Letting cat outside

[Symposium]

Hello! I had some great advice on here when I adopted my lovely boy 2 weeks ago. So hoping it's ok to ask for some more help! He's settling in really well and has been showing lots of interest in getting outside. I checked with the rescue and they said it would be ok to let him out now! Better than waiting until he's really frustrated. So tried this afternoon and he was initially very nervous. Went out and in again quite quickly a few times before starting to explore the garden. He then climbed up a tree a sat on the back wall ( 6foot up) for a bit. That's when I started to worry thinking what if he goes over but can't get back?! Am I being really daft? Cats can jump quite high can't they? It's just he used the tree on our side and there's no tree on the other side. Luckily he came back down for some dreamies this time. The garden is completely enclosed by 6 foot walls.

Okay don’t panic just yet. Is is hot and sunny where you are? My current cat hates the heat and has only just emerged from the house.

but my childhood cat loved to sunbath and she would sleep all day on the neighbours rockery - the soil got really hot.

put his litter tray out on the garden abs his wet food so he can smell home. They usually turn up and saunter in like nothing happened.

He can probably hear you, but is having too much fun to come home just yet.

I've called mine before (I could see him) and he looked at me then deliberately ran off in the other direction, lol. He came back about half an hour later as if to say "I'll come home on my terms, not yours!"

No it's not sunny. It's been cloudy and damp all day. Not cold or raining just a bit dreary. We've been out calling , rattling dreamies and even wafting his wet food. I've let the neighbours on each side know and even walked round the back and talked to the neighbour there. Nobody has seen him but they haven't really been in their gardens as I say the weather isn't great.

How far are you walking with the dreamies? He could have gone a few streets over. Do you have many neighbours on next door? You can post a photo and see if anyone has seen him. In my neighbourhood there are regular posts - everyone looks in their garden and the little bugger turns up within a day.

We've gone as far as we can access ☹️ I spoke to my mum earlier and she said her cat went out the second day and also stayed out for hours, finally coming home around midnight. Hopefully he's just having a good time , but looks like I could be in for a long night waiting. It's starting to get dark. Heard some rustling in the tree over the back and got hopeful, but it's stopped now. Might have been a bird.

Any news OP? Really hoping that he's back home now.

Or it might have been the little bugger watching you! They are little devils.

but I know it can be really stressful - especially when they are so new to an area. Do you have outdoor lights you can leave on - even sitting outside tonight chatting would help him navigate his way home.

I really do hope he appears tonight.

I hope he comes home soon for you. I understand how worrying it must be but he's probably just enjoying exploring!

No sign yet 😔 I will wait up for him, keeping hopeful that he's just enjoying himself

I kept my cat in for 2 weeks recently as we moved- she was clawing at the doors to get out, I relented and let her out - she ran straight to the nearest tree and ran up it and got stuck!
It took a tub of tuna stuck to a ladder to get her down.
I kept her in for one more week after that and she is now fine!

Two weeks is quite quick, personally I'd have kept him in longer especially as he's also new to you. Hope he comes back soon.

Now it’s dark go out and check under any bushes etc and call him

Gorgeous cat!

I do think 2 weeks is a short time and would have thought the shelter might have recommended longer

my cat got 'stuck' on a neighbours flat roof for hours soon after being let out. She eventually figured her way down.

sit outside if you can and have some Dreamies

Well it's too late now! I'm crying here! I feel sick. Of course I wish now I'd just kept him in 😭😭😭

I had great intentions of keeping my cat in for 2 weeks when I moved. She got out the second day - it was summer, lots of people coming and going and she was an escape artist.

there was lots to explore - lots of new smells and new trees to climb. I was out of my mind but she came back.

please don’t get upset - people find it easy to criticise. He will find his way home. Keep lights on and talk outside so he recognises your voice.

keep us posted - and everyone else no more unhelpful comments please.

Can you go out now it's dark and flash a torch around, look out for his eyes under cars and bushes? He's in a new place with loads of new smells and territory to explore, he's probably having a whale of a time. We've got a wanderer and his record of buggering off was two weeks. Waltzed back in like little lord Fauntleroy after his two week holiday, screaming for treats as if he hadn't had us all worried sick.

Fingers crossed for you that he swans back in expecting to be fed and fussed any minute.

Oh my love. I completely understand. My girl goes out until about 10pm every night and I can’t rest until she’s in. When she was allowed out she was only out with us but the first time she was allowed out on her own she stayed out until late.

She came back in shouting for dinner just as I was writing this. Your baby will be home soon.

I’ve heard that you should put a missing cat’s litter tray outside as they can smell it and it guides them home.

Hope he’s back soon OP 🤞🏼 kitties love dawn and dusk especially so I’m sure he will have just been having too much fun!

I'm sure he'll be back soon.
When we took on a rescue they gave us some good advice re going outside...
Let cat out first thing in morning just before you feed them so they are likely to come home for breakfast. Then before dinner so they're likely to be home before darker evening sets in. Advice was to keep them in overnight. She said once they get into thst routine it may well "stick."
I'm assuming he's been neutered as he's a rescue so less likely to stray far.
Really hope he's home soon as I know how worrying it is.
Keep up updated ❤️

Thank you for the reassuring comments 🙏. He went out at lunchtime and he had had breakfast at around 7:30, so nothing since. I thought he'd want his dinner but nothing is tempting him unless he's too far away to hear/smell us. He's chipped, neutered, vaccinated and has a collar with a tag. I just keep hoping he's going to pop up soon !!

When he's back give him a really high value treat and don't give it any other time

Mine has some catnip biscuits he loves and I only give them when he comes in from outside. So then when I shout him, he comes sprinting because he associates home time with them!

It's hard not to worry, mine did it last week and the little sod was sat in next doors garden, totally ignoring me

@Symposium You have done absolutely everything right by him, please don't feel bad! Cats are just cats at times and love a wander with no idea of the anxiety it causes us!!

He's home!!!!!

Thank you so much everyone!

Yay! Have you told him what a sod he is while telling him how much you love him?