Letting the kitten out

[brattitude]

The vets have given the OK for the 5 month old kitten to go out now she has been spayed/microchipped.

They suggested letting her out just before she is fed and then calling her in when her food is down, tapping the side of the can.

Except that doesn't work. Once she is out there is no persuading her back in again. Rattle of the biscuits box- pah. Tapping the side of the can- fegeddaboutit. Oh and she doesn't think much of dreamies either so ratting those doesn't work.

Indont want to let her out, she makes a bid for freedom straight outside the garden gate and then promptly gets lost. Or do cats always find their way back home again?

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Can you start her off on a harness so she can go out with you, and then you bring her back?

On the other hand, the first time I let Willow, my parents cat, out, she disappeared over night and then turned up again at 5am the next day! So she may well find her way back.

Do you have a fenced garden? We just let ours out in that until he could jump the fence.