How to introduce cat to outdoors

[washngo]

We have just adopted a rescue cat. He is 4. Cat protection took him in as a stray. We've had him 1 week and have kept him indoors. In a couple of weeks we are going to trysting him out and I wanted some advice in how to do it. How do we start the process? When he is able to use the catflap, do we just let him come and go as he pleases or do we need to monitor or regulate his outdoor time? Advice very welcome!

Trysting = try letting

We have had two rescues in the past two years. Had one then another the year after. Kept them in for 3 weeks or more if they seem really unsettled. Then I let them out just before the evening food round. They explored and disappeared, I rattled the food and treats a while later and they returned. Phew.

Always a risk but if they are settled indoors and know you are a safe place with food they will almost always come back. I think I then let them out myself over the next few days and they built up their time outside themselves, roaming further and further.

One of mine hunts and can be gone for ages, the other is more a territory girl and likes our garden mostly.

After a few days of coming and going I just put the Catflap on open and off they went.

Many people lock their cats in at night as most road accidents happen then but you can decide depending on your area etc. my Catflap is always open as the only time I've had one hit by a car was daytime and he hunts the fields behind us where there is no traffic.

When I moved I kept mine in for a month. Then, fortunately I was on holiday from work and I could let them into the garden through the catflap for short periods at a time. It was bloody nerve wracking. Letting them come and go was agonising (but I'm a wuss.) I think it's important to let them out hungry so they come back soonish to start with.

We soon got into a routine of them going out for the day and coming back at food time. Then I'd lock the catflap and they were in for the night. I'd never let them out at night due to foxes and they sleep perfectly happily through the night.

Sadly, one of them got killed on the road a month or so ago - she was too incautious of everything. New cat has shown no inclination to go out at all, so happy to keep him as an indoor cat. (He's bloody white though and moulting!)

Yup. As everyone else has said. Let him out in afternoon then sit chewing your fingers until supper time! Ours had had a very busy day the first time we let him out having been around our niece who was staying with us for the weekend. Headed out, jumped over the fence and disappeared. Then we heard a fight. Came back at supper and passed out at the top of the stairs! Although we did have to take him to the vet for an eye infection as a result of that first fight! He got into quite a few fights at first but quickly established his territory and the fighting stopped! Phew!