Question for those who have cats out all day

[Deleted User]

Can i sort of hijack this thread and ask a question.... I did ask a similar one before but i cant find where and i never got any e mails to say if anyone had replied.

So I have a almost 8mth cat, flea'd wormed, vaccinated chipped an "done" all ready to go out, only I'd been encouraging it for about 8 weeks and she seemed petrified, wouldn't even attempt to go out, and would jump out of my arms if i attempted to take her out.

The weekend just gone we were outside and I left the door open and she ventured out, went under my shed and in the neighbours garden I brought her in as my DD was so worried she'd get lost and never return, however my kitty was so annoyed she meowed at the door for ages, only it was dark by then so i decided to not let her out again that night.

Fast foreword 2 days, I work and she is left alone while i am out, but has been right to the door as soon as i return, keen to be outside. So my concern, today she went at least 3 doors away and i need reassurance that if i let her out she will find her way home? and as 3 of my neighbours have dogs, will she learn to avoid these gardens?

After being so keen to get her out, now i just want to keep her safe inside all the time lol!!

tosker

I would advise getting her used to coming to you indoors for a favourite treat, so you can repeat this when she is outside, and you want to get her in

and don't let her out when her tummy is full, and never let her out when it starts to get dark - the majority of RTAs are after dark, when cats become confused by the lights of cars

will any of the dogs go for her? if they just scare her off it would be no bad thing, as long as it is back towards your garden - if the dogs get between her and her garden, she could get too nervous to come back

geri1965_2

Jinx wrote: »

You could try letting him out as soon as you get up and let him back in before work then letting him out after work and in before bed.

That's my plan, but it does rely on him actually coming back before I leave for work! He's usually out for a couple of hours in the morning, whereas I get up at 6.30 and leave at 7.30/8 (depends if I am walking or cycling).

I can see myself being forced out of bed to let him out at 5am!

[Deleted User]

tosker wrote: »

I would advise getting her used to coming to you indoors for a favourite treat, so you can repeat this when she is outside, and you want to get her in

and don't let her out when her tummy is full, and never let her out when it starts to get dark - the majority of RTAs are after dark, when cats become confused by the lights of cars

will any of the dogs go for her? if they just scare her off it would be no bad thing, as long as it is back towards your garden - if the dogs get between her and her garden, she could get too nervous to come back

Thanks for your reply, In reference to the part about the dogs the set in one garden, I think wouldn't bother her, however there is another who lives outside and isn't really socialised very much, so what his reaction to a cat may be is anyones guess.
Thanks for the tip about the treat, I'll be honest, I don't give her treats (am I cruel lol) but I'll give it a go. I guess I just worry she'll get lost and not get home before its too dark

SL x