Introducing indoor cat to outdoors

[C8H10N4O2]

Looking for experiences here as I'm undecided as to whether to take on this cat.

I'm considering a 5yr old cat who needs rehoming due to owners having to relocate (to somewhere they can't take her). Added factor is they are currently abroad and I assume she would need to spend time in quarantine before joining us.

I'm only have one, aging cat at the moment, she generally gets on with other cats. The 5yr old also generally gets on with other cats, however she has been raised as an indoor cat. Our cat is an indoor/outdoor cat.

So has anyone rehomed an indoor cat and introduced them to outdoor life safely? It seems to me its different from introducing a kitten to outdoors for the first time and I'm wondering what the likely pitfalls are and even if its wise to take her on to be an indoor/outdoor cat at this age?

[thecatneuterer]

I can't see it would be a problem. I would keep her in for at least a month then simply allow her to discover the cat flap (assuming you have one) for herself.

Without a flap it's rather more difficult.

Is she definitely neutered? Some people mistakanly think that if they have an indoor only cat they don't need to bother.

[Briette]

A bit younger but my 2.5 year old tom was indoor-only since birth and he's now ok going out. He doesn't go very far at all, but he enjoys pottering in his own way. I took it slowly and went outside with him for the first few weeks so he could build up some confidence as he's a complete wimp. He still prefers it when I'm out with him, but having the option means he'll sneak out through the cat flap and explore sometimes on his own too. And I don't have to worry if he runs out of the house when I'm bringing in shopping, which is nice.

[C8H10N4O2]

Is she definitely neutered?

Yes as I understand it - if she isn't we would need to do that before she goes out.

We have a cat flap and could manage the other cat's coming and going for a few weeks with the cat flap locked. I supposed I'm just worried about her getting lost and not adjusting to outside life without hurting herself first. Somehow it seems easier with kittens to manage how far they go each trip!

[C8H10N4O2]

I took it slowly and went outside with him for the first few weeks so he could build up some confidence as he's a complete wimp

That is a good point. If she turns out to be a wimp it would actually make things easier as she would slow her own progress down. I may be over worrying about this but it is a big move for her and if we take her on my worst nightmare is that she ends up hurt or lost at the end of it. OTOH, this may be her only option for a new home which allows her current owners to keep some contact.

[Fluffycloudland77]

We did but she didn't want to go out so it was a non issue in the end.

[Briette]

Even my sassy cat who loves going outside was frightened at first (another late starter, though again not as late as yours). She would sit and stare angrily out of the door for hours, retreating back inside the moment anything happened .Then one day, it just clicked and she trotted out to start playing as though she'd been born outdoors. Still took her a few weeks to work out she could leave the garden (though if your other cat is confident the new one might take cues). They can be quite odd in how they approach the prospect of freedom.

[C8H10N4O2]

Still took her a few weeks to work out she could leave the garden (though if your other cat is confident the new one might take cues)

Other cat was always top cat, I suspect this would be so with a new arrival. I would be quite happy for a new arrival to be very cautious going outside but other cat may well lead her out.

Its good to hear that people have had positive experiences of doing this, as I've only ever trained young cats to go outside.

[Swearwolf]

I'm in a similar boat! Took on a house cat since birth and kept her as one, as it was difficult to go outside where we lived before (one of the reasons we felt OK to take her while living in a flat was that she'd always been an indoor cat, and as a really nervous rescue was more than happy to remain one).

Now five years later we've moved to the country and were considering letting her out. She made the decision for us - she went out while the back door was open and crept around the patio! No cat flap, which would make it harder, was still considering logistics last week of introducing outside properly (flea treatment, jabs etc she didn't need while indoors only) when she disappeared out on a Thursday evening and I didn't notice and must have shut the door on her. Looked for her all weekend and eventually stuck some cat litter outside the door on Sunday night and in she walked - she must have been lost, but still nearby. She's now desperate to go back out but I want to get it right, and without a cat flap we need to teach her when and how she can get back in, but I don't know how. As someone said, it's different to a kitten, she's about 9 years old.