To let my Ragdoll outside?

[ConcernedCatmother]

I have 4 cats, one of which is a Ragdoll breed. Anyone with a Ragdoll breed will probably know it is recommended not to let them outside due to their “lack of survival instinct.”

So here is my predicament;

All of my 4 cats are indoor cats. I live in a 5 bed house currently, but i’m having to massively downsize to a 1 bed bungalow. I am planning to let the cats go outside as it is too small to not give them that extra space.

AIBU to let my Ragdoll outside? Does anyone let their Ragdoll outside? The other option is to sadly rehome her, as it would upset her to see the others going out but not her.

P.s I do not want to have a catio installed

How can you know what most indoor cats are like? The ones I’ve known just live indoors. No outdoor space, not much going on indoors. Just because you’re a member of some Facebook groups where people make more of an effort, don’t take that to be the majority.

In the U.K. most cats are let out, there isn’t the culture of making a catio for them and keeping them indoors. I would guess that very few indoor cats have anything extra put together for them.

My half rag doll goes outside all the time. She goes across the road to the park, all the neighbours gardens, she's fine , always has done.

Get cat fences so they can't get out the garden

I've got 2 ragdolls and we have our back garden fence topped with black mesh pulled taught across black L shaped brackets all around. You can hardly see it, but it stops cats jumping either in or out of the garden.

I wonder if you’re in a US Facebook group?

I'd be overly careful of letting an infamously not-streetwise breed out, at least without some sort of catio thing or chaperoning going on.

Last year I met a ragdoll near our street. As I love cats and always make a big fuss over all the ones in our area, I knew I'd not seen this one before, it clearly stood out and was beautiful with its long fur and pretty face. It came straight up to me, rolling about, following me... I had to try hard to get it to lose interest. As an owner I'd be so worried someone would steal that kind of breed seeing it around. Haven't seen it since, I assume it had escaped its home for the day.

Everyone who is talking about their Ragdolls here without posting pictures is being extremely unreasonable.

I have four ragdolls. All get supervised access to the garden. Mine are clever but way too trusting and only ever see or hear a car going to the vets. I personally wouldn't allow a ragdoll to roam, more from a theft aspect.

"I guess I’m a bit concerned it will feel a bit like a prison courtyard - it’s already a bit of a shock going from a 5 bed house with huge gardens to a 1 bed bungalow 😂"

Imagine the shock your new neighbours get when 5 cats move in next door and start shitting on their lawn. Cat proof it.

Why are people buying cats selectively bred to look nice but be thick as shit and hence not to enjoy the simple yet essential pleasure of being outside, in fresh air and with a living, engaging natural environment to enjoy?

Such self- centred self-indulgence!

Some friends of ours have a Ragdoll that goes out in their garden under supervision. Surprisingly, it makes no attempt to jump over the fence, like most other cats would!

If you got a microchip controlled catflap, it might be possible give the other cats free access to the outside but not the Ragdoll.

However, it might be safer to just cat proof the whole garden. If none of your cats have been out before, they are not likely to know how to deal with traffic, dogs and the many other things they might encounter.

My ragdoll will come into our fenced back garden if someone is out there with him, but never goes more than 3 metres from the back door and as soon as the person with him makes any move towards the door to go back in, he panics and races inside! He never goes out alone and probably only shows any interest in coming outside two or three times a week in spring/summer, far less in winter. He enjoys an occasional sniff of plants and a glance at the sky.

I have Persians who are similar, no way would I let them out. She'll probably adapt ok.

No thata a ticket to loose a vat by either someone stealing him or him getting hurt by orher cats,run over etc. They let anyone pick them up and honestly,are dopey cat breed, hence why every breeder stresses,indoor cats only.

A lot of these cats sound as though they're living in pretty prisons, living not much of a life due to owners anxieties. Why not choose a moggy that can live an enriched and interesting life ?

If you decide to rehome your Ragdoll, please contact Ragdoll Rescue, they rescue and rehome them all over the country and vet new owners carefully. They have a website and a Facebook page. Good luck with whatever you decide.

My Katzecure garden. It's been a gamer changer

Our Ragdoll was an outdoor cat. He was always out overnight (unless the weather was truly terrible). He was a great ratter and lived to nearly 15, a good age for a Ragdoll. He wasn't dim or overly friendly as a lot of Ragdolls are described. I think it depends on the cat, whatever breed, really.

I will concede they are more likely to be nicked than a moggy.

My rag doll goes out. She didn't until she was four but then started legging it past me in the doorway. She's nervous of strangers and rarely goes further than the garden. She's sixteen now!

We have a garden that wraps around and one side is enclosed for my two raggies. I would be careful about letting a raggie roam. My female got out once when DS didn't close the door properly.

We didn't even know she had gone when we had a neighbour knock. She had wandered into her conservatory and hopped up on her lap. She had no fear whatsoever when said neighbour carried her down the close back to our house. They are not streetwise at all.

@DoeRayMe, I'd really like to extend my cat's area as we have to have a fence and gate in the middle of the garden where it curves around the house.

Do you mind telling me what you paid please?