When to let cat out for the first time?

[FelicityBeedle]

Some of you may remember me from my thread about finally winning the argument with DP about getting a cat! We now have Ulysses the friendliest and most beautiful lad in the world (no bias). How did you all introduce your cats to outside? So far we’ve been walking him round the garden every day, either on a lead or carrying him, and feeding him as soon as we are back in. Obviously won’t be for a while yet that we let him out on his own, but how did you do it and when?

Oops forgot the photos. For reasons unknown he likes to hold my finger in his mouth!

Has he been neutered and chipped?
I used to go out in the garden with them and pick them off the fence and out the trees until they got more used to the sights and sounds of outside

The RSPCA told me to not feed the cat, the first time I let him out. It worked, he came back after about 15mins. He is a rescue cat, so lovely and weighs 8 kilos, not a scrap of fat on him, he is just very big.

Yep neutered chipped and vacced. That makes sense not to feed first, I’m trying to convince him coming back = food

What a pretty boy.

We did the same as you, out with a lead on for quite a while. Then letting in the garden accompanied for quite a while. And yes lots of rescuing from the fence and trees

With all our cats we've always made a vocal noise when putting down food. The sort of thing you can do quietly or loudly without neighbours thinking you are completely mad: ("ch-ch-ch" carries well) ). The cats still come running if we need them to.

We started off by going out with them and staying there for a little bit longer each time (we were probably helped that we started this just before lockdown).

I've always had mine for about 3 months before letting them out. If you get him used to set mealtimes, and a certain sound associated with mealtime (eg tapping spoon on foodbowl) then let him out before mealtime, and about 15 mins later do the sound/call him. They generally come back for food! Then don't let him out again until just before his next mealtime. Do that for a few days.

I will admit to having had a few panicky moments occasionally when it's gone dark and they've not come back, but they always have in the end

How long have you had him for? I just kept mine in for 5 or 6 weeks, then opened the door one day before she had breakfast. She went out for about 40 mins then came back.

Well.... cat flap worked for mine. One of us outside, other inside, praised him everytime he went in or out of cat flap. Hes long since died. Age 21. Long and happy life. Inside and out.
We know someone who has a moggie, and it's over a year old. Has never let it out, lives in a bedroom during day and puts in bathroom at night. Has never seen a blade of grass, or used anything but a litter tray. Is this normal for a cat. No one plays with it. Just sits alone all day. Any thoughts?

Madcats became really grumpy in the new year. It took the warmer, sunnier weather (and the arrival of spring) for us to realise that they were getting bored/depressed. They go especially mad in strong wind.

I can't imagine what they would be like if they were indoors 24/7. Even weirder to go to the effort of having a cat, yet not bother to keep it occupied.

@lydia2021

Well.... cat flap worked for mine. One of us outside, other inside, praised him everytime he went in or out of cat flap. Hes long since died. Age 21. Long and happy life. Inside and out. We know someone who has a moggie, and it's over a year old. Has never let it out, lives in a bedroom during day and puts in bathroom at night. Has never seen a blade of grass, or used anything but a litter tray. Is this normal for a cat. No one plays with it. Just sits alone all day. Any thoughts?

This sounds so sad , doesn’t sound much of a life really, can you talk to them about it ?

Could they have a cat flap put in , in my experience a cat flap is essential but I know many don’t and their cats are left out all night,

OP - get him used to his name first. Associate his name with feeding him meals or certain treats or a whistle/sound.

When you do finally let him, do it about 10/15 minutes before his mealtime. He'll probably sniff around the area first. Apparently cats get to know their area by spiralling out from the centre.

We've just done this, initially we went outside and left back door open. They followed eventually. We kept it short and called them back in using treats.

We did this for several days, on day two they squeezed under the gate but we called them back with treats within a few minutes. Now they sometimes ask to go out but as the weather has been awful we don't always oblige.

Once we have a cat flap they will be free to come and go but initially we won't be letting them out past about 3pm to ensure they are never out at night.

Take away any food for a few hours before you're going to let him out for the first time. Leave him for out and alone for about 15 minutes before calling him back and having food down for him. Also, try smearing butter on the pads of their paws. Apparently it leaves a scent for them to follow home.

We got ours in the middle of May and let them out early/mid July . They were adults but he is very nervous .
We secured one side of the French door open so it wouldn't swing back.

DD and DH sat outside reading and we let them creep out .
They had been very interested in outside so when the were allowed out ...

Yes to a noise=dinner sign , tapping a spoon on the plate .

Next trick was getting them used to the cat door , it clicks when activated . They had to open it themselves if we went near they scarpered . They were so keen to go out they twigged and the world was their lobster !

Tub of Dreamies being shaken helps to focus them too .

With all of my cats I let them out in the garden for a bit with us there for 10 minutes or so. By third time they go off and wander and have always come back pretty quickly initially.