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

Original poster

letting 'fancy' cats outside

27 replies

ParsleyCake · 07/05/2015 17:36

We have three bog standard mogs, all rescues and allowed out with their collars on. I was wondering what people do when they have a fancy Persian or other breed or an unusually coloured cat. My friend has a gorgeous pure white cat - not a special breed, just unusual colour, and she has been wanting to let her cats outdoors. I warned against it, as to me a white cat seems highly desirable and I could see him getting cat-napped. She also has a gorgeous tortoise-shell cat, who also has unusual markings but not quite as rare.

Is it normal for cats to get stolen? Should she let her cats outdoors?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 07/05/2015 18:09

We advise against pedigree cats being let out on the street. However if you have an enclosed garden, or gardens onto gardens with no openings onto the street (like most London terraces) then that should be fine.

Pedigrees do get stolen - but of course that's much more likely if people think they aren't neutered. If you must let a pedigree have access to the street then (although we generally advise against collars) a snap off collar with a tag that just says 'I'm chipped and spayed or chipped and neutered' might be wise.

With the pure white, tortie or anything else non-pedigree then I probably wouldn't worry.

RubbishMantra · 07/05/2015 20:44

I've got a Devon Rex, think curly shock of Einstein hair on his head, bald neck, wrinkly old man chest. More unusual than fancy he drinks out the toilet I suppose. Also have a black and white mog. B&W mog hates anyone who's not me, DH, or trusted friends, where the little curly bloke would go off with anyone. He's decided not to leave the garden though.

They're shut in from teatime, and cat-flap opened at about 10am, because most cat fatalities and accidents happen between dusk and rush hour. They're both chipped, and have Loca8tors on their snap-off collars.

Fluffycloudland77 · 07/05/2015 20:50

We've let all ours out, pedigrees and mogs.

Anyone picking ASBO cat up would get scissor pawed. Dh can barely contain him and he's strong.

rosieposey · 07/05/2015 20:50

I have an Oriental havana and a seal point Siamese ( they are brothers ) and they have just started to let themselves out ( window or any way they can find ) we live in the countryside and there are fields abutting our back garden but there is a road in front of our cottage.

I know they love being outside, and when its sunny they tend to hang out in the garden with me but i don't really like them going out on their own tbh - i always make sure they are in at dusk and dawn ( so they aren't bringing home 'presents') and the rest of the day too if i can - its easier in the winter than summer though.

Both collared and chipped - our Siamese is more friendly than his brother, i don't know if he would go to anyone though.

rosieposey · 07/05/2015 20:51

I should say even though we live in the countryside we do live in a village with a main road going past our house to the nearest town.

Micah · 07/05/2015 21:05

I'm dithering with the same issue :)

New cat is a cross, but is seal point, so we think he may have Siamese in there somewhere. He's very pretty :).

We're in a big city, not far from a main road, lots of terraced streets. He seems ok so far as an indoor cat, but has started to get a bit excited when her hears the back door. Sometimes I think it's so lovely out its a shame he can't enjoy it.

I did have a pure Bengal at one point, but from a distance he looked like a tabby. Plus bengals, ime, aren't happy as indoor cats. I could never have kept mine indoors, the 3am play/yowling session drove me mad!

Andrise · 07/05/2015 22:09

I have a Devon Rex. (bit baldy with blue eyes). My vet says I am the only Rex owner she knows who lets hers out. Mine loves being out in the garden trying and failing to catch birds and sunbathing on the terrace so much that I couldn't bear to keep him in. He goes to anyone who shows an interest on our fairly busy city street.

I suspect there are a lot of urban myths about people stealing cats.

umiaisha · 07/05/2015 22:56

We live in London and our blue cream BSH goes out via a sureflap cat flap. Every pedigree cat I know goes out too.

chickydoo · 07/05/2015 23:11

I have 4 Bengals, & in the Past have had Persians & a British Blue.
All of them are/have been outdoor/indoor cats. We shut them in at night. We live in a town with plenty of traffic, but do have a big garden.
One of the bengals is agoraphobic, she hates the big scary outside world, and only goes out with me, or her sister.
Another Bengal is always in the trees, we look up & there she is.
We have one wanderer, who does vanish from time to time, she is very streetwise, can imagine her strutting her stuff under a lamp post, she kindly always brings us back a gift from her travels. A magpie yesterday....rather impressive...as she is small,& the magpie was huge.
Bengal no 4 suns herself on the outside table, and never goes too far.
They are a bit doggy for cats, we whistle at food time and they come charging in like 4 hungry teenagers, they are also very vocal, and shout at us if we don't worship & adore them enough.
I did consider keeping them in for a while, but ripped sofas, and furniture scratched to pieces was enough for me to let them out.
( they are all between 4 & 9 years old)

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 07/05/2015 23:57

I have two Maine Coons and a moggy. They go out. Ophelia is timid and mostly plays in the grden, Oberon is a beast of a boy.. 11 months old, huge and magnificent and goes wherever he pleases. he's ripe for being cat napped but he's also a cat.. the outdoors is his domain and I couldn't keep him confined to the house..he'd hate it. Portia is a moggy but a very beautiful long haired tortie... she goes where she pleases!

There is always a risk...but one I am prepared to cope with because I genuinely feel it is wrong to coop a cat up indoors!

RubbishMantra · 08/05/2015 00:07

Andrise, does your curly fool chatter at the birds? And flies?

Mine has blue eyes too. They glow red when he's manic excited. Is your's a si-rex/colourpoint?

code · 08/05/2015 06:59

I'm going to let the burmese out once we get the cat flap in. Am a bit nervous but their happiness is my priority and it feels like a half life for them being stuck in the house. They are homely, dote on me and their food so am confident I'll be able to call them in.

code · 08/05/2015 07:03

hes also a cat
Can't agree more. Why should pedigrees get a restricted life? They are just cats underneath the fancy fur. I think the exceptions being a sphinx, if I had one of those I'd probably get a harness and go for walks.

MinimalistMommi · 08/05/2015 16:34

I have a Ragdoll kitten, he is gorgeous and very trusting and would probably go off with anyone who would give him cuddles and love. There is no way I'm letting him out! Plus we live in the city centre so I don't think it would be safe for him and we signed a contract saying we wouldn't let him out.

Andrise · 08/05/2015 19:57

How funny RubbishMantra yes he does chatter at birds. Can spend ages making noises to them. Apparently it is designed to charm the birds to him, but our local birds remain resolutely unimpressed. He has never caught anything but that does not stop him living in hope.

Mine is a cream with tabby markings on his head and tail. Have to say I love Rexs. They are very dog like and like lots of attention and affection. Ours does a nice line in DIY assistance. He even comes to the park when I walk the dogs sometimes and walks along with us. He also absolutely loves water and always insists on being in the shower with anyone who uses it.

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/05/2015 22:53

The posh arrogant boy whilst a divinely handsome seal colour pointed BSH is allowed out as anyone who tried to catnap him would be taking their life in their hands.

The previous cream BSH also went outside he came to me as his previous owner thought he would eat her children so again most people were afraid of him. He never ate my child even though she deserved it on many an occasion.

Niklepic · 08/05/2015 23:00

We've got a Persian and a pure white along with four other mogs. They all go out but the Persian and the white tend to go out the front door and then straight around the back. They never go far although 3 of the other 4 roam (the 4th is an old man who barely gets out of his bed any more). The Persian in particular is a bit of a home boy.

Our main problem is remembering to put sun cream on white's nose and ears when it's hot.

umiaisha · 09/05/2015 20:43

Agree Code!

When I asked the vet whether it was safe to let our girl out he looked at me as though I were insane and said 'she's a cat, albeit a posh one'!!!

SingSongSlummy · 09/05/2015 20:53

We had an enormous, supremely majestic and beautiful Siberian when we lived in London and he was allowed out freely. He dissapeared one weekend and was never found by us or any vets despite micro chip and extensive searching. We were told he was probably stolen and it still make me sooooo sad Sad

SingSongSlummy · 09/05/2015 20:53

excuse typos!

RubbishMantra · 09/05/2015 21:19

Ha! Rexes are awesome aren't they Andrise. They have their own special way of hindering helping. I often wonder if my curly loon is actually a cat, or some sub-species.

3mum · 09/05/2015 22:54

Smile yes Rexes are a lot of fun. We also have a black and white moggy, but she is far too cool to do any of the things which entertain us so much (she is known in our family as the real cat).

Butterflywings168 · 10/05/2015 00:46

Love that response um Grin

RubbishMantra · 10/05/2015 13:38

Ha, our black and white mog is the cool one too! Our neighbours call him "the posh cat." I'm actually beginning to wonder if Devon's are actually cats at all.

MrsNextDoor · 10/05/2015 13:43

Our Siamese loves going out. He never hunts and if other local cats start trouble, he literally gives them a dirty look and turns his head away...he never leaves our garden...he meows to come in once the sun's gone in.