Letting them out for the first time

[VenusClapTrap]

We’ve had our new furballs six weeks now, kept inside. All jabs done. One is very, very interested in going out, so really the time has come to introduce them to the garden. It’s so long since I’ve done this; previous cat lived to 18 so I don’t even remember letting her out for the first time.

What do I need to do to make sure they come back?! I mean I know I can’t really make them. And they probably will do, because that’s what cats do, but I can’t help worrying. Argh. This is worse than the dc starting school!

I can’t cat proof the boundaries by the way; the garden is half an acre. It’s pretty safe beyond the fence on three sides, but there is a road at the front of the house which they could get to if they really wanted to.

Any tips?

Let them out before they are fed - the call of dinner is strong.

What age are they?
Are they spayed/neutered?
I used to go out with mine to start with and pick them off the fence and out the tree to stop them escaping.

Originally I put my two kittens outside in a large dog cage then I started to let them out wearing harnesses with leads that were tied together so they couldn’t dash off. I only allowed them out under complete supervision this way as they would wind themselves round plants, pots, tables, chairs etc but it did get them used to being outside.

When they went out on their own, it was when they were hungry and with a packet of Dreamies to rattle (they already knew and loved Dreamies) to get their attention and bring them back inside. They came back easily this way, and it was all going swimmingly well until the day they went through into a neighbour’s garden and came to face with their little boy who was overexcited to see them and scared them so badly that one took off out of the garden, down the street, around the corner and eventually gave up running after he had scaled an 8ft wall and wouldn’t come down for the next 20 minutes. (Next time I have kittens, I’ll make sure I’m wearing trainers when they go out at first - not fluffy mules!)

It is a worry but you have to be prepared for heart in mouth moments. Is there anything you could do to prevent them getting down to the front of the house to start with?

With our boy I filled a bag with litter from his tray and sprinkled it round the garden edges - I read it creates a boundary with their scent, but no idea if that’s true or not. We went out with him for the first week or so, and then he completely stopped going out for about six weeks. I thought he had chosen to be an indoor cat. He was an ex stray kitten and I think he just needed to feel 100% confident he would get back home! Now he doesn’t go far but loves being out and is a prolific hunter (!). We do keep him in overnight and if no-one is home.

With our previous girl it was an easier process as it was summer, and we would just leave the back door open if we were in and out. I teach so was at home for six weeks, and she would potter in and out with me. She quickly started toileting outside but our boy comes in to use the litter tray, then goes back out. I live in hope he will change his mind.

Before breakfast on a day you're home. Open the back door and let them explore at their own pace. They need to sniff and scent and build their mental maps, so don't be helicopter cat parents!

Ok thank you everyone. Doing it before food is a good idea - they’re both very food motivated. I’ll sprinkle some litter.

Girl is 1.5 and boy is 11 months. Girl is nervous and cautious, so I think she’ll be fine. If anything, she’ll probably take some persuading to go out. Boy on the other hand is a loon, so I’m worried about him leaping around everywhere without due care and attention.

Regarding can I stop them getting round to the road; on one side of the house there’s an outbuilding with a six foot solid wooden gate between it and the house. Boy is really clumsy and not very good at judging jumps, so I think this will put him off. On the other side there’s a long, high wall with a wrought iron gate into another part of the garden. I can put some chicken wire behind this gate to stop him popping through. So to get round to the road he’d have to go down the drive, over the drive gates (these are eminently jumpable) into a dirt track which is mostly dog walkers, and along that to get to the proper road. Previous cats never went into the dirt track - the drive gates were very much their territory boundary. I really hope these two are the same!

I will try not to helicopter but fear it will be inevitable!

Tax:

Forgot to answer that yes, they’re neutered.

I took mine for daily walks on a harness for a few weeks to get them used to outside and familiar with the area surrounding the house, so they had an idea how to get back. I am a bit of a helicopter cat parent though!

I personally would wait until all the fireworks have totally stopped, as if you let them out and the wander, a firework might spook them. Also make sure they can run straight back inside. I only started letting mine out in spring/summer but obviously not always possible. Their both lovely by the way

Good point about fireworks, although we don’t get many round here (rural). They’ll be locked in after dark though anyway. I’ve got a timer cat flap at the ready.