Letting cat out for the first time

[jitterbug5]

Hello!
Next weekend I’m due to let my lovely Reginald (please excuse the name. My husband chose it🙄) out for the first time. He’s had all his jabs, fleed, wormed and was castrated on the 31st. He’s just under 6 months old.

Myself and my husband have been letting him into our tiny back garden, supervised since he was about 4 months old. He is actually able to go out now but I’m giving it until next weekend so the fireworks will have died down.

How do I go about this? I’ve heard to let him out when he’s hungry so he’ll come back for food. To put his litter tray outside as well. But then what? Do I just open the door and off he goes? How long should I allow before I (panic) find him? He’s my little baby and I’m so scared he won’t come back

He escaped a month or so ago and we found him terrified and hidden down the side of the neighbours shed and now all I can think is if that happens again and we won’t be able to find him!

I’m probably sounding like a big wuss but I had a baby 5 weeks ago so my hormones are in overdrive!

[Fluffycloudland77]

I let mine out before breakfast on a cold morning. When he got out of my comfort zone I produced breakfast.

It was scary. He was fine.

The first time they go over the fence is the worst bit.

[PosiePootlePerkins]

It is scary! We had one go missing, so I was extra paranoid when we got two rescues. I agree, let them out first thing before breakfast. If he likes dreamies you can lure him back in after a little while so he learns his way back home. Do you have a cat flap? That's a whole new lot of fun teaching them how to use it! (More dreamies!) Good luck OP, cats are generally quite smart and know where their food and human slaves are located

[QuestionableMouse]

Don't let him out. Too many bad things happen to cats that roam. Keep him in and invest in good toys instead.

[Briette]

I conditioned mine by theatrically shaking a noisy bag when preparing their food. When they first figured out how to leave the garden, the bag noise produced them back at the cat flap very swiftly indeed.

I've never bothered putting the litter tray outside (except for when I'm cleaning it). It took mine weeks to work out they could actually climb out of the garden so they were well orientated by then and knew how to get back.

[EachandEveryone]

Let them out first thing when it’s freezing. Then shout sweeties shaking the bag every 15 minutes so they don’t have chance to get very far

[SpadesOfGlory]

It's the worst feeling letting them go for the first time! I let my kitten out from 5 months as it was spring and the weather was starting to improve. He's 1.5 now loves it

I was so nervous at first, but then I realised I just had to let him do his thing and he developed a routine very quickly. He occasionally decides he's having too much fun and stays out overnight, But is always there in the morning when I put his breakfast out and then sleeps away the day in the house!

[EachandEveryone]

Is it true that girls don’t go as far as boys?

[CruzRamirez]

Mouse would you apply the same logic to a child?

I'm in the same boat OP (with two) so pleased to find this thread.

Reginald is a splendid name btw.

[QuestionableMouse]

No, because you can warn a child of the dangers. You can't do that with a cat.

[user1495451339]

Have just started letting my 6 month old male kitten out this weekend when we were outside to keep an eye!!! He got stuck up the tree at the end of my garden twice and had to be rescued by us! He seems to have mastered the backwards shuffle to get down now!

Today we let him out before breakfast and he returned just in time for us to go on the school run and we had been shaking the treats for ages. It is nerve racking as he doesn't restrict himself to our garden but am hoping he avoids the road at the front (not particularly busy) as he hates loud noises and there is lots of land behind our house for him to have fun on!!!

I am only letting him out a short time each day at the moment. Haven't got a cat flap yet but when I do I will set it so he can't leave the house at night.

Am worried about my cat but at the same time want him to have as full a life as possible. Being cooped up inside just doesn't cut it for him. He is permanently at the back door scratching to get out!

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

@EachandEveryone - usually, yes. Males have a larger territory as the girls can just sit and wait for the boys to find them 😁. Un-neutered males have much larger territories than neutered.

Leroy's territory is huge... but I guess that's 'cause he's restricted on what bits of that territory he can actually access!

[EachandEveryone]

Yes I’m hoping that’s the case as we are in a flat. I onkynlet then out when I’m off work though and I get them in before it gets too dark. The little furry one doesn’t seem to feel the cold though and she positively loved been out in the rain the other day. She’s my worry.

[YesItsMeIDontCare]

Benefits of having a nice thick furry coat, and the ability to fluff it out for extra warmth!

Liking the rain is just weird though, but I guess that's cats for you... contrary little buggers 😸.

[jitterbug5]

Thank you for all the replies!! Meant to day, yes he’s microchipped!

The last couple of times me and DH have sat outside with him in our garden he’s started climbing the fence and the tree at the end. I also had to get him down twice! So I think as soon we he realises we aren’t watching his every move he’ll be straight outta there! Good idea on shaking the dreamies every 15 minutes!

We live in a village and not near any main roads so traffic isn’t a worry for me. Other cats maybe, as he seems to tiny in comparison!

[BLUESEAPARADISE]

My cat ( was also called Reg!) was let out and he slowly explored but I was calling him every 15 mins ish with treats so he was learning if he came home he would get treats.

Please make sure you take clear photos of him before you let him or though... just to be safe!

[ElizaDontlittle]

My kitten is 7 months now and learned to climb the fence 3 days after his castration. I let them both out when I get up, in when I go out, and out again when I get home, in when I get twitched/it gets dark/I go to bed. (Seasonal variation) I've just left him for a bit longer at a time, spend time in the garden with him. He's a limpet, that has to be constantly by my side in the house - he might turn into a 6 dinner Sid but he's pretty securely attached!!

[ElizaDontlittle]

Sorry, and congratulations on your human baby. How lovely that they'll get to grow up together!

[CruzRamirez]

Mouse I didn't mean to sound sharp, I apologise if I did. I just mean that of course there are risks in life but I think on balance it's far kinder to the cat to let it have a life outdoors.

[jitterbug5]

I’ve just let him out! 😰

He’s not yet left the garden. I’m literally watching him like a crazy person! I need to get a grip!

[Fluffycloudland77]

We all did that. Is he being cautious?.

[abbsisspartacus]

I would have left it till after new year but one area I lived in let off fireworks during the day

[jitterbug5]

Well, that was an anti climax. He’s back already! 😂

Maybe he just won’t be bothered about leaving he garden now he’s been done?

[AllTheWittyNamesAreGone]

His little face!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Possibly. Plus it's winter & he's been in a centrally heated house so his coat won't be very thick.