Indoor and outdoor cat?

[Cotswoldmama]

We've just got a new kitten he's a white Maine coon, we were unsure about whether we'd let him out or not but he is almost certainly deaf, which is common in white cats so will have to keep him indoors. Our other cat is an outdoor cat but she's an old lady 16yrs so doesn't go far or for long but I don't think I can stop her going out. She doesn't always use the cat flap but instead meows at us until we open it or the door but she can use it. Should we just lock the cat flap so she has to ask? Or do those magnet collars really work, is it worth getting one? Thanks in advance!

Everest is our new kitten and Thomasina is our old lady Calico.

There's been a bit of hissing and Thomasina has been avoiding Everest so far and he can't hear the hissing anyway but any tips for introducing new cats would also be appreciated!

Our old lady Thomasina

My friend has Maine coones, they are indoor. Bit would be fine with an enclosed garden. Depends how likely they are to get nicked.

I’d cat proof the garden or get a catio

They're gorgeous!

I agree with cat-proofing or a catio.

Beautiful!

Are you prepared to keep all your downstairs windows closed year-round, including summer? I don't know how people with indoor cats do it.

We had a similar situation and got a microchip cat flap. However the younger house cat learnt how to tailgate the older one out and would charge after her out the catflap. So we had to lock the cat flap and open the door for the older cat instead. Luckily like your cat she was older so didn’t go out often or for long.

Thanks @floralnomad I hadn't thought of cat proofing but that's a great idea. I couldn't do the garden as it's terraced and we share steps with our neighbours but we have a fairly big yard, which probably wouldn't be too hard to cat proof

@ItsNotRocketSalad luckily because we're sort of in a hill our downstairs is nice an cool in summer and all the sun is generally on the back of the house so we don't really open any windows apart from in the kitchen.

I have an indoor cat, have had several indoor only and I use mesh screening on the windows so I can open them. It also keeps bugs out.
Flat Cats sell standard sizes or made to measure.

https://www.flatcats.co.uk/

I also have a catio however this particular cat isn't interested in it, previous ones have been happy to lounge around/climb up things etc.

Some ideas here:

https://www.petforums.co.uk/threads/cat-runs-cat-proofed-gardens.211361/

Mesh screens, top opening windows and lazy cats

Thanks everyone. I'm definitely going to look into cat proofing our yard and for now Thomasina will have to ask us to be let out!