Letting rescue cat out for first time. Help!

[Monr0e]

We have recently adopted a rescue cat. He is approximately 3 years old and the only history we have is that he has probably lived on the streets for a very long time.

He was locked up by the rspca and neutered and has now found his way to us.

He has been here for 10 days now. He is the most loving gentle boy and we love him to bits already. But he has started to get really eager to go out. I'm terrified of letting him out and him shooting off and not being able to find his way back to us. Any tips please on how we can start letting him out safely? Thank you.

That should say picked up not locked up

Hi the rspca told us 4 weeks before letting out our rescue (also 3 years). When we did let her out the first time I carried her to show her the outside. Next time I went out with her for a few mins and she followed me back in. I gradually built it up from there. I personally don't think 10 days is enough. He's probably bored. Make sure you have loads of toys and things for him. Mine love chasing tinfoil balls and string. Goodluck

It’s way too soon, I’d keep him in for 4 weeks too.

Way too early. Our rescue recommends 6 weeks, especially for ex-strays.

Thanks everyone. We will definitely be keeping him in for the recommended 4 weeks.

Also, don’t let him out just after he’s been fed, as he’ll wander further as he’s less reason to come back. Feed him at a regular time, every day and use a word or noise to call him for food. I use a certain word to call my pride of moggys when it’s feeding time. Let him out shortly before his meal, then after a few minutes call him back for food. A special treat works well too. You can increase his outside time as his your confidence builds.

Don’t panic if he shoots off on his first adventure as he’ll be very excited. Can I suggest you have some good clear photos of him, just in case he gets a bit disoriented on his first adventure.

Most important bit, whee the heck are the photos? Seriously OP, we need photos!

😊 some fab tips, thank you

How often and how much would you recommend feeding him? He seems to be forever looking for food.

Here's my handsome boy.

Oh he’s gorgeous! 😍 What happened to his little ear?

Amount of food depends on what you’re feeding him. There should be instructions on the back of the tin/packet. I have a whole pile of cats and always have a big bowl of dried food available, but use wet food to call them in at night.

Please don’t leave your cat out at night as he’s more at risk of attack by other animals including stray cats. People think cats like being out at night, but they actually like being out at dusk and dawn, but want somewhere to sleep when it’s dark. That reminds me, don’t let him out too close to dusk, as he’ll be harder to get back. I also have some small kennels outside so the cats have little safe places to rest during the day.

I may be slightly obsessed with my cats. 😬

Thanks again. We're definitely not thinking of leaving him out at night when we do start letting him out.

The rspca cut his ear They were planning on putting him back on the street after neutering him to show he had been done already so they didn't pick him up again.

The ear thing is standard TNR procedure (trap, neuter, release) by all the rescues & charities that go it, as an indicator that the cat has been neutered. TNR tends to be done more for feral cats (those who have never had a home) than for strays/abandoned cats, as ferals rarely settle in to home life whereas strays usually prefer to have a home.

If your was ex-feral rather than ex-stray, it's even more important that you keep him in for at least as long as they recommended.

He doesn't appear to be feral. He is fully litter trained and extremely gentle and very loving. He is currently lay on my knee purring with his nose tucked up the sleeve of my dressing gown 😍

But we will definitely follow all the advice and keep him in for a minimum of 4 weeks.

Our rescue was desperate to get out as well, even though it was December. We started taking him out on a lead about two weeks in, so he got his bearings but with supervision. As it was winter it was dark a lot so I’d just to walk him round after work in the evenings and it was reassuring to know he knew his bearings before letting him out on his own

We got our girl in the summer, so I was at home the whole time (teacher) and waited four weeks. DP started carrying her out, and then we had to pick her up to bring her in, until one day she just suddenly clicked about going in and out the door by herself. She still doesn’t go much further than the gardens either side and behind ours, and will always come to her name.

That picture is so sweet, Lago. He'll know all the smells and landmarks.

Sorry, I forgot to come back to this.

We are still keeping him in and he's being ever so patient but very obviously keen to get out. I like the idea of taking him for little walks around so he can get used to the smells and the nearby area so will look be getting him a little harness.

We've also started feeding at regular times and shaking his dry food before each time so he already associates that with being fed. When we do let him out on his own first we'll do it on an empty stomach for a short time then entice him straight back in!

Thanks for all the advice.

Just double checking he doesn't fit through the letterbox