Letting cats out for the 1st time

[Rhino94]

Any tips? I know to let them out before they are fed and to let them out the back way. Anything else? They are nearly a year, never been out before but we only got them in October. DH is quite worried, I’m ok about it, I think they just need to be able to go out!

I did too

Jesus christ.

I have reported too.

A good time is in the morning when you'll be home all day, just prop the back door open and let them wander, try not to interfere or fuss over them as they need to go at their own pace, scenting as they go and developing their map of the space.

I've heard putting butter on their paws before letting them out helps many times, not tried it myself though! My cat would just lick it all off before walking off!

I just left the door open and didn't make a fuss over mine. I did put some of their used litter around the back garden border so they had their scent in the outside space.

Thankyou all! I’m intrigued to know what the deleted posts were?!!

Omg just realised username 🙄

Good tip about cat litter too!

I let mine out when they were hungry, then called them in while shaking the Dreamies bag. They came, got Dreamies immediately. And repeat a few times.
They now just come when I call or even when I open the back door if they are in the garden, but if they do ignore me, I shake a food or Dreamies container.

I read that you should let them out just before they are due to eat, so they will be especially hungry.

You could also go out with them and that way you can see how timid or adventurous they are and/or if they stick together. However you play it I would suggest you watch for the first few times.

My friend had a signal of tapping a spoon against a tin as a signal to say dinner time. You could try this signal indoors in the week before letting them out for the first day. They will then know to come back as soon as they hear it.
So the idea is to let them out for 5 mins first time, if that goes well, second day a bit longer and so on.

Let them out before you feed them.
I've read that you shouldn't put butter on their paws or carry them, as they will lay down their scent as they walk out which they can use to find their way home if they need to.

We've had ours for four years now so I can remember most of it , here goes L

Our two (bro/sis) were originally born in a garden but we don;t know how much proper outdoors they had . Certainly never used a catdoor and we were worried about them coming to terms with a microchip catdoor .

We knew they wanted out as they sat with their faces smooshed up again the glass door

We did the adviced let them out hungry .
DD sat outside reading . DH was in the garden pottering about .
We tied the French door open so it wouldn't swing back .

They slid out , hovered on the steps then onto the patio . Didn't go far .

Next step was the catdoor which they took to really well as by this time they were really keen .Soon realised that the 'Click' was their signal to sail out as if by magic

IIRC we got them in middle of May and they went out mid July . They were settled with us but wanted to explore their new domain.
We did go out with them the first few days as there are other cats about that I wanted to keep clear .

Our Male was sitting today by the CatDoor making the sensor click over and over as he debated if he CBA going out or just bird watch in comfort .

My friend had a signal of tapping a spoon against a tin as a signal to say dinner time. You could try this signal indoors in the week before letting them out for the first day

Oh yes , for a week or so before we did the spoon tapping their plates before they were fed to let them associate .

Though now if they're out late a shake of the Dreamies tub is their signal .

We took them out on a lead to start with so they got to see the back and front of the house from a view other than the inside . This worked really well until I took them out on my own and they decided to go in different directions . 😂