Letting a cat out

KateBob · 5 January 2014 at 10:50PM

This is Cheddar, he's been with us for 2 months and is approx 4 months old.

He came to us as a stray and we've since had him vaccinated and microchipped.

Now he's ready for going outside, the problem is I'm not.
I'm terrified he'll get lost, hit by a car etc.

Please help me get over this!

chocdonuty · 5 January 2014 at 10:59PM

Does he have to go out? Many cats these days are indoor only, mine included due to the risk of being run over, lost or injured in some way, it does however depend on your local area and cat as some cats are wanderers and others home body's. Likewise a quite suburban area is very different to the side of a busy a road ( or country road for that matter!)
Four months is too little to be out really as he wouldn't have road sense yet, especially if there's no other cats to show him the ropes

I'd definetly wait a bit longer to see if he does want to go out, I'm not sure of an official age as such but hopefully others will be along to advise soon

balletshoes · 5 January 2014 at 11:03PM

i would wait until he's been neutered, then let him out if he wants to go out.

My kitt isn't remotely bothered about going outside, and as its winter and its cold and dark a lot of the time i'm not concerned about that.

My friend adopted 2 boy kitts around the same time as i got Ed, they both love going outside and were yowling at the back door ages before they were neutered. So as soon as they were neutered and checked over by the vet, she started letting them out, because they were desperate to get outside.

KateBob · 5 January 2014 at 11:27PM

Thanks, looks like I'm jumping the gun a bit then.
I just assumed that when the vet said wait a couple of weeks after second vaccination that he was ready.

He's very interested in the outside, spends ages looking out the windows but doesn't call at the door to go out.

I would prefer him to be a cat that goes out, he's very lively (wonderfully so, see the piccy) and would like the outside world I believe.

I think I've fallen completely for this unexpected addition to our family.
I could write a essay everyday about his antics, and I'm boring friends on facebook with tales of his adventures.

monty-doggy · 6 January 2014 at 12:12AM

When you do let him out, make sure he is hungry, he will come back quicker

ColinFishwick · 6 January 2014 at 12:16AM

Lovely cat he looks like mine only mines older. I keep him in a little longer if it was me. Mine is outdoor cat but I got him when he was two. He came back but two weeks in he dissapered for a week. When went out looking for him with posters leaflets drop he came back as if he had never gone. He doesn't go out much especially in Winter

PS watch your carpets mine does stair carpet despite having a cat post

sundevil_rachael · 6 January 2014 at 12:22AM

I think it is a bit young as other's have said and the wrong time of year.

Mine don't go out, they love staring out the window and I have a balcony they have a sniff on but they don't go out. You can take the lead from your cat but he will be lively just now as he is a kitten. They do settle down and a few high shelves and climbing posts are great for them.

As was also said, don't let him out until you neuter him if you are going to let him out, he will wander a lot less

scaredy_cat · 6 January 2014 at 12:25AM

you could take him out in the garden on a harness until he's been snipped. That way he would get used to it before you let him out by himself.

dandelionclock30 · 6 January 2014 at 9:22AM

What I've done in the past is when mine were ready to go out is take them out on a ball of string attached to the collar, and walk next to them etc. I showed them all over the garden, the street etc. After a few times doing this I went out with them without the string and then eventually started letting them out by themselves.
Get him neutred and start with lettiing him out with you in the spring. Its a bit cold at the moment.

georgiesmum · 6 January 2014 at 9:27AM

always let mine out after 2 weeks I have 4 cats.. No disarsters yet. ( i must get a spelling thingy on this computer )

Slinky · 6 January 2014 at 1:12PM

I've never worked out how people get cats to stay with them in a harness or string tied to a collar. Tried our old cat with a harness once, he went straight into reverse and climbed backwards out of it. He'd have done the same with string on a collar unless you had it so tight it would be dangerous.