Birman cat wants to explore outside

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Hi, this is our second Birman. The first was very happy to just stay (supervised) in our small walled yard. This kitten (8 months old), however, has worked out she can jump on top of the wall, and seems desperate to explore further.

I've been taking her out once a day on a harness and lead for a bit, but want to make sure she’s happy.

Would you ever let a Birman explore outside on their own? Or is it just too dangerous for them? I want to keep her safe but I don’t want to be cruel keeping her in. She gets a lot of attention and company but is the only cat in the house. Would she be happier at home with a kitten friend?

Thanks in advance

Sorry I forgot the tax

Could you build an outdoor enclosure??? Like a catio??? That way the cat can get fresh air and exercise but still be safe x

Hmmm, our yard isn’t massive, I think the whole thing would be a catio! Do those inward leaning fences you can put on top of walls/fencing actually work? That might be a possibility I guess.

I think it also depends on how determined the cat is to explore??? Can you build something inside the house/get another cat to keep it company x

I’d get her chipped and let her wander. I rehomed an indoor only cat and she goes out now, not far only to the neighbouring gardens but she loves it and I think most cats do.

Thanks, she’s chipped already so we’re good in that respect? What breed is yours, please? I would be fine with a more ‘streetwise’ breed being out but she’s a bit more like a dog in temperament. Also I’m not sure of the risk of theft for a fancier cat breed? She’s spayed so no breeding value but they are still worth a fair bit of money I think. (We only chose this breed because it’s the only cat my husband isn’t severely allergic to).

Another cat definitely a possibility, just need to work on dh. I don’t want to end up with the same problem x 2 though!

Our maybe Birman (rescue so exact origin is unclear) does go out BUT we live up a footpath with no traffic and there is a huge area of gardens for him to potter about in. I have still come across him sitting in the middle of the nearest road, which is a dead end with very little traffic. I probably wouldn’t be letting him out somewhere nearer to a road.

She’s a Maine Coon so not especially street wise but is wary of strangers and wouldn’t let anyone pick her up or anything.

Tax!

We have a rabbit run in our garden for our indoor cat. She loves it as she can eat the grass and watch the birds but we can keep her safe (missing a front leg so can’t defend herself)

Can you take her out and about on her leash. Loads of videos on youtube and tiktock with adventuring cats. And maybe a small cat tent in the garden Outdoor Cat Enclosures,6-in-1 Cat Tent with Cat Tunnel for Indoor and Outdoor,Portable Cat Playpen Play Tents for Cats Rabbits Ferrets and Small Animals : Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Roller cat proofing probably better than the fences. It’s not that expensive when you factor in 5he peace of mind.

My streetwise Bengal was shit scared of cars, still got run over and died on our road with speed bumps. I think it was an electric car and he didn’t hear it.

There are some cat people who have a series of runs/tunnels for their indoor cats..... usually fixed at different heights to the walls. Looks fun for the cats though ❤️ your floofball is absolutely gorgeous btw ❤️

I wouldn't let her out unsupervised - slightly different breed but I have a ragdoll and the breeders say not to let them out unsupervised as they don't sense danger

Also there is the greater risk of theft if they look like a desirable breed - yours does OP, she's stunning.

We let them out on their harnesses only when we are out, firmly attached to a lead!

Just make sure there's various enrichment (toys etc) for her in your house

I'd try and nip in the bud so she doesn't start to get a "taste" for life beyond the garden

Also there's too many nasty people around, and too many cars to risk it with any cat tbh

Echo the suggestion of another cat, we've always had 2, it's funny when they rough house and roar round the house together

Personally I would cat-proof your garden rather than let her roam unsupervised.

If your garden is already walled, it shouldn't be difficult to add cat-proofing around the tops to keep her safe.

We have the inward leaning fencing to keep our indoor cat safe in our walled garden and it works brilliantly. Because he can see the barrier he hasn't even attempted to climb up - which is not the case with the rollers apparently.

Our sons Siamese have a large catio attached to the conservatory , they love it . He has 2 and they have lots of climbing poles etc indoors and seem very happy . . A vet nurse I know had the inward leaning cat fencing - one of her cats escaped but then couldn’t get back in so they had to dismantle it .

Such a shame people buying cats for the same of their looks and keeping them imprisoned.
All of mine are outdoor cats, it's so much more natural for them, mine would be bored stiff shut indoors day and night plus they need exercise and stimulation.
They did a survey involving hundreds of cats with trackers, most only ventured as far into neighbouring gardens, they create a route they're familiar with.
I have litter trays with compost dotted around the garden and encouraged them to toilet under my huge weeping tree, cats are creatures of habits of you can teach them young you don't have problems with neighbours complaining about them.

Sake of their looks.

Not sure anyone mentioned buying a cat because of how they look.

I’m really after breed specific advice, as, while I get your point re it being more natural to be outside, Birman’s are quite different in behaviour and temperament, which leads to them being more suited to staying at home with human company and also more vulnerable when going outside.

Thank you for commenting though, I certainly don’t want her to feel imprisoned. I’m going to try more enrichment inside the house and look at securing our outside space more, before considering letting her roam.

I have a Birman house cat , no way would I let him out. He’s daft as a brush and would be run over or stolen. The cat proofing stuff for fences works so I’d do that.

I had a birman who refused to be a house cat. We had to give up in the end as he would break out constantly.
He was an excellent hunter as it turns out and was a very happy cat. 20 hours spent asleep on his back on our bed and 2 , 2 hour hunting trips a day each morning and afternoon. He was on our bed all night.
We were fairly rural with lots of rabbits.
They are cats with cat instinct to explore and hunt.
He may have looked beautiful but really he was a complete thug of a cat often seen around the village with a decapitated rabbit in his mouth.

Hi OP I have ragdolls (bought for their personality not looks like a PP said 😎) and I don't let them out because they're too docile and friendly to roam (one can't even jump up onto kitchen counters, he falls off) and would really recommend cat fencing if you can afford it, we went with the inwards fencing put up by a local fencing man, lots of people who do fencing can do catproofing for you and it's much cheaper than going through some of the catproofing specific websites. It might be that having a space in the wind listening to the birds and sunbathing will satisfy her even if your yard is small.

Another cat is definitely an option, your cat is young enough that she'd probably enjoy a kitten to play with and befriend, my cats tire themselves out sprinting through the house and wrestling with each other and don't even want to go in their garden without me because they get stimulation from playing with each other. I'd recommend both options at once

I wouldn't let her out without cat proofing if I was you, the chances of something happening to her are even higher than with a normal cat and if it was mine I'd never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her.

I don't think it's a shame at all. I have two rescue girls - have had them nearly 2 years. Both of them were on the streets basically prior to rescue - one was homeless and the other neglected.

I fully expected that they would want some outdoor access when they came to live with us, but they haven't. Totally happy and settled in the house.

About to adopt a third who's a Maine Coon/ragdoll cross, and am hoping he will be a contented boy indoors too.

My cats are all very attractive, one long-haired as is the new boy, and I'd be terrified someone would lift them! My long-haired girl is part Maine Coon too we think and she's nuts! I don't know how she survived a year living outdoors because she has zero sense!!

My last cat became an indoor cat in his later years too. I think they all realise what side their bread is buttered lol!!