Letting a cat out

CharlieRabbit01

my boy is nearly 6 months and he is interested in the outdoors so we let him in the garden supervised on his harness, he's usually out for 5 minutes then cries to come back in.

he actually prefers to sit inside on the window sill or just inside the door with the window/door open and just look.

CharlieRabbit01

Slinky wrote: »

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.

perseverance I think. Denzel will wear his harness but not his collar, but every so often we just put it on him for no reason for a few minutes at a time and he eventually got used to it.

sundevil_rachael

Slinky wrote: »

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.

Agree, tried it once and whilst my cat didn't get out of it he was half way up a tree :rotfl::rotfl:

balletshoes

Slinky wrote: »

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.

it depends on the cat - my previous cat wouldnt have anything to do with a harness, and he hated collars too.

Current kitt - I could dress him up in a top hat and tails every day and he wouldn't give a monkeys - he's a complete hippie-type cat :rotfl:(and he wears a harness and collar regularly).

KateBob

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Thanks for the replies, I've decided to keep him in for a while longer!

Anyway, though you might like another piccy.

GwylimT

I would keep him in a bit longer, for one I'm guessing he hasn't been neutered yet, but on top of that as well he wont be as crazy kitten when a little older, so he is less likely to get into a pickle.

rising_from_the_ashes

Kate/Bob wrote: »

Thanks for the replies, I've decided to keep him in for a while longer!

Anyway, though you might like another piccy.

Awwwww he is just scrumptious!

So glad you've decided to wait a bit - mine are usually around the year mark before I start letting them out AND I'd certainly not be doing it at this time of year

When you do, do it very slowly - 5 mins & get him back, then 10 and build it up

Try and have a "home" word & maybe shake a tub of treats

Mia has the most amazing recall (much better than the dogs!;)) and will come pelting back from wherever she is when I yell for her Very, very handy!

Tiglath

We keep ours in for 3-4 weeks when they first join us, and then they come and go as they please through the catflap. No disasters so far, and we think we're on our 20th cat over the years A couple of our older ones never go out now, which is fine, and a couple only come in at mealtimes. One goes out in April and comes back in October - she goes walkabout and lives wild in the marshes.

quidsy

We waited till our boy was 6 months, vaccinated and chipped. He was practically chewing our ankles off by then to get out. We have a large roof terrace so the first week was exploring there but once he figured out the stairs there was no stopping him. Some are just naturally outdoor cats.

KateBob

Well he's finally gone out for the first time today for about 5 mins.

He loved it and I had to use the treat bag shake to get him back in, he's now sleeping it off on the sofa.

Thanks everyone for your advice.