Cat lost after 3 days

[Whatalife88]

We let our rescue cat out on Saturday after having her nearly a month. She's settled in well, eating good now, uses litter tray, loves to play with the kids, cuddles me all the time. Saturday and Sunday she stayed between our house and the neighbours, most of the time she was in the garden. Today, she followed me all the way to the next street ( we live on a long road), when i went out onto the school run. She stopped short of the main road and I assumed she'd gone home. When I got home, no sign and half hour later, I got a phone call from a lady telling me my cat was on a retail park 5 min walk from our house and that my cat was terrified. I bolted down there and managed to get her and bring her home. I don't know if she walked along the main road in opposite direction to me when I went out or if she crossed the train line to get there but I'm nervous now. Do I keep her in again? Do I let her out tomorrow? I think she's keen to go out now she's started but it was chaos today.

I would let her out but not when you are going out and can follow you. Start off in the evening after rush hour when it is quiet.

This is possibly a bit late advice-wise now she has seen the big wide world, but when we started letting our cat out we made sure one of us was always in the garden with her. She got into the habit of coming in and out with us, and six years on she never goes further than our immediate neighbours’ gardens. I teach and it was in the summer holidays, so much easier than it would be for most people, I know! We rewarded her with a Dreamie each time she came in and as she is very food orientated this worked well.

We also don’t have a cat flap so her access to outside is limited to when we are here to be her door stewards. She comes and sits at the kitchen window when she wants to come in, and is very clear on letting us know when she wants to go out (often just to monitor the garden wall which has little mice in the cracks.)

I spent a couple of weeks always being in the garden with our cat. If there is a busy road near you would a catio be a better option?
Agree with pp, don’t let her follow you if you do let her out.
Glad the lady phoned and you got her back!

Yes, as others say, don't let her follow you.. I know its really cute but sadly it can encourage them to go too far.. learnt this the hard way a few years ago :-(

I would introduce the garden slowly and stay close by. Call her in and reward with a treat so she has a positive association with coming home.

I’d keep her in unless she’s supervised.

I’d cat proof the garden or get a catio .

I would not let her out unless supervised, or, as floralnomad mentioned, unless she is secured so she can’t leave the garden. She was lucky this time, but may not be next time, so better safe than sorry.