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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

keeping cat away from the road

8 replies

Delilahlilah · 19/09/2013 15:34

I've taken in a kitten that someone else was unable to keep (he was terrorising their rescue cat), he was 3 months when I had him approx 3 weeks ago. My intention was to keep him in for a few weeks, no particular time frame, just play it by ear. He has settled in faster than expected and was able to go outside within a week. He's been commuting via the living room window, and until yesterday he would stay in the back garden when he did this; if he went out through either door he made a beeline for the hedgerow on to the road. Obviously I am concerned by him being close to the road, and yesterday he went out of the window and around to the front so is no longer a 'safer' option.
It has been many years since I have had a cat prior to this, do would be grateful for advice to discourage him heading that way. Is there any point in putting some kind of cat deterrent out at the front? I have looked at them but so many have conflicting reviews, and then I am thinking that he could get out there via next door if he chose to.
Thanks for reading, any advice welcome! Thanks for reading.

OP posts:

Mogz · 19/09/2013 20:50

The only way you can keep them from a road is to keep them inside. If our kitty is anything like mine though that is nigh on impossible! We encourage ours away from the road by playing a lot in the back garden and not fussing them if they greet us near the car or the front of the house. I know ours still do cross the road though as I see them in he field opposit all the time.

Original poster

Delilahlilah · 19/09/2013 22:50

Thank you for taking the time to reply. We will have to hope he is a fast learner I think!

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cozietoesie · 19/09/2013 22:54

Have him neutered as soon as your vet will do it - that might help to make him slightly more of a homeboy. Oh - and keep him in at night. That's the most dangerous time for cats with cars (as well as other predators etc.)

Original poster

Delilahlilah · 20/09/2013 09:15

Thanks Cozie.he does stay in at night. He doesn't really go far, his chosen direction is the biggest problem! I do plan to neuter him, hopefully that will help. He is growing so fast, just hope his feline common sense does too!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 20/09/2013 09:40

Not much you can do but keep your fingers crossed if he's an outside cat and you don't have a completely controlled external space - but keeping him in at night should lessen the risk a tad I think.

WinterWinds · 20/09/2013 11:54

I wouldn't let a 4 month old kitten out as this is too young IMO. All of mine have been kept in as long as possible and most certainly not before being neutered or spayed.
But I know its not always easy as my last kitten used to wait for us to come in or go out and shoot out the door, when she realised that we were going to bring her inside she would just give us the run around. She was 7 months by this point and I realised that if I let her come and go on her own she wouldn't run off. I cat proofed the garden as much as I could but she still found a way to escape.

So I relaxed a little bit as we live in a quiet area (semi rural) and she didn't go too far and never near the quiet 20 limit road that runs alongside our cul-de-sac. I let her out 4 weeks ago today, she was on the back patio when I saw her. 10 minutes later there was a knock at the door, it was my next door neighbour telling me she'd been run over at the entrance of our street metres from my front door she was 11 months old.

So what I am saying is that you can never be too careful, I wasn't keen for her to go out in the first place as she was smaller than your average cat but I tried and failed her.
I really didn't think she would go near the road as she had never been near it before but I was so wrong and I do blame myself.

But it just shows that you cannot predict or control where your cats go or that they will have the common sense not to cross the road. But if you haven't got a secure garden and choose to let them roam then it really is a chance you take and you have to hope for the best.

If I ever get another kitten it will strictly be an indoor cat or I will have my garden professionally cat proofed so this cannot ever happen again.

Applecrumbly · 20/09/2013 21:54

Thank you winterwinds.You have just made my mind up for me about my little kitten..I will persevere and keep her indoors however much wanderlust she has.I am so sorry about your little kitten.I have just started a thread about cats going out on the road and just saw this one afterwards.

Original poster

Delilahlilah · 20/09/2013 22:44

Oh Winter, that's so sad. Thing is, cats generally like to go outside. He does shoot out of the door, but other times will lie next to the open window and not bother. The less of an issue he thinks it is for him to go out, the less interest he has. Contrary little so and so! Someone suggested taking him out when we are with him, and bringing his toys to occupy him. Don't think we can shut him in forever, we are rural, but there is always a risk with traffic. :(

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