they're staying indoors today until I get home.
Anyway, main point of this post was to thank everyone for the advice.
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