Letting cats outside.

Dee123_2

I seem to remember when I got my cat from CPL 18 months ago that the same thing happened after his booster though I think it was just an extra week, not two.

Didnt apply after his booster this year,though, so I guess full immunity doesnt develop until after the first booster?

SkintMonkey

This might sound really silly but I feel really quite nervous about my cats impending freedom! We let them out for a bit yesterday and will do the same this afternoon and then tomorrow the cat flap will be unlocked and the boys will be free.

But I feel rather nervous, which probably sounds so daft. They are lovely boys and so sweet I just want them to be safe, but they aren't house cats, they are desperate to get outside properly and play - although yesterday they were rather overwhelmed with all the noises in the neighbouring gardens, and did spend a lot of time under the decking!!

Cat72

I know how you feel I get the same. The good thing is there are 2 of them so they will probably stick together and be safer. I have 4 cats but the last one is fully grown and we found him at christmass a whicker away from death ( the vet gave him a week to live ).As he was either abandoned or lost Im finding it very hard to let him out especailly as he doesnt answer very well to his name outside & totally blanks me ! So im just letting him out in drips & draps but its so hard- i couldnt bare if he got lost again and ended up in the state we found him ! My other cats go out fine and always answer to their name, which is great .My thoughts are with you , i know cats are roamers but you love them so dont want anything to happen . x

Aldeney

I spoke with the Bluse Cross this morning about letting cats out for the first time as we will be taking in a new cat in a few days time. They reccommend not feeding the cat the night before so they are hungry when they go out, then making sure they have some special food around when they are let out so they will associate food with home. Also they said to place some of the cats poo around the garden as it is a familiar scent. Being out in the garden with them might also fmake them feel safer.

I know exactly how your feeling though. It is a nervous time but I really hope it goes well. xx

SkintMonkey

Thanks guys. I feel a bit silly, they are cats for goodness sake but they are my little sweeties and they look so vulnerable out in the big bad world. I've already sprinkled some of the litter about but will have another go tonight to help them mark their territory.

We will be keeping them in at night so at least don't have to worry overnight. Tomorrow will be there first day when they can go in and out as they please - although I wouldn't be surprised to find when I come home that neither of them have left the kitchen all day!!!

Its like its their first day at school!

Leopardlady

We had the same fears with our cat, we have had him for just over a month, he was given to us as a house cat, although had lived in run outside for the last 2 months! As i work from home and have always thought cats go outside (i am a dog person) i was very keen to allow ours out. My partner, whose parents have one of the same breed, didn't really trust people outside, he thinks they may nick him. He is a tonkinese (burmese crossed with siamese) and they are very friendly to people.

I started to let ours outside last week, he is allowed on a flat roof outside my office window, and he doesn't like to jump so he is very restricted there. The first day he was out there a black male cat joined him on the roof and they started to fight! I was so scared and then they fell off the roof!!!! I charged downstairs to find my cat heading into my garden with large amounts of black fur in his teeth and claws!
I decided to let him wander around the garden with me for a while so he wasn't scared or worried.
I have gone outside everyday with him, he loves one of my neighbours gardens (it is very overgrown) and he wanders down the alley at the back a little, but if i go out and call him he tends to come back.
It is scarey to let them out, but you are right they are cats and you can only watch them so much. my partner is still worried but is really impressed with how much more relaxed our cat is and how well behaved he is when out.

Good luck and keep us posted!

sandy2_2

When I first got my current cat (then aged 13), I used to take him out into the garden on a harness and lead to let him get used to the smells etc

SkintMonkey

Well the cats have tasted freedom and I think they are a bit bemused! They do go out and spend time in the garden, but don't seem to go further then the garden itself - we do have tallish fences which may put them off going further.

They seem to enjoy it, but have come in wet a couple of times and been a bit confused! It makes me laugh when our long haired comes in as he always has what seems like half a tree attached to his tail and I have to 'de-garden' him!!

Leopardlady

My cat is spending most of the day running in and out of the house and looking annoyed that he is getting wet. But hey he is a cat, so he should learn that he doesn't have to go out, the door is open as we have no cat flap. Always funny to watch him in the rain, he looks completely confused and very cute, he looks like fuzzy fleece when damp!

nealallen

Can I ask if the cats have been spade or neutered? I ask because any cats that haven't do roam. It's in their nature. We had a tom once who went for 3 nights, I was out of my mind with worry. Don't say your being silly, we have 10 cats and they are all our babies. I would go hungry just to make sure they had dinner...now who's sounds the silly one lol