Letting cats out for the first time

2boysmum

My two cats are both outdoor cats now, I am the same as you Emmylou, ground floor flat, with a door. The first time I let my two out I just left the door open and they wandered in and out a few times, it was a good hour or two before they ventured out of the garden, then me and DH just stood there for ages waiting for them to come back. Now one of them hardly ever wants to go out, she much prefers to be curled up on a bed somewhere, the other we hardly see, DH jokes she has another family somewhere, sometimes she will even stay out all night but only in summertime. Be careful in the summer if you have your double doors open, as they may start to bring in some presents for you! I have had to phone DH at work to come home as there has been half dead birds and mice in the lounge. I now keep the door closed in the summer and they jump up to the window to let me know they want back in!

Emmylou_2

Well this weekend we've had all the doors open during daylight hours, and the kittehs have been coming and going as they please.

They have discovered that:

a. Other Cats Exist (a ginger entire tom)
b. They don't like those things that go woof from two doors down
c. Dinner is inside
d. Spiders taste nice, but scare mummy when they're Not Yet Dead.

We have discovered that:

a. Nev is stooooopid (he was about six inches away from said Ginger Tom for a good 15 minutes before noticing him)
b. Splodge doesn't like grass tickling her tummy
c. Having two sets of double doors and one big window open at 8 pm means it gets Really Cold Really Quickly!

Fire_Fox

ailuro2 wrote: »

You can get catflaps fitted to double glaze doors, and also in windows.;)

Not cheap, but if you're planning on living there a while it saves getting up to answer the door to them,( and of course it is an emergency escape for them should, God forbid, something happen to the house while you are out, maybe it's just me that thinks like that!)

It is not just you: I worry about there being a fire when I am not here.

Noah is indoor only, I live in a upper floor city centre flat so no chance of a catflap! All my internal (fire) doors are propped open so he can use the whole flat, but at least all the walls will be fire retardant, I *think* all the floors are solid concrete AND there are fire alarms and hydrants throughout so .... It's only if there is a fire in my flat that we have a problem.

The building had a false alarm the other day and I agonised over whether to box Noah up and taken him downstairs! In the end I sniffed up and down my corridor and left him sleeping. :rotfl:

starnight_2

Emmylou wrote: »

Well this weekend we've had all the doors open during daylight hours, and the kittehs have been coming and going as they please.

They have discovered that:

a. Other Cats Exist (a ginger entire tom)
b. They don't like those things that go woof from two doors down
c. Dinner is inside
d. Spiders taste nice, but scare mummy when they're Not Yet Dead.

We have discovered that:

a. Nev is stooooopid (he was about six inches away from said Ginger Tom for a good 15 minutes before noticing him)
b. Splodge doesn't like grass tickling her tummy
c. Having two sets of double doors and one big window open at 8 pm means it gets Really Cold Really Quickly!

LOL, yep it's cold at night, so I turn the heat on and hope my cat comes in before it's too cold, or I call him in. Wait til it snows again and see how they react to that, always fun. My cat doesn't like being out when it's cold, wet or windy o.O so can be out for 5 mins and decide it's enough!!

Genuisscuffy

Ok I am just as nervous as my cat!!! I admit it - she's got her final checkup with the vet on Friday (to check her stitches etc) and I let her out into the garden on a bit of string!! It was so funny she didnt go far and as soon as the wind blew her coat she ran in!! Yep I know I've got to be brave but I thought after her check up I've got friday off so she'll have three days with me near - it should be fun!!!

Abbafan1972

I got a little cat harness for Mia when taking her out in the garden. Meant she couldn't pull on the lead and nearly choke herself.

Did that for the first few times to get her used to the garden smells etc. Then let her out on her own. Like the previous posters said, I left the back door open and stayed close by, so she knew I was there. She usually responds to the biscuit box and by me calling her.

Luckily she doesn't tend to stay out long, she's a 2 minute wonder. And she doesn't go very far.

mellymeep

I'll be letting Lily out when we move to our house with a garden come June, I'm so nervous that she's just going to take off and I'll never see her again! But I'm starting to feel really guilty that I've kept her cooped up for most of her kittenhood.

Genuisscuffy

Well I let my little Checkers out this weekend (the weather has been lovely so didnt mind leaving the doors open!!) and she was ok whilst I was there but when I came inside to get a drink she flew in - oh yes and she doesnt like the cat opposite but thinks she can catch the birds on the roof! and the seagulls flying over!!! She was quite cute really exploring things and I got loads of gardening done!!! Today I've got a long day at work and although my boys are home earlier I kept her in whilst I've not been there and she seemed ok for that as I would like to see what she does when I have to shut the door (patio doors so maybe she will get a sore nose the first time!!) to be honest its worse than kids at least they come running when you call!!!

paulwf

We started letting our rescue cat Monty out over the weekend and as usual with rescue cats they want to go out for the 3 weeks they have to be kept in then when you let them go out they get nervous. Isis took nearly a month to get the courage to go out and we have to keep picking up Monty and putting him outside. You are meant to be worrying about rescue cats escaping but with our lot the issue is getting them to leave the house!

Emmylou_2

Aaaaaaaaargh!

We've spent the past couple of weeks with the back door open whenever we're in.

On Saturday, we left them outside for a couple of hours while we went out. They were waiting when we got back.

I did the same today - went out just before 2, came back just after 6. Splodge came back straight away but still no Neville.

It's now 7.22, I've been calling and rattling his food but nothing. And Splodge (not to mention me and best mate) are starting to get worried. Splodge is now coming in and out and chirruping as if to say "Where's Nev?"

Aaaaaaaargh!!!