Letting new cat outside-advice please.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

We have had our snorecat rescue for a month now. I’m sure he would like to go outside for a while. The rescue place said to keep him in for 3 weeks minimum and then allow him out for 5mins.

The problem is, he won’t come when I call him at all. He has had several names in his life (only 12 months old) and I don’t think he knows his new name yet. He has been mistreated in the past and is easily spooked.

My previous cat was an indoor cat for 6years and then we moved so he could go outside, but he never bothered. He would follow me to the garden but as soon as I went inside he’d come in.

I thought I’d let snorecat out this week. Had a trial go and it didn’t go well. He bolted off in the wrong direction and didn’t come when I called him, so I ran after him and picked him up. Once he was back on the patio he ran inside and was spooky for the rest of the day. Probably confused as to what happened.

Please give me some advice on how to let him out and get him in again. He isn’t interested in dreamies so shaking a bag does nothing.

Cats are mostly too independent to come when call. Cats keep inside live longer, healthier lives. Ours are indoor cats. I have seen too many in the street hit by cars or been told by friends about cats who went out and never returned todo otherwise.

It’s a decision each cat guardian must make.

In my experience they don't stray that far at first so he will probably be nearby. My first responded to absolutely nothing and I eventually realised he was sat on the roof watching me look for him. My second recent addition likes a little bell and will run to it when I ring it. Both of them love the outdoors and disappeared for hours and hours on their first expedition.

I've heard lots of tips like letting them out 1 hour before their regular feed so they come back to eat. As far as I have actually seen, they'll do what they please and will come strolling in acting like you're being unreasonable to be worrying!

The biggest tip I can give you though, is to let go a little bit. Leave the catflap/window/door open so he can get back in and go and do something else. They know what they are doing, it's us humans that turn into a panicky mess when they vanish! Now that he's been outside you really do have to just go for it, he'll get very grumpy and confused if he can't go out once he's had a taste of it.

Mine respond much better to the package of their favourite treats being shaken than their names, they come running from upstairs if they hear the sound.

Is your garden enclosed in any way? (Not sure what you mean by him running in the wrong direction and you ran after him.)

Thank you all. Really helpful replies.

As much as I’d like to keep him as a house cat, I think he’s been used to the outside. His past is unknown, although I know he wasn’t looked after. When he eats he shakes his biscuits like he’s killing his prey. I think he has hunted before.

Our garden isn’t enclosed. It has hedges all around, so easy for a cat to get under. What I meant by him running the wrong way, was instead of going into the garden which is large. He shot round the side of the house and was headed in the direction of the road. It surprised me that’s all. Then he went head first into the pond filter pump, so I didn’t want him getting soaked.

Make sure he's good and hungry when you let him out. Also leave the door open so that he can smell his way back home. I've had four rescues and let all of them out after just a week, and they all came back home. Be brave - it's nerve-wracking the first couple of times but cats need the feel of the earth under their paws and the wind in their fur.

You cats play hunt even thought they have never had to actually hunt. I think it's instinct.

We recently got a cat , kept her in for 6 weeks then let her come out with me for a few minutes. The first time she didn’t come back in when called, I was really worried but she just wanted to explore. We then got her a Tabcat radio transmitter which goes on her collar and we can pinpoint where she is within about a hundred metres. It gives us so much peace of mind if we can’t actually see her in the garden and so far she’s never been out of range-apparently they don’t wander far if they’ve been neutered.

Our cat adoption people told us to wait 8 weeks before letting out. Nothing about 5 minutes, when we tried the first time he was gone for over 30 minutes I think, DH was panicking.
He is indoors now since we moved somewhere more built up.

Could you try a harness and then take him out on that until he gets to know his surroundings

Whistle when you feed them for a while then when you let them out they respond to your whistle.

When he does come back in give him a nice treat (piece of chicken/ham), do this each time he comes in for the first six or so times. Don't let him out again after last meal of the day. Good luck!