Letting kitten go outside

mumoftwins

jha wrote: »

My cats were trained to return to home when I click my fingers and / or shake my housekeys. I trained them from young kittens by giving them a small treat every time they responded to the click / jangle. I did this so I could call them back in an emergency or when there was Anti social behaviour going on outside. Saves calling 5 different cat names anyway:rotfl:The only problem is they all come racing in when sometimes I only want the one to give meds to. :rolleyes: I dont know if this might be something to consider - my cats are standard moggies.

Thanks jha, this sounds like a good thing to try. Vet also suggested letting him out when he is hungry and calling him back in to feed before I go out/lock up for night.

Having just started a new job I am rather loathe to try this yet, but perhaps at a weekend I could give it a go

jha

I started the training in the house first. Just jangle the keys (gently not to frighten him) and when he shows interest give him a treat. Then when he has got the hang of it in the same room as you, jangle the keys in another room and when he comes give him a treat and so on untill you feel confident enough to let him out. You could also shake a box of dry cat food - if you feel this might be easier:o I am sure there are some "proper" cat trainers out there that could advise you further.

moneypooh

Maybe you could get/make a kennel/rabbit hutch? OK stick with me, we made a hutch type large box and put a cat flap in it. We made inside cosy and it meant our cat had somewhere to go if he didn't make it home before we went out. When we moved to this house we put a flap in our shed. We could leave some food/water down until we'd get home.
It was really sweet to get home and find him curled up asleep, safe and warm

LittleMissAspie

We don't have a catflap, we let our cat in and out manually. But she is rarely out for more than 10 minutes and we don't let her out overnight. Maybe you could just let him out at evenings and weekends? I think most cats will pop back to the house at some point during the evening, then keep him in for the rest of the night.

photome

LittleMissAspie wrote: »

We don't have a catflap, we let our cat in and out manually. But she is rarely out for more than 10 minutes and we don't let her out overnight. Maybe you could just let him out at evenings and weekends? I think most cats will pop back to the house at some point during the evening, then keep him in for the rest of the night.

Is there a reason why you/others dont let their cat out at night?

We have our first cat she is now 9 months old but she comes and goes as she pleases at night time.

Must be a hassle to keep letting in and out, and isnt night time when they hunt?

UKTigerlily

photome wrote: »

Is there a reason why you/others dont let their cat out at night?

We have our first cat she is now 9 months old but she comes and goes as she pleases at night time.

Must be a hassle to keep letting in and out, and isnt night time when they hunt?

Yep, it sure is. The only reason I can think of is that Cars may not see the Cat if it tries to run across a road? Mine's 11 soon & has always gone out when she wants to, we are quite set back from any roads though but there's less Cars at night. Foxes some people think are dangerous to Cats but they're actually no threat to them at all. Mine often asks to go out @ night & I let her, personally even if I lived near a road i'd prefer that to in the day when there's tons of cars!

photome

UKTigerlily wrote: »

Yep, it sure is. The only reason I can think of is that Cars may not see the Cat if it tries to run across a road? Mine's 11 soon & has always gone out when she wants to, we are quite set back from any roads though but there's less Cars at night. Foxes some people think are dangerous to Cats but they're actually no threat to them at all. Mine often asks to go out @ night & I let her, personally even if I lived near a road i'd prefer that to in the day when there's tons of cars!

We are on a road but it is quiet at night, having said that she is out when she like during the day as well. Altho I think she prefers sleeping!!!

I had heard that foxes are a threat but there is no evidence to back it up.

mumoftwins

I have heard cats fighting in the night and its a horrible sound, although the sound of foxes in season is worse - you'd think some animal was being killed :eek: so that is the reason why I really want Dibley to be in at night.

I think I may start the training as jha recommended and take it from there , will let you know how I get on xx

Silaqui

Oh my goodness yes foxes can be a threat to cats - there is a cat that lives a few doors down from my mum and she has been attacked twice, the first time she just came home with a bite and they weren't sure, the second time they actually saw here being surrounded by 3 smallish foxes and she got a nasty second bite on her bum.
Definitely try and have a safe place or cat flap for your cat to go, even if it does go out at night.
x

Kimberley

Well done you for getting him neutured before you let him outside :beer: