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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

She hasn't come back in...

27 replies

FushandChups · 17/12/2013 17:05

Have had our cat for 3 weeks and she has been kept inside all that time to get her used to being here.

She was patrolling by the front door today so I thought she wanted out (I was advised that she would let me know when she wanted to go outside as she had always been an outside cat) so I opened the door and out she went...

She hasn't come back it's only been two and a half hours and I guess she is exploring our neighbourhood but the kids are sad and I kind of wish I hadn't done it.

A friend said she will come back when she's hungry so perhaps rattle dry food/treats and have tried that but no luck..

Just looking for reassurance she'll be back as she is very much wanted here (I have nightmares of someone 'adopting' her and us never seeing her again). I guess it's always this way the first time you let them out but am a cat novice and this is making me sad!

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Poledra · 17/12/2013 17:09

We adopted two older cats this summer. First time we let them out was nerve-racking. DH was at home, and I kept getting texts from him to say that one of the two cats hadn't come home. Got to 6pm, in saunters the 'missing' cat, who then yowled till he got fed. We'd let them out at 8am before breakfast, thinking they'd come back for it - FatCat did, SleekCat didn't. He was just checking out his new 'hood, bro.

She'll be back.

cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 17:13

Go outside and call her regularly and leave some lights on - she'll be back.

Is she chipped?

FushandChups · 17/12/2013 17:14

Thanks for that... It was dry, a bit chilly but dry when she went out but it's now starting to rain and still no sign..

I am being daft but I can't help it

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FushandChups · 17/12/2013 17:14

Yes - she's chipped! and have been out every so often to call and rattled... will keep at it!

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cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 17:15

You're not daft - it's always like this the first time they go out - and thereafter if they don't come back by their regular time, I'm afraid.

Sparklingbrook · 17/12/2013 17:15

She will be back when she's hungry. It is nerve wracking.

cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 17:16

They usually saunter back in with a 'What's your problem?' look on their faces as well.

FushandChups · 17/12/2013 17:20

oh god - what have I done in getting a cat... For some reason the whole 'independent' thing was part of the appeal - I can now see it as the worry wart that it actually is

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LastOneDancing · 17/12/2013 17:24

She's out chasing things and having fun. She'll be back - they're too lazy to give up an easy meal and a warm bed!

I remember the fear first time we let out our babies cats...

cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 19:36

Any sign of her yet?

FushandChups · 17/12/2013 20:25

She's just come home - phew! Ate her body weight in rabbit and is now curled back up on my bed (I think!)..

I think it did her good though and am now glad I did it - but pretty nerve wracking. Don't think she likes the rain much which worked in my favour

I also have a very relieved 4yo!

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cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 20:38

Great! The difference with her is that she's an experienced cat so had to get the hang of her new neighbourhood rather than have an 'Oh My God What's All This?' experience. She should be better now that she knows what's around the house and has strutted her stuff.

(And Yes - the weather will definitely help.)

Does your 4yo keep checking her sleeping .... in case?

FushandChups · 17/12/2013 20:50

You're right about her just scoping the place - although her previous owner said she had been known to stop out overnight. i was gently panicking that my 'when you come down for breakfast, she'll be back' would be for nothing! Phew

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Lovethesea · 17/12/2013 20:56

Sometimes I think rain means Huntercat will come in but I think he finds a hedge to hide under and waits it out quite often. Just occasionally he comes in soaking wet when the hunger gets louder than his aversion to a shower!

cozietoesie · 17/12/2013 21:01

Maybe try to get her into a routine of in at night? If you let her out during the daytime, she should be reasonably content with not being allowed out after dusk, say, and adjust.

FushandChups · 18/12/2013 10:15

Hi Cozie - I really wouldn't want her out at night as am city centre and not that far from a busy road. She has shown no inclination to shift off my bed today but would like to get her into an 'out in the day' routine but will see.

She has also always gone out so don't want to force her to be an indoors cat as think she would be miserable! Also will give her a chance to escape my kids who want to kill her with love

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cozietoesie · 18/12/2013 10:25

Their first pet. She's likely a pretty forbearing cat if she came back.

She may be in the routine of thinking that she'll sleep all day and go out in the evening but it won't take long to adjust her thinking to staying in at night. Say two or three days. She won't go out so much if it's boring out there anyway and she'll likely think it's boring at the moment - because, being winter, it pretty well is.

FushandChups · 18/12/2013 11:51

Well, she's trundled out again now so hopefully it's the start of something? Hopefully as she went out a lot earlier than yesterday, she will come back a bit earlier - but she's a cat and even though I'm new to this, I know they do what they want, when they want!

At least I know she will come back eventually (fingers crossed!!)

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thecatneuterer · 18/12/2013 12:08

Can you get a cat flap? That way you wouldn't be 'forcing' her out when she doesn't really want to go, and she could of course get back in whenever she wants. And you could always lock it at night.

FushandChups · 18/12/2013 12:46

Am in rented accommodation so not really supposed to have a cat so not sure how my landlady would feel about it..

However, she's been in a flat and two other houses without cat flaps so hopefully she'll start to get into it... a friend has had cats for years and never had a flap although I think if this was my house, I would get one...

When the weather improves,I will probably leave a high windows ajar so she can come and go as pleases? Although perhaps that invites in all the neighbourhood cats... hmm, will think about that!

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FushandChups · 18/12/2013 14:00

aaaaaand - she's back it's getting bloody cold though so don't blame her. She came from the same direction as last night so has perhaps found somewhere to huddle until I open the door...

Think I will have a good read of my tenancy and see what it says as a flap would be preferable - especially when I return to work in the new year

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cozietoesie · 18/12/2013 14:03

Just a thought - if you're keeping her in overnight, probably a good idea to keep her tray as a going concern. Just in case she's caught short in the small hours.

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FushandChups · 18/12/2013 16:42

Oh the tray is here to stay as she is in more than she is out for now... she has got much more affectionate since she has been allowed out which is really nice!

Her original Turkish owners popped round to see her today (she's had quite a full on 6 months as she moved to the UK and then moved around a bit!) and they gave me a calender featuring my cat as Miss August (well, Miss 20th August)! All done before she left Turkey apparently and she is sporting a rather attractive neckerchief

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cozietoesie · 18/12/2013 16:49

Golly. I think a name change is in order for you Fush ?

FushandChups · 18/12/2013 17:11

I know - world famous in my living room It doesn't even look much like her as she seems to have grown A LOT(when do cats get fully grown?)

Thanks for all your wisdom here - and many other threads - has really put my mind at ease!

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