To never let cat out again? Or only when I’m in the kitchen/garden

[Goatymum]

My mature cat was in a fight recently- we’d let her out in the evening and she came in w her fur flying about and not happy. We had the TV on so hadn’t heard it, unfortunately.
It injured her quite badly - I’ll be off to vet again today - and am now thinking to not let her out (we don’t have a flap) unless I’m there to supervise. I’m home a lot so can let her go for a bit to do her business and eat a bit of grass!

It depends on the cat! If it’s always been able to roam they might not like it, or they may be happy, only you know! Our rescue cat was an indoor cat but since we got her she’s allowed in the back garden when we’re out there and she very happy, when we go in so does she. Horses for courses. Or cat for pat(io).

Yep if affordable & doable, a Catio or cat proofing the garden seems your best bet. If not, I can't blame you for wanting to only let her out supervised.

Another thing may be to only let her out during the day. I know the old way used to be to let the cat out overnight, but it can be much more dangerous for them and they aren't really nocturnal but crepuscular (dawn and dusk).

You said "let her out", do you not have a cat flap? A chip operated cat flap would mean she can escape back into the house and unless the other cat is right on her tail then she can get to safety. You can also get ones that you can programme so she can only go out during "permitted" times, but get back in whenever she wants/needs to.

Depends on the cat. Ours get miserable if they're kept in longer than overnight and the youngest will pee in the sink in protest.

I supervise mine. But she has a litter tray indoors so only asks to go out when she wants to eat grass or have a stroll around the garden. She usually gets bored / spooked after 10 minutes so I don’t mind sitting with her / keeping an eye on her from kitchen when she’s out. I used to let her out unattended in the beginning but she was always in fights, and there are a lot of aggressive unneutered toms where I live so I don’t want to just leave her to it.

That sounds nasty. How did the trip to the vet go OP? I agree with supervising her outside, especially while she heals.