Do we let our cat out?

[Cheeseandlobster]

We have a rescue cat who has been inside for 9 weeks now. He is 3. When we got him we were told not to get another cat as he had been in some really bad fights and had terrible scarring on his chest. His owners, rather than neutering him, surrendered him saying the fighting was too upsetting

So he is now neutered and chipped. He seems contented for the most part if a little bitey at times. But today I think he is just bored. He has been attacking everything in sight, not maliciously but more playfully. He enjoys looking outside but doesn't spend loads of time doing this. We both work but we play with him and he has scratching posts, tunnels, balls, wind up mice, bubbles etc. But I don't know if this is enough anymore.

Also our neighbours behind have chickens and my friend pointed out that chickens attract rats and if he gets hold of a poisoned rat then he would also be poisoned.

I feel he would love to go out but I am worried about him fighting like he did last time. I don't know whether he started it or if there was a big bully of a cat where he used to live, but I want him to be safe. And I don't want him to be poisoned.

What would you suggest? DP wants to build a catio but has now decided it should be a shed with a meshed front. But this to me isn't a catio but just another room albeit outside.

So what do we do?

Just let him out esp as been neutered. You can't not let him out incase he comes across rat poison. There's loads of hazards everywhere and cats can go for miles.

I must admit I am veering more towards this. We don't yet have a cat flap though

Let him go out. If you want, stand outside with him a couple of times, to see he's ok. If he sees any rats, he might well not even touch one - my old boy was feral until we took him in 11 years ago. He, too, has got scarring (face) but I had him neutered and chipped, and he's been fine with going out (we had rats in the garden a year ago, he didn't bother). He's never killed or chased a bird, mouse, or anything. I haven't got a catflap, he cries to go out and stays out for only a short time before he wants to come in again.

I have always kept my cats in at night.

Had several cats over the past 41 years

Let him out hungry, pre breakfast so he comes back.

Does he come when you call him for food now?

I would let him out

He comes if we open a tin ( even though we don't feed him tinned food) and he comes sometimes if we open a pack of dreamies.

I had my two cats in a flat for 2 years. When I moved to a house with a nice garden I was anxious to let them out but they only go in the garden front and back and really never venture anywhere else. Other cats come to our garden but since the male is neutered he doesn't want to get into anything, neither does his mum. I would let the cat out personally as long as there is somewhere for him to go.