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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

How to let cat put safely

21 replies

Justme1981 · 01/03/2019 07:43

Hi all

I adopted a cat from rscpa before christmas, hes about 1 year old. Im new to cats (always lived with dogs). I think he may need to have time outside for the mental stimulation? Im VERY nervous about letting him out, i don't know if he was an in or out cat before. Should he wear a collar? Mixed advice online. I live in the country but there is a big road near me. Can i do anything to help keep him safe? Or should he just be an in cat? All advice appreciated.

Thank you

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viccat · 01/03/2019 08:56

I expect the RSPCA did some checks to ensure this cat was a good fit for your location (a home visit or at least looked it up on Google maps). It's strange they didn't tell you if he was used to the outdoors, streetwise etc.

Sounds like your house is detached? How near is the big road and how busy is it? Sometimes a constantly busy road is safer as cats will avoid it compared to a country lane with just a few cars that will catch them by surprise.

Is he microchipped?

Original poster
Justme1981 · 01/03/2019 09:29

Hi

Yes the rspca visited, i asked her about going out but she was very much on the fence about it. She didn't know if he was an in or out cat, they hadn't been told that information (previous owner handed him & a dog in at the same time). I live in a semi, lots of other outdoor cats around, the road isn't constantly busy, its very quiet here mostly country lanes but the big road is busy at times. Hope that makes sense!

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Original poster
Justme1981 · 01/03/2019 09:29

Oh sorry yes he is microchipped.

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viccat · 01/03/2019 09:40

At the charity I volunteer at the outdoor safety guidelines we give are to only allow the cat out from the back of the property (obviously only works if your house isn't completely detached and best if it backs onto other gardens), to have a catflap to allow the cat free access back into the own home, and to keep the cat indoors at night (most RTA's happen when it's dark).

It's hard to know without knowing the cat's character. Some choose to stick close to home and others love to roam.

MrsBertBibby · 01/03/2019 09:42

There is no right answer. Americans are all about keeping cats in for a longer safer life. Brits are far more likely to be pro outdoor access for psychological welfare.

I know people who have indoor cats but they have had problems with stress and over grooming. Possibly linked?

Does your cat seem to want to go out?

MrsBertBibby · 01/03/2019 09:43

If you do get a cat flap get the microchip reading ones to keep out random cats. Life changing!

CrookshanksPotter · 01/03/2019 15:36

Following with interest. Ours are only young at the moment but we're unsure whether to let them out when the time comes.

We live in a detached house with a semi busy road out back about 20m from the end of the back garden. It's difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/03/2019 21:45

We started letting ours out in the back garden after we’d had her a few weeks - previously she had only access to a garden with fake grass and super high fences, so we weren’t sure how she would be, but she was keen to go out. She now climbs trees (ours) and scales walls like a ninja, but never goes far. If she’s not in our garden, she’s the one either side, or the one ours backs on to, and she always comes when we shout. We don’t have a catflap because there’s a utility room between the kitchen and back door, so she’s always in overnight and during the day on work days.

On a couple of occasions she’s wandered out the front when we’ve been doing something in the garden/at the door but after a sniff about she’s come straight back in. It’s a quiet, one-way street, but she is quite a scaredy-cat.

We don’t have a collar on her but had her chipped immediately we got her.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 01/03/2019 21:54

Thanks everyone, hes quiet a confident & loving cat. He only seems to want to go out when the dogs do .. suspect he may think hes a dog 😂 still undecided about letting him out, he just seems bonkers in an evening so i worry he needs more stimulation!

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RelaisBlu · 01/03/2019 22:08

Our cat is an outdoor cat and we live on a green just behind a busy road but he is scared of it and never goes on it. Sometimes he will run alongside me when I'm going to post a letter and when I reach the main road he stops dead and lets me go on alone, waiting for me to return then escorts me back home!

His catflap opens into our back garden where he climbs over the walls into the churchyard and playing fields beyond. He often spends the whole day out in the spring/summer and I imagine him somewhere, sleeping in the sunshine. He returns with his coat smelling warm & a little bit smoky. He has a lovely life and is quite safe. I would not wish to keep him indoors.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 01/03/2019 22:15

Relaisblu that is lovely, he sounds a very happy cat

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RelaisBlu · 01/03/2019 22:19

Even though I understand the advice is to keep cats in at night, we have never done this. It seems to be the time he most wants to go out. Of course we end up with the occasional dead mouse in the kitchen but every evening when I see him trot off into the night after his dinner, I know it's where he wants to be! He is 7 now and has never come to harm overnight. He is of course microchipped.

ThunderStorms · 01/03/2019 22:20

Get fence net toppers to keep him safe in the garden.

mineofuselessinformation · 01/03/2019 22:21

Try to keep him in for as long as possible.
When he's positively climbing the walls to go out, make sure he's hungry, and let him out during the daytime. Keep an eye on him, and take him back in after 5 mins and feed a small amount.
Let him wait, possibly until the next day, do the same, extending the time a little.
Once you get past half an hour, it's time to just go with it.

mineofuselessinformation · 01/03/2019 22:22

Oh, and my cats have always been kept in at night. (No cat flap here, so I have always let them in and out.)

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/03/2019 22:24

relaisblu I have most of the summer off work, and our girl lies in the flower beds, sunbathing, from morning to night. We get the sun until about 7pm if you move about, so DP lets her out when he leaves at 7.30 for work, and I just bring her drinks and put suncream on her ears, like a cat maid. She has to be carried in for bed, and would prefer to stay out all night.

RelaisBlu · 01/03/2019 22:48

Judy I'm picturing your cat being served a pina colada from a tray Grin
You are indeed her maid servant

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 01/03/2019 23:00

She is a princess relaisblu - she will only drink water if it’s served from a filthy puddle, so to make sure she drinks when it’s warm I bring her cat-milk in a silver bowl. (Stainless steel, really.)

peoplepleaser1 · 05/03/2019 16:51

It's a tough one OP. My cats have all been allowed outdoors and have been happier for it, but it does bring an element of risk.

I'm not a great fan of measures to prevent cats leaving their garden like inverted fences and netting as IMO they have a canny way of being able to escape and then these measures make it harder for them to return.

Girliefriendlikescake · 06/03/2019 18:29

I personally feel cats should be allowed freedom and to be able to feel the sun on their fur! I also couldn't live in a house where I was constantly stressing about leaving a door or window open.

I get there's a risk but for me it's worth taking.

Original poster
Justme1981 · 06/03/2019 19:22

Thanks everyone, i remain firmly on the fence about this!! Will have to take my cues from dcat, at the min he only wants to go out when dogs do anyway!

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