[Closed] Cat - when to let them go

we let our cats out at 10ish weeks old, only once had a scare when one vanished for a couple of days. started supervised and accepted that when we couldn't stop them running away we would have to let them explore

Our cat won't wear a collar either. She's chipped. I was very reluctant to let her go explore cos she's a beautiful British Blue, & was worried she might " go missing" , but cats need to explore. She's now a lot happier she can come & go as she pleases. Give it lots of love & it'll come back.

Its better to let the cat do what's natural for them ie roam etc. They tend to stick to a territory around the house. In my opinion its selfish to keep cats in for your own piece of mind. They would rather roam etc and take their chances. It was apparent from a few weeks old that both our cats would have to be let out cos they drove us mad.

when you can't pull the elastic any futher 🙄

Most of them are fairly bright. They'll only go a little way from the house at first and then get more and more adventurous. Make sure you keep putting food out and calling them regularly at first to help it get its bearings.

We moved house earlier this year and tiggy (who was the most stupid cat on earth) got lost within 2 days (we kept both cats in the new house for a week). Didn't see her for almost a week and then she turned up again. But she was always going off for days at a time anyway.

Died in her sleep before christmas. 🙁

Try letting him out when he is hungry, then feed him as soon as he comes back.

Then again, it might be a bad idea if he is a hunter too 😉

When you say put out one night - did you make stay out at night? 😯

Let the new one explore a little when he is hungry, and make sure you make a fuss over him when he comes back in. Do not force your cat to fend for himself outdoors overnight.

I haven't had that exact situation, but did loose one for a couple of days when she got shut in some ones garage, she wasn't very well at the time it was so good to get her back.
We had something similar when we moved and our mature male cat had to go out into the garden for the first time which was some weeks afterwards.
He did a tour of the back garden then headed for the fence that led into the woods, we had a seemingly very long and anxious wait whilst and even thought about leaving some food out in case came home very late.
But after a while the birds alarm calls got closer and then there was a thump on the fence followed by his head looking over at us as if to say you were worrying about nothing, I've come back home to where I belong.
You have to let them go out at some point I can understand your anxiety about it, but better to do it when you can be about that when it escapes when you're trying to go out somewhere?

Cranberry - we opened the back door so he could go out for a mooch...it was only 8.30. Called him in 20 mins later and that was that. We would never put him out overnight intentionally.

Thanks for the replies folks.
Much as I suspected...we'll put him out hungry nice and early next Sat - we'll be about all day awaiting the master's arrival 😉

Don't let him out. We have two house cats and they are loved, safe and very happy. They have never been outside so they know no different. House cats are more attentive and develop personalities because they are more exposed to us and each other. We lost a beloved cat to the road 2 years ago and would never want to go through that again. So they crap in the house. They use litter trays which are emptied as they go. We exercise their instincts through play and feel their quality of life is excellent. They certainly seem very happy and we don't have to wonder if they'll get back okay from some adventure or car strike or airgun attack.

If you love them let them go, if they come back, they were always yours.

I am not a cat owner.

We would never put him out overnight intentionally.

Sorry that I got the wrong end of the stick.

The first time out of the house is a scary moment for the humans, but a hungry cat who knows where the food bowl is should be fine. Maybe splash out on some Temptations ( aka kittie crack ) for the coming back indoors party?

EDIT: you could also try using a cat harness if you think that he might wear one.

I would say it should be fine, but don't be surprised if his first trip out is a long one. I have moved three times with my cat and his first trip out has always been a long explore. Previous cat was the same. Current cat is pathetically attached to me so has been out within a week of moves with no problems, though I appreciate that's not seen as long enough by most, how high is your fence that it can keep a cat in!!??

apj - fences are normal 6ft jobbies...maybe he's just not brave enough to tackle one head-on yet - obviously he's able to but is a 'pussy' and will no doubt find them skills pretty sharpish when we ventures into a garden where he's not wanted 😉

derek - each to their own but I have a young, eager cat who's not going to be happy constrained within my garden forever. Its always going to be a risk once you let them out of the door...have your cats ever left your garden?: do you worry that whenever you leave a door open they'll make a dash for it? I'm glad your cats are 'happy' but it would almost be cruel not to let him do what comes naturally.

If a cat is happy, it will stay with you - for all its life probably. If its not. There is no point in trying to force it to stay - the cat will be unhappy and you will always be on edge waiting for it to leave. Brutal but true.

The more miserable people make a cats life, the more keen it would be to leave - this applies to people who starve their cats before letting them out (shame on you, I always feed mine before they go out - all 4 have always come home so far).

I used to cat sit for someone with 3 pedigree cats that never left the house and they used to be so bored and would try anything to try to get out of the house door. Later when the persons circumstances changed they started letting the cats out and the cats would then queue at the door in the morning, crying to be let out into the garden.

Cats are not toys, they are entitled to have a life too, not to just be something you pick up and play with for an hour after you get home - when the cat has had hours and hours of boredom alone, month after month, year after year.

If you love your cat, do the brave thing even though its hard for you and let it have a life outside of the house.

My cat is well loved and well fed so not sure about the 'shame on you' comment.
Agree with everything else you said though.

OP no need to worry.
All he wants to do is get out long enough to shit in the neighbours garden.
He'll be home straight after to piss on your couch. 😉

As much as I am fond of our last remaining cat,a female who is about 14yrs old now. She is a wildlife killing machine. Pigeons to rabbits even bloody brings frogs in. Brings in mice then lets the buggers go in the house! Wants a chin rub then decides to take your arm off when she's had enough. What finally persuaded us to let her out was the chasing and playing with her turds from the cat litter tray on the living room carpet!!!! We will not be getting another one.

Well the moggy has made it to the other side of the fence over the weekend.
Made it easy for him to get out (and back in).
Must admit I was questioning the wisdom of just letting him when he didn't return for over 2 hrs - then he just appeared - relieved is an understatement! Now he comes and goes as he pleases and seems much more content when he's in - getting lots of purring and being sat on (me, not the cat 😉

Been doing just this myself.
We got a 2 yo cat from the CPL nearly 5 weeks ago. They advise 3 weeks indoors before letting outside. And then go out with them and just let them explore a little bit before rattling the food bowl to get them back. Just keep doing this and they should be fine.
This has been working ok so far, in fact she's looked out the open back door several times and turned around to come back in, as if to say "**** that its wet and windy out, no thanks"!
They're not stupid and as long as they know where the food it they'll come back.

Have you had the cat neutered? Worth doing, a male cat will disappear for various days if there's a female in heat around. He'll also be less territorial, and won't roam as far.

'just' been through this, new kitten she was neutered and micro chipped (& allowed to recover) before we let her out, I hate the idea of a 'house' cats (but each to their own). It was still very nerve racking as there is a pretty big cat population locally, and our 'queen' cat come back pretty scarred occasionally. Luckily we live on a quite estate with no busy road.. simply it the luck of the draw though, she been fine though BTW.

I believe it time for a (crap) photo.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15253377@N00/12435169093/ ]Pisci[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15253377@N00/ ]z1ppy2[/url], on Flickr

SO tired

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/15253377@N00/12435036065/ ]Pisci[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/15253377@N00/ ]z1ppy2[/url], on Flickr