Why is he biting ? Should I let him out ?

[Winona45]

1 year old rescue boy. Been with us 5 weeks now.
The last 2 weeks he is biting. ALL THE TIME.
Stroke him, bite, pet him, bite. If you just reach out to him he bites.
He didnt when he first got with us.

I'm wondering if he is bored ? He's a BIG boy, part Maine Coon and just recently seems desperate to go out. He spends all his time looking outside, chattering at birds at the patio doors or window and generally trying to escape. He zooms round the house sometimes pouncing and swiping at us as we go past or biting !!

He pats my arm when he wants feeding or a cuddle, but the rest of time he bites. My 8 year old is scared of him now.

Does he want to go out ? He was previously an outdoor cat.
Should I start the process of introducing him to the outside ?
Is 5 weeks long enough ?
Any tips ?

We moved house in January and kept our boys in for 2/3 days max. They were both fine.

Perhaps he is fed up of being inside now - I personally would let him out.

Hope the biting improves

We have a rescue who bites - only started once he'd got to know us a bit. Like you we thought he wanted to be out (due to constant pawing at doors and windows) so let him out at around 5/6 weeks. Turns out he's not bothered at all. Goes for a bit of a survey then back inside for madness, cuddles and sleep

However he did relax more and the biting now only happens if you stroke to a point of ecstasy where he can't seem to help himself. He never breaks the skin and everyone has got pretty good at reading his signals.

5 or 6 weeks is pretty standard for letting a new cat out so I'd think about giving it a go in your position.

Yes just let him out. My cat also did this when I first got him from the RSPCA and he would also just randomly attack us. He is a big cat (Norwegian Forest Cat) so it bloody hurt! This behaviour ceased when he was able to start going out.

He only bites or swipes now if he is over stroked, normally by a visitor who has ignored my warning that three strokes is enough and avoid his tail

Sounds silly but do I just let him out ?
I have a big garden but its interconnected to other gardens and right over my fence is a park.
Im terrified he will climb the fence and be gone.

We talk him for a walk on a leash round the garden last saturday for about 15 minutes but he clearly wanted to explore up, over and beyond !

I would leave it until shortly before a meal time, so he should be happier to come in. Make sure you have a Dreamies bag ready to shake as well

My parents had to let their supposedly indoor boy out, after he started getting aggressive. We think he'd lived in a flat before so hadn't really seen the great out doors.

Yes just let him out. He will probably skulk around a bit at first and then start exploring a bit further. He will start exploring over the fence and I know how stressful that is but it will most likely happen.
I’ve grown up with rescue cats and have had four of my own. This is always a stressful time but we’ve not yet had a cat that’s not come back after being let loose. I presume he is microchipped and neutered and neutered cats have a tendency to not roam as far.

And also what at @Allergictoironing said. Very good advice from this poster about letting out shortly before a meal time.

Yes chipped and neutered.
Ok well, I'll let him out saturday when its light then I guess.
I dont want to do it when I get home from work as its so dark.

What's your plan for access? If he will be going out, he'll need a way back in that doesn't depend on you being available 24/7... A microchip catflap at the back of the house ideally. It's also recommended cats are trained to stay in from dusk til dawn as most RTAs and other incidents happen when it's dark. Sounds like you're in a terraced/semi - only ever let him out at the back of the property, it's far safer than the road out front.

Other than that, are you playing with him and offering him lots of other stimulating activities indoors? Sounds like he could be a bit bored. Going out might help of course but also really energetic play that lets him "hunt" a toy on a string, run around and catch things etc.