British short hair blue desperate to go outside - what would you do?

[30ish]

We bought two beautiful BSH blue kittens last August. We wanted to keep them as house pets as we fear they will be stolen or hurt. Because of the warm weather, children playing and leaving doors open, the cats have been pottering about outside - we bring them in when we come in. They are now desperate to be outside, all the time.

Are we wrong to keep them as house pets? What is your experience? They are so beautiful but slightly dim and I really fear for them outside although we do live in a very quiet/almost rural area. Our neighbours have show worthy gardens and I wouldn't want to upset them by releasing two cats into the neigherbourhood. I will try to post photos.

ps 30 darn handsome cat!

Ooh yes, agree with Giirlie. Flea collars often poison cats. Vet will be able to sort you out with something. (Broadline, Advocate, Advantage, Stronghold) Flea collars are useful popped inside the vacuum though.

*And if you put a collar on them, I'd urge you to use a quick release one. The elastic ones can cause horrific injuries. And death. To the extent I'm shocked they're not banned.

I have a beautiful British Blue Shorthair that I love to bits. I let him out in our courtyard out the back as it has very high surrounding walls & he (thankfully) can't jump or climb to save his life - this amazes me having previously always had moggies that had no problems doing either. He manages to scramble over the lower wall into next door's back garden but he can't get any further because it is also enclosed, so he pops in to say good morning and get a fuss & then comes home. If the front door is open he goes through stages of dashing out as if his life depends on it. This used to worry me terribly as we live on quite a busy road but, after spending ages coaxing him back in when he first did it I now ignore him & shut the door. Two minutes later he's howling on the front step to be let in, it's very funny. He only ever sits under our car anyway as he is a bit of a scaredy cat. Most of his time is spent snoozing indoors anyway, they are very sleepy cats. So, in my experience, BSHs are gorgeous, a bit dim & not likely to stray far as they are very home-loving - but that may just be mine.

I also have a gorgeous Ragdoll. She is still little & she is also allowed in the courtyard but if she ever shows any interest in climbing I will be cat-proofing it completely as Ragdolls are considered too gentle and impervious to risk or fear to be allowed to wander.

People do definitely steal pedigree cats. We had a Siamese when I was a child that was stolen, I was devastated.

Uptown - our BSH can't climb either, must be a breed thing! Quite grateful for this though as means the kitchen work tops are out of bounds for her!

The thing you'll find with quick release collars is that some cats (most cats?) will lose then frequently. Which is a telling tale if it's own really, my cat had lost about 7, in my head that's 7 times he's been in a situation where he could have become trapped or strangled if he had a buckle or elastic collar.

I don't bother anymore, I would like a visable sign he has a home (he's chipped) but at this point there's no point.

I'd like to cat proof but three things concern me

1. He already goes out so id be restricting him
2. I've a small garden
3. He's a lone cat so no company (he does buddy up with neighbourhood cats at the moment. Admittedly he also runs away from other neighbourhood cats too)

OP in your situation I'd definitely cat proof ASAP.

Thread drift and I apologise but just wanted to mention that cats can be poisoned by flea drops as well. Ours was on Advocate and became very unwell for about a day, after having had it for a while without issues, and then again the next month and we had to stop using it. I suspect it was an incremental effect. She went onto stronghold then.

It's powerful stuff, I hate it. Another advantage of not going out is they don't get fleas I suppose.

I'm sure your cats are not currently fat, OP, but 70% of older domestic cats become so, and being indoors doesn't maximise exercise opportunities.

Umiaisha it must definitely be a breed thing, it's quite strange though as cats are usually so agile. Mine took over a year just to be able to jump up onto the windowsill of our arched window where there's a window seat he likes to lie on in the sun whereas our Ragdoll is seven months and did it last week! When he jumps down from anything he's sounds like a sack of spuds, there's no daintiness about it. According to the breed literature BSHs hate being off their feet so it's probably something to do with that. Mine doesn't like being picked up - does yours?

Mine are quite able to jump onto the work tops already.

We bought two in the hope that they would keep each other company but they have very, very different personalities. One is courageous and inquisitive whilst the other is a home bird, content to watch.

I'm currently no nearer a solution. They went outside for an hour at 6am this morning and loved it but they haven't been near the back door since. One just sits on the doorstep whilst the other has a really good nosey around.

Tonight they seem content.

Ours don't like being picked up either and look anything but agile when jumping! Very clumsy to be honest. They constantly fall off bits of furniture and window sills which only adds to my worry.

Uptown - yes our girl always looks very nervous when jumping down from anything and is not very elegant when doing it either! I have heard that they are very much 'on the ground' cats and def the case with her. She hates being picked up by anyone, with exception of DD1 (9) who can pick her up and carry her around for as long as she likes. She is definitely her favourite human!

I have two BSH, both 12 years old. One is a silver tabby and the breeder was insistent he'd be nicked if he got his nose out the door - he took to tree climbing like a pro and loves a snack on the hoof. He was a big, strong cat back in the day and is now an arthritic old beast who likes to think he still has it going on, even if he only goes out when the weather's good.

Our other BSH, a less glamorous boy, still goes out and patrols every day and has a special place to lie in dappled shade and sleep the day away.

I'm glad I let them out; it's enhanced their lives and made mine much easier. I'd do it again too - quite fancy a blue the next time!

I wouldn't let them out, and I say that as the owner of both proper breeds and moggies. I think some breeds, like certain patterned bengals, can be let out with less risk as they are less obviously pedigree but wouldn't risk it with any other distinct looking breeds.

A bit miffed about your comment regarding doors and windows for the next 15 years - didn't you consider that before you got them? Incidentally, the more you let them out the more they will try to escape. Out of my (multiple) house cats only one will walk out the door if it's left open as you walk in/ out. The rest are happy with their boundaries and will look out, but make no attempt to walk outside. Window stays mean windows can be open, just not wide enough for a cat to walk out of. Another product is 'flat cats' (horrible name) which cover the windows with a mesh.

I have cat runs so they do experience the outdoors, but safely. Without the risk of them going missing, being stolen, run over, attacked, poisoned etc. Cat proofing is an alternative, did you say you were struggling with that? My garden is half an acre with stock fencing, several large trees, hedges on the borders etc and protectapuss cat proofing told me it was absolutely possibly to do. They quoted me free of charge including a visit to the house so well worth a call if you're seriously interested.

30ish it just goes to show that breed characteristics are always fighting against the cat's own personality for superiority. How are they getting on with going outside now?

Umiaisha how lovely that your girl loves your daughter so much, that's lovely. My boy is not keen on being picked up but when he does allow you he is so sweet, he really cuddles into your neck and purrs really loudly.

Gutted.

They have both loved being in the garden this summer. Got home at 4pm yesterday after work, let her out into the garden. There was no sign of her at 5pm. Disappeared, gone. Dd and I cant stop crying. Awful. I thought I was doing the best thing by letting her have some time outside.

My cat dissapeared for 5 days and then turned up like a bad penny as if nothing had happened. Hope you find her

A lot of cats go for a wander, she's a distinctive breed which is in her favour because people will notice her more than a tabby.

Are you going out calling her?. A torch works well at night because their eyes reflect well in the light.

Get all of your neighbours to open their sheds and garages as this is the most common site for lost cats.

We've posted leaflet through all our neighbours doors asking them to check their garages and sheds, the back door is open constantly, we've tried calling her and we've spent the evening putting up posters on lampposts. So upset. she's such a lovely cat with a gorgeous temperament. Miss having her on my lap already.

Oh no, fingers crossed she's gone exploring-even my most homely of cats has done it for a couple of days at some point. Thinking of you op.

How's it going?.

She hasn't returned home yet but my husband is 85% (seriously) sure he saw her on the playing field a couple of streets away this morning. He shouted her and she started running towards him but then she stopped and ran off.

We've posted letters through everyone's doors asking them to check their gardens and sheds, put posters up, posted and shrared the poster on FB, joined Harvey's army and spent the evening (until a league football match kicked off) on the field, with a bowl of smelly cat food, calling her name and 'scented' the garden by pouring the contents of the Hoover all over the flower beds. We've left cat litter at the door and walked the streets calling her and jingling her favourite toy.

Her sister has spent the day throwing up and meowing loudly. I think she's anxious. Tomorrow, I'm seriously considering sprinkling a trail of used cat litter from the field to our house. I will try anything. I'm hoping that my husband did see her this morning, it's the only hope we've got.

You know your own cat, there's not main british blues in the world. Keep going.

I'm serious about leaving a trail of cat litter, hansel and greatly style. Would this confuse her? Would it help? Any other suggestions?