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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Letting indoor cats outside

10 replies

takethegirloutofwales · 28/03/2022 11:34

Morning....
We're moving house later this year. Having spent 15 years in a flat, we are finally getting our forever house. We have two cats - a three year old and an old man who's about 12 (rescue so not really sure). When we got him from the rescue centre, we were told we could only have an indoor cat because of living on a busy main road. And because he was kept indoors when we rescued our kitten, we kept her indoors too. Now we are moving to a lovely house with a big garden on a quiet street. To the left of us is countryside. Having spent the last x number of years boiling in our flat in the summer, we want to be able to fling open the windows and doors of the new place. While I'm not sure the cats will even want to go out, we're thinking that it may now be an option. I really think it will be too difficult to keep remembering to shut doors and keep the cats enclosed somewhere every time we want to open a window or door and I'm not sure our kids will remember to do that either. So I guess my question is, are we OK to let them explore the outside if they fancy it? What precautions should we take? Are there any ways to sensibly introduce them to the outside?

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 28/03/2022 12:31

My parents cat was originally indoors because he lived in a flat. He got quite aggressive until he was allowed out. He took to being an outside cat like a duck to water.

Saffy321 · 28/03/2022 12:36

I'd keep them in for a month first to get them used to their new home.

Anomalocaris · 28/03/2022 12:37

Keep them in for a month and then leave a door open and let them explore at their own pace. Don't cajole or keep calling, just leave them to work it out.

SunshineAndFizz · 28/03/2022 12:50

Yeah keep them inside for a few weeks so they know the new house is their home. Then give it a go - bet they love it.

takethegirloutofwales · 28/03/2022 13:15

Ah hooray that sounds good - I was worried people were going to say it would be too dangerous to let them out know. I just want them to have the option A they may be perfectly happy to just sit by the open door or they might enjoy the garden. Excited for them now 🤣

OP posts:
Ludo19 · 28/03/2022 19:03

Can train them to a harness to let them get a "feel" for the garden or erect a catio initially. Your new house sounds fab and I'm sure the cats will approve!

TheGriffle · 28/03/2022 19:05

Ours went from indoor cats to being let out. Once you move, keep them inside for a few weeks so they will be able to smell where to come back to then my tip is to let them out in the morning before you feed them, just open the door, let them explore (they might be bothered, they might not) then after a little while feed them and shut the doors. Do that for a few days so you know they will come back in and after that you should be good to go.

Ibizafun · 29/03/2022 22:43

We have a system where there's an invisible wire at the top of our hedges. The cats wear special collars and if they go near (they don't) they get a high pitched warning sound. If they try to get out they get a shock.

The shock is not electric but emitted from radio waves and endorsed by Cat's Protection League. They never get the shock as they don't go near but can enjoy the garden while we don't need to worry. Not expensive so a win win!

MarriedInAHurricane · 29/03/2022 22:57

We had 2 cats that were originally indoors for about 6 yrs, then when we moved to our current house we kept them in for a month as pp have said, then left the door open randomly. One cat never left the garden and the other was like Dora the explorer! both of them struggled to do things like jump over a high garden fence - they weren't very agile 🤣 one of the very first few days the more adventurous cat got stuck in our neighbours garden and was meowing constantly at 5am because he couldn't get out! So that was a bit of a learning curve for all of us, all settled after a few weeks! Good Luck!!

MrsMoastyToasty · 29/03/2022 23:04

The first time you let them out make sure they are hungry. Then they will return for food.

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