Rescue cat going outdoors

izoomzoom

Hi, we got a 13y rescue female about 4 weeks ago. We kept her in exclusively for the first 3 weeks and are on day 5 of letting her out into our back garden morning and night, before meals, so that we can entice her back in. However she seems keen to go outside during the day but I'm scared. How long should we keep this up before we let her out more regularly. She definitely went in and out at will at her previous home.

She has been up on the fences already, although has always jumped back down on our side (probably because we call her), and she tried to get out the front door for the first time this morning, when I brought the bin back to the house.

borkid

Why don't you contact the rescue center you got her from and see what they advise. They will know what her character is like and can make a more informed judgement.


When we get new cats we keep them in for 2 weeks and then supervised trips in the garden for the next 2 weeks. After that they come and go freely, however for the last 2 we lived out in the wilds surrounded by fields and only 5 near neighbours.

LABMAN

If she's already been going in and out for five days she'll be fine, cat's aren't daft.

TBagpuss

What are your concerns?
Are you worried that she will get lost and not be able to find her way home, or that she will get out of the garden and be at risk of getting run over, or that she should not be out all day?

I don't think she will get lost - she's been with you long enough, and out enough, to know her territory and how to get home.
If it is the second, then think about how you can make it harder for her to get out of the garden - have a 'catio' or catproof rollers on the top of the fence (or accept that it is arisk with a free roaming cat)

The third is the one I would be concerned about, if you don't have a cat flap, if you are all out all day so not there to let her back in, so I would look at getting a cat flap installed, so she can come and go as she likes, You can get locking ones so you can keep her in at night, or when you need to corral her for a visit to the vet.

sheramber

My son let his rescue cats out after 3 weeks. By that time one of them was trying to get out through the letter box.

SensibleSarah

As long as she can get back in when she wants i.e. if she gets spooked, then I'd leave her to it.

Assuming she is microchipped if a rescue? All of my cats wear (safety) collars too as not everyone knows to scan a found cat - but I know not every cat will tolerate them.

If cat seems settled in to the new home and 'knows' her owners then she'll probably be fine - she's not some impulsive kitten and is unlikely to go further than shouting distance in my opinion.

Fen1

Has she been microchipped? If she does wander she can be traced.

As another poster suggested, install a locking microchip catflap.

Has she been spayed?

Red-Squirrel_2

You could get one of those GPS trackers for the collar too, for extra peace of mind.

Fire_Fox

Your little madam sounds impatient to establish her own territory.

If you would like to encourage her to spend time in your garden, you could play with her out there. Long wands with 'prey' (birds/ mice/ insects) really lend themselves to open spaces.

Also a warm bed, be that near a radiator, plug in heated or Flectabed. My young lady only leaves my heated throw if it turns itself off, to eat smelly cat food, or abuse her poor stinky valerian mouse!

Do not go to the Purrsinourhearts shop . Stinky mouse has many furry and feathered friends.

charlotte1994

I've always found that cats know what they're doing, they're very clever animals. I know how you feel as my boyfriend and I recently adopted a cat (she's only a year old) was found straying with her kitten and taken to a charity. Even though I know she lived outside I am still weary of letting her out; I'm scared of her getting run over or something.


All I can say is that you're doing the right thing, she clearly knows her way home! Just make sure she is microchipped! Is she wearing a collar? The fact that she comes when called is a very good sign! I would day just let her out during the day for an hour or so and call her back, add an hour on each day and see what is comfortable with. Don't worry if she doesn't come right away, my family cat Lola can be out all day, comes back when she likes or just waits near by until we call her back in.

Is there somewhere warm/safe nearby she can wait? I wouldn't worry too much, she is obviously settled with you since she comes when called (: with her age I would think that she won't go far, just roam locally!

Marmaduke123

You don't say whether you have a cat flap, it does make a difference. We have a five year old rescue cat, brought home exactly three weeks ago.

We kept him in for two weeks, then began to let him outside for short periods, but he was difficult to supervise as he soon ventured beyond our garden. He is a bit of an outdoor cat and disappeared for a couple of hours at a time before coming home. We have a microchip operated cat flap which he learned to use quite quickly to go out, but needed a bit longer to get used to coming in. When we weren't sure he could get back in we didn't go out if he was out.

Now he comes and goes freely during the day, but we lock the cat flap at night at the moment. If you don't have a cat flap it's more difficult as your cat might need to wait quite a long time for you to come home and let her in. It is a bit nerve wracking, but a thirteen year old cat will be pretty streetwise like ours. He's just get to get on terms with the other neighbourhood cats now!