Kitten recall

[SpikeGilesSandwich]

My kittens went outside for the first time today, they've got the hang of going out of the flap but not going back in. When I called them, shook treats etc. they didn't come back. Luckily, I managed to pick them up and carry them back in as they hadn't got out of our garden yet but it won't be long before they do and I'm terrified they just won't come back

Additional info, two kittens, both spayed, 6 months old and good at coming when called in the house.
Any advice welcome please because today has been really stressful.

You need to go with them the first few times. Don't just let them out. They need to know you're still there and that they haven't been abandoned.

Kittens and cats don't do 'recall'.
The best you can hope for is that they take a message and come back to you at their convenience.

Cat proof your garden , it’s the only way to keep them safe .

Try it in the house first. Rattle the treats, whistle, whatever, they come and then they get the treats. When they can do it from one room to another you can let them out when they are hungry. Don't feed them and then let them out.

It isn't something that happens quickly. My cats both "recall" after months and months of calling names and giving treats every time they come back. However sometimes they come back after a good 5 mins ... kind of yes I know you want me to come and I will get a treat but I am also in the middle of something.... (aka watching things)

Make sure they're hungry when they go out and get fed when they come in. They'll associate being called back with food and are more likely to respond*

(*they're cats. Response time for cats in relation to food will usually be within an hour. Response time without food involved is generally 3-5 business days)

Mine got himself into loads of scrapes between 7 months and a year, up trees, into houses, under fences, etc. We put a tracker on him and a few times had to go find him.
He doesn't go far and comes when called now (he's three) - although, as someone mentions above, it could be 30 mins after he's called if he has something on the go. Sometimes I can see him blank me as he stares into a bush, then suddenly rouses himself and runs over to me with great affection (almost like I had not been standing there for 10 mins asking him to come home)

Were they just excited to be outside? Why would they want to come in if they’re having fun?
Also, do they know that they can get back in through the cat flap? They might think it only works one way unless you’ve taught them otherwise.

None of mine have ever come back until they're ready!

Let them out before dinner. They'll be interested to come back for food. Save treats for those times too.

And you can teach them to use a cat flap. Years ago we had a litter of kittens and the mother would go through and hold the flap open with her tail for them to follow. And then she'd take them back in. And repeat.

We kept our cat in the house for approx 10 months until she turned one. During this time she really learned her name and we developed a close bond.

When we started letting her out then (after she was spayed) we just had to call her name out of the window at 9pm and she would come running in.

Sit outside with them for a while whilst they explore. First time my cat went over the fence I was beside myself

she cones back 80% of the time I call her. Sometimes it takes a while as she's napping in the school grounds

We put used litter round the garden borders when we started letting our fairly recent rescue out. I read that it defines their patch. I went out with him the first few times and just kind of wandered round as he sniffed about, then treats when he came in. He had a couple of weeks when he would go out and disappear for ages, obviously exploring his new ‘hood, but did come to his name. Four months in he tends to just potter around our garden. Our previous cat was the same, she was frequently found sunbathing on next door’s garden furniture, but didn’t really roam.

Funny story, though. Just after we started letting him out he followed DP out the front one evening when he was putting the bins out. A couple of nights later I went to shout him in, and was getting worried when he didn’t appear. DP suddenly shouted, he’s here, at the window - he’d popped up at the spare room window at the front after hearing me call! Smart boy!

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats mine always come in when I call them. They may be out of sight but always show up within a few minutes.
OP they are having a good time outside! They will get the hang of it.

@SpikeGilesSandwich (love the name)

Don't panic, it was their first time outside. They will have been enjoying all the exciting new smells.

Short outdoor visits with you will let them build up and get familiar with their outdoor space. Cat proof your garden if you can and don't want them venturing.

Definitely helps not feeding them first too until they are used to coming and going. When you bring them in, give them treats. This may become a demand for the rest of their life, including when they go out, realise it's raining and come straight back in ... four times to check if it's still raining.

Cats usually do learn recall, various degrees of cooperation on various days to be expected.

I give mine a treat he adores, but he only ever gets it when I shout him and he comes back in
His fave is those lick tubes and if I shout him he will sprint back for it
Never give them any other time so he associates it

You can't usually teach a cat that kind of thing. If they come when you call it's because they are hungry, want a cuddle or want to come in anyway. They will do what they want and when they want. Some cats want in at night, others want to be outside sometimes. They weren't ready to come in. I think they would have come later.

By now they know where home/food is and if they are reasonably happy with you they will always return 😁

Download kittens miaowing and play your phone by the door.

Another vote for only let them out at meal times (before you have fed them) so they are hungry and will come back for food.

They are cats, not dogs. They will only ever come back when they want to.

Same with mine. I try to get her in if I'm going out but she won't if she doesn't feel like it. She is 8 yo. Today she was out in the rain as I had to go out. Has somewhere to shelter though).

I've clicker trained mine, he is very food motivated though, so initially the clicker would call him for a treat, now it's to call him in for dinner. He's a Bengal though and my cat loving friend tells me this is why he's trainable, he will also sit for a treat. Previous cat was a rescue moggy and just did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted and wouldn't be told/called in etc

We were advised by the rescue not to let our kittens out before 10 -12 months.

Second practising in the house first. We have a rattly box we shake and would then give him a treat when he came. He learnt to do that very quickly. Surprisingly quickly. And then our old cat cottoned on too 😂
We also followed him round the garden to begin with, only letting him out for short periods of time, and then letting him leave the garden but calling him back after e.g. 10 mins and then gradually extending it.

As he got older and went out more/for longer, we set a "curfew" too - so once he was back around 8pm he didn't go out again. I now find that he is nearly always home by 8 - I worry if he isn't! He just appears at the back door around then, like he knows it's time to come in (he's nearly 2 now).
So I'd suggest having some sort of routine. I swear cats can tell the time - they know when it's food time, they know when you should be going to bed... So a routine about going out/coming back makes sense too!