Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The litter tray

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

Flip

Original poster

9 Month Kitten Won't go Outside

23 replies

LunacyPays · 10/04/2015 11:46

We have a very timid kitten. Under the vets advice we have waited until he is 9 months old before we try to introduce him to the outdoor world. We have just fitted (at great expense) a microchip sensitive cat flap into the french window in our kitchen. For the last 2 weeks we have been trying to get him comfortable with going outdoors, but he is terrified! So far we have tried carrying him outside and staying with him - he bolted straight back inside or hid behind flower pots meowing. We have also tried leaving the door open and letting him sit on the sill looking out - he just sniffs the air and then scarpers. We have arranged pots around the kitchen door so that he has some shelter when he ventures out - no luck.

Has anyone got any suggestions? I would very much like him to be an outdoor cat. He is young and healthy and I think he would get so much from being outside. Plus, I'm totally sick of changing the litter tray!

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/04/2015 12:48

Is it just the litter tray cleaning that's making you want him to go out, Lunacy? Some cats actively dislike outside - and some outside-going cats still prefer to use inside trays for (the majority at least of) their business.

How often are you 'changing' his litter tray?

Original poster

LunacyPays · 10/04/2015 13:04

Cozitoes, no, it's not just the litter tray. AsI said, I feel he would get a lot out of being outside. It seems a bit sad that he isn't experiencing that freedom. The litter tray would be an added bonus but obviously it is not the deciding factor.

OP posts:

RubbishMantra · 10/04/2015 13:05

If he's timid, he probably won't be able to defend himself against other cats.

I'd suggest just leaving the window open for him. His curiosity might get the better of him. Then if he takes to going out, install a cat-flap.

Some cats don't like the out-doors. Don't force him if he's not keen.

RubbishMantra · 10/04/2015 13:09

Sorry! Just notice you already have a cat-flap.

Try waving ham at him from the outside entrance. Tape the door open for a bit.

cozietoesie · 10/04/2015 13:16

I'd let him stay in for as long as he wants to. He's clearly not happy and confident outside so I don't reckon it would be good for him to have to go out there against his will.

Maybe once the weather improves seriously, leave the door open when you're outside doing some gardening/pottering and pay no mind to him - other than standard chatter/stroking - if he comes to join you. And always call him in when you go inside.

That way he might come to see outside as a semi-extension of inside and gain more confidence.

Original poster

LunacyPays · 10/04/2015 14:06

Thanks everyone. Taping the cat flap open every now and again might be a good idea. My ds said he saw him butting it with his head the other morning - it may be that he just doesn't like the pressure of us being around. I was wondering about leaving the cat flap 'unlocked' so that if he decided to go out without any pressure he could. But I'm a bit worried about not being there to help him if there was a problem.

RubbishMantra that's a good point about him not being able to defend himself against other cats.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/04/2015 14:09

Have you got other cats in the close neighbourhood?

thecatneuterer · 10/04/2015 14:31

I agree completely with Cozie. Let him take it in his own time.

shaska · 10/04/2015 15:28

Yep, give him time. Leave the door open, especially if you're outside too.

But also, I never really believed that some cats 'just don't really like going outside' until I had one who will go an absolute max of 3m from the front door, and will shout her head off if she can't see or at least hear us nearby while she's out there.

Then again, she used to have a 1m boundary and a 30 second time limit, so she's getting braver!

RubbishMantra · 10/04/2015 15:37

*But only leave the cat-flap unlocked when you're at home for now. Until he's completely confident outside. And always lock him in at night.

One of mine (Little Monsieur) doesn't seem to realise it opens both ways, and picks it inwards with his claws to get out. Silly puss.

Original poster

LunacyPays · 10/04/2015 16:18

Cozietoes - I have noticed a couple of new cats recently - about the same age as ours. Apart from that, it's very quiet. There is a dog next door that barks now and again but there is a fairly high fence separating them.

We love him to bits, but he's a bit of a puzzle. One minute he will be affectionate and playful and the next he will be cowering under the bed because someone has knocked on the door. He knows and accepts my family, but anyone/ anything else provokes terror. We got him as a slightly older kitten, but as far as I know he came from a very loving background.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 10/04/2015 17:08

Sounds like some of my Siamese boys.

He's been neutered, had his shots and all?

Mitzimaybe · 10/04/2015 17:29

Let him take it at his own pace. Catflaps are quite difficult for kittens, as they need quite a push to open. (I imagine he's almost fully grown but he's still just a baby really.)

I'd take the two things - going outside, and using the catflap - separately. Now the weather's warmer, take yourself outside, go outside - where he can see you from the house - and do some gardening or just sit and read a book etc. Leave the door open. Let him just look out from the doorway with no pressure. Then he might take a few steps outside, and bolt back in again when there's a noise or smell he doesn't like. Next time he might take a few more steps. It might take quite a few goes before he gets to like it. The dog barking will terrify him at first. I'd let him run inside but not rush to comfort him, as that is rewarding the frightened behaviour and teaching him that he was right to react like that. If he ventures outside and comes up to you then definitely make a big fuss and perhaps give him a treat that you happen to have in your pocket, but I wouldn't use the treat to tempt him outside in the first place.

If he learns to like going outside, then he'll be more motivated to use the catflap. When I got one, I tied it open (using string tied to the door handle) for a few days so they could come in and out through the hole, then I shut it and showed them to push it open.

Original poster

LunacyPays · 10/04/2015 18:38

Yes Cozietoes - neutered, shots, microchipped flea and wormed!

Mitzimaybe - yes it seems like taking it slowly is the only sensible option. He sat on the door sill for absolutely ages this afternoon - sniffing the air and watching insects buzz by. He seemed very interested! He's not remotely interested in the cat flap, but like you say, I will deal with that separately!

OP posts:

Original poster

LunacyPays · 16/04/2015 22:14

Quick additional question. He has been out tentatively during the day throughout the week and has figured out how to use the cat flap. This evening he has been scrabbling at the cat flap and seems desperate to go out. I think he might find the cover of darkness reassuring. DH thinks I should let him out but I am worried that it would be unsafe. What do people think? Too early or should I let him follow his instincts?

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/04/2015 22:24

House rules at cozietowers - there's a curfew from dusk to dawn. I've always regarded nighttime as more dangerous to cats (predators, cars (the local youth come out with their cars to play of an evening) etc etc. The cats learn the rule and settle down quickly as soon as they realize they can still get out in the daytime.

Glad he's been out in the daytime and learned the flap.

cozietoesie · 16/04/2015 22:39

PS - I suppose that, strictly speaking, that would be a curfew from teatime to breakfast. (I'm a bad riser so any cat that wanted out at sunup on a June morning would just have to contain themselves.)

Original poster

LunacyPays · 16/04/2015 22:47

Thanks Cozietoes - that definitely seems like the sensible option. I felt a bit mean - first time he has actually wanted to go out - and it's dark! It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 16/04/2015 23:14

Maybe let him out before his breakfast and get him back in for his tea until he's established a routine. Which he will - he should be fine once his mental clock is set.

'Letting out' in your case would mean unlocking the flap of course.

nellorr · 19/04/2015 21:54

Hi... Just thought I'd jump in on this thread because we're having a similar issue with our kitten. She's a Bahraini bin cat (hundreds of generations of strays) that my husband rescued in a hideous state and spent (what seemed like) millions of pounds fixing her! She now won't go outside and when our other cat goes outside she sits in the window watching her with a look of "what the f**k are you doing out there"... We leave the door open but she won't go anywhere near that demon open door!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 19/04/2015 22:31

She sounds scared that if she goes out she won't get back in. She's had a different experience of outside to a cat whose been a pet.

cozietoesie · 20/04/2015 00:22

I wouldn't worry about it, nellorr. If she's happy inside and doesn't want to go out, so be it - I wouldn't force the issue.

nellorr · 20/04/2015 16:28

Thanks... We'll leave it up to her, hopefully she'll get some confidence soon and venture out for fun and frolicking in the garden with her big sister! ??

Flip