Birman cat desperate to be an outdoor cat

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Hi,

I have a Birman cat just over a year old. Everything I’ve read suggests she should be happy being a house cat, and we have an enclosed yard so she does get outdoor time.

However she is increasingly desperate to get out and roam, and I’m starting to feel that it’s unfair on her to keep her in.

No matter how I try and cat proof the yard, she always manages to get out. She doesn’t roam far and always comes back but I don’t know if it’s safe with this breed or not.

Shes just spent 10 nights at our cat sitters who li es on the next street, and she escaped from there twice - one time she was found back in our garden so I know that it’s not that she hates us!

I’m going to ask my vet for advice but I’m considering putting a collar with contact details on and maybe an AirTag? (I wouldn’t usually bother with a collar due to risks but she ends up on Facebook groups if people spot her out as they understandably think she’s lost).

I already take her out on a lead which she loves but she also wants independent time too.

Has anyone let their pedigree/supposedly less ‘streetwise’ cat out?

I don’t know if it’s relevant but I have this breed because it’s literally the only cat breed my husband isn’t severely allergic to. I know some people have opinions about pedigrees as opposed to rescue moggies etc but this wasn’t an option for us. I don’t want an unhappy puss but want to keep her safe too.

Thanks in advance and pictures for tax obviously

Cat proof your garden properly , I doubt she’s a criminal mastermind and find a new cat sitter , yours is useless .

How many robins did they kill?

Mine was a stray but I suspect she might have some Bengal in her. A visitor I had owned two Bengal crosses and we were comparing motes and robins seem to be favoured as kill.

@Gall10 why do you assume they will shit in people's gardens?

Get a collar with a tag and an AirTag, or people will say "there was no collar and it was hungry, so I thought it was a stray!" and steal your cat.

Thanks all,

Ive got a tractive mini tracker being delivered tomorrow and I’m going to let her out then.

Cat sitter is great, professional and insured and looks after lots of others. Mine is honestly so determined to be out it reassured me that I’m not a bad cat owner if even she had problems.

I’ve had Birman’s before that have had no interest in being beyond our yard walls but this one is adamant she needs to. It’s reassured me that some other Birmans and especially Ragdolls seem to be similar.

My two pedigree cats roamed around freely in the day, they came in by dusk ( food dish rattled, called by name) , and stayed in at night.

Happy lives, eventually PTS at 19 and 20 , so no harm done.

My cats definitely come home to poop in the tray, they don't like getting their paws dirty!
I have 2 pedigree cats and 2 moggies, all go out. But I am more worried about the pedigrees being stolen. (More fool the thiefs though as they're a handful).
If you are worried though - maybe she does need more enrichment at home? Perhaps she does need a companion if this behaviour has been exacerbated by the loss of her friend.

I have Tractive GPS on both my cats. They have breakaway collars that release if yanked sharply. It's not cheap but definitely worth it. They dont go very far

There’s 2 Birman on our road that roam.

Have you looked at katzecure rollers?

Thanks all, re: cat proofing the yard, I think my final attempt worked as she couldn’t get out today but was so unhappy yowling to be allowed out and scraping at the back gate. I put a collar on her that says ‘I am microchipped’ and let her out at about 2pm.

She’s just wandered back into the garden so happy and affectionate. Her tracking collar arrives tomorrow which will help my anxiety but I think I’m doing the right thing for her now - I’m aware there are risks but I think I need to let her live a little as I felt like I was imprisoning her before.

Thank you for helping me have the confidence to take the plunge.

We have a Bengal, kept him in for the first 11 ish months just because I wouldn't let him out under six months and after that it was mid winter and it's easier when they first go out to be outside too and to have doors open. He had a patch of thin hair on his tummy where he over groomed, it's completely grown back since he's been going out. He's beautiful, but likes getting in things so I worried he'd get into sheds etc and get stuck. He's found his voice so he's quite loud and the only place he seems to go in is next door, where we have an elderly neighbour who leaves her back door open and he goes in and sleeps on the sofa next to her! I apologised but she said she likes seeing him.
I think most cats are happiest being able to go out

My Birman has always been free range. He has a dirt patch in the garden for a toilet so he is confining that aspect to our property!

Sound like she had a lovely time.
I worry about my cat being out and about and to be honest I only see him twice a day in summer when he is hungry, he comes in cat flap, eats and wanderers out the open front door. Life of Riley!!!

Added bonus is I get to take down all the diy fence/wall toppers I put up (based on protect a pet but using shelf brackets and netting from b and m) so now my yard won’t look like it’s used for prison exercise time (which it basically was….)

I have an 8 year old persian. Shes been going out since she was about 1.5 years old. Usually doesnt roam far. When i call her she always comes in, so shes close enough to hear me.
My friend has a birman and hes the same. They are quite attached to people usually. She also has a bengal, he roams really far and stays out for several days sometimes.

She’s just gone out again now (I’m trying not to panic!). I gave her a dreamy creamy when she came back this time which is her absolute favourite thing so hopefully she’ll be back again for more when she’s ready.

Back home after 3 trips out today. Keeping her in for the night now though.

2 free roaming Birmans on my road - one doesn't go far the other has a large range and is perfectly streetwise - they hate being confined

She’s a lovely little cat.

Ah, bless. She's had a lovely day. Yes, good idea to keep her in at night.

I have a Birman and I wouldn’t let him out. He does have free access to a catio though. I’ve previously had two cats run over and I’d worry about him being stolen.

Let her roam.
Cats are not indoor/happily confined creatures.

I always think cats should be allowed out. It's what they do. They roam and climb trees. It's cruel otherwise. Don't believe In house cats. That's just a cat you won't let out !!! Let him live

I would keep in at night (mine has a curfew!) and every time I shout mine and he comes back, I give him treats
That's the only time he gets them
I'm on a street where we all look out for each others so it'll be "T has lost his collar again. B is asleep on my bin if you can't find her. S has started drinking out my water feature..."

what a beautiful cat- I would make sure she knows to come in for dinner

I'm so glad you let her out!

My three only started going out recently and they absolutely love it. They don't wander far and I've trained them to come back when I shake the dreamies 😂