Rescue cat won't go out

[Changes17]

Our rescue cat has been with us since September. She's pretty anxious and timid, but she's settled in with us quite well. She seems happy on the whole, but I worry that her life is quite boring (we work from home and spend a fair bit of the day working) - and it would be more interesting if she would only leave the house for more than a couple of minutes at a time.

She practically won't leave the house - but when she does, it's not very far and only when we open the door for her and leave it open. She'll sit by the door and look out for ages, but doesn't often actually go out. As it gets colder, that's going to be chilly. Should we just make her go out and close the door, or will that freak her out? I'm new to having a cat and really have no idea.

Aww... That's lovely

She might be scared of the neighbourhood cats. My 12 yo cat has happily spent her life outside (with catflap) and 2 years ago a new cat appeared in the street and she now won't go out. She's terrified, if I take her out and sit in the garden with her she bolts under the rabbit hutch and shakes. I feel so sad for her that she's stuck indoors. Even in the house if she's in the dining room and hears a noise from the garden she flinches ...she's safe in the house as catflap is a microchip one.

she's gone through the door, which I've left open so she can get back in – but it's freezing!

She is training you well.

We need pics, btw. It's the rules. Here is my little ninja.

@RandomMess

Cats rarely have friends, sometimes if they were kittens at the same time but even that is unusual.

Mine went to live with his two kitty friends around the corner. The three are now best mates and spend their days in happy communal squirrel watching and chasing each other around the garden.

Mine has be fairly chilled about us bringing in a new adult cat. Fair enough she tells him off a lot for annoying her but she's a grumpy old girl and was the same with her brother

Ahh you're doing it all wrong Your slave needs you to accompany him/her. Mine does anyway, absolutely loves it if you join him outside and reverts back to kitten tendencies (he's 14)
If I just open the doors he pops out then meows to get back in but will leave me there freezing with the door open until dreamies are produced.

It is still very early days too if you've only had her since September as most rescues will recommend keeping a new cat in for anywhere between 4 and 8 weeks before you let them out. This time of year isn't ideal for introducing cats to the outdoors anyway with all the fireworks around.

Anyway, as long as she has a stimulating home environment then there is absolutely no reason to think she is bored or missing out on something if she isn't roaming the streets... Much safer if she sticks close to home.