Im afraid to let my Cat outside

sparky89

Hi everyone

I have 1 year old rescue cat and he is male and i got him neutered not so long ago.

I went the hole way to kilkenny to get him, but when i got him he was a kitten that had been dumped and left to run free and he was almost wild and he ran from every person that came near him or if her heard a loud noise.

I have him about 6 months now and he is very relaxed around me and my partner and our dog but if anyone else comes into the house he goes hiding or if a loud noise happens he runs away.

I let him out one day and he went missing till that night and i was calling him all day so i am afraid to let him out again in case he wont come back because he still shows signs of been wild cat.

I have been told to put butter on his paws and he sill come back but im really worried he wont come back and i just feel so bad for him stuck inside the hole time and in good weather because hes always looking out the windows.

If anyone has any help or advise i would be grateful because if he went missing i would be heart broken

kildare.17hmr

cat proof your garden so he Cant get out or build him a run like you would a dog but with a roof and he will be happy out

sweetskye

Hi Sparky89,

Dont worry about him being sometimes scared of people . My cat who I have
since he was 8 weeks old, hes now 3, still sometimes hides from us. I still get anxious if they stay away for too long. I was told when they were small to let them out and feed them only when they were back.
It takes a while but you will get used to him being out. All the best.

Shanao

kildare.17hmr wrote: »

cat proof your garden so he Cant get out or build him a run like you would a dog but with a roof and he will be happy out

I'm going to have to agree with this. I used to leave two of mine out for a few hours everyday and they always came running, but for some reason only one of them came back the other day. I figured he would come back later, but started to get worried as it started to get dark. I stayed up until 4am sitting just inside the kitchen window waiting for him and he finally arrived home, but I've decided that they're not being left out anymore. I think I'm going to try and build a run for them and see how I get on with it.

There's far too many things to worry about I feel. Between cars, dogs, other cats, and teenagers who think its fun to kick a cat around, I'm not risking it. They have full run of the house and an entire room to themselves. I would reccomend that you do as kildare mentioned; either cat proof the garden so he cant get out or build a run.

Sigma Force

Well the bottom line is if anyone lets their cat roam freely they have to expect that there's a chance the cat to come back injured or not at all some cats are pure lucky. There are ways as said to cat proof the garden there's also aviary type enclosures you can get, places like hayses modular make dog runs suitable for cats too. You can make them as big as you want. For an average town garden for example you wouldn't need that many panels to enclose the whole or most of the garden.

Butter on the paws is a myth.

It's funny how many (sadly not all) people will not let their dogs roam the streets but are happy to allow their cats to. Cars, other cats, dogs, narky neighbours can all be a risk to a wandering cat.

sparky89

It would be impossible for me to cat proof my garden as i live out the country and building a pen for him would that not just be the same thing as keeping him inside ?

sparky89

Sigma Force wrote: »

Well the bottom line is if anyone lets their cat roam freely they have to expect that there's a chance the cat to come back injured or not at all some cats are pure lucky. There are ways as said to cat proof the garden there's also aviary type enclosures you can get, places like hayses modular make dog runs suitable for cats too. You can make them as big as you want. For an average town garden for example you wouldn't need that many panels to enclose the whole or most of the garden.

Butter on the paws is a myth.

It's funny how many (sadly not all) people will not let their dogs roam the streets but are happy to allow their cats to. Cars, other cats, dogs, narky neighbours can all be a risk to a wandering cat.

I dont agree with letting people letting there animals walk free but im not doing that i live out the country and have no house or streets near me all there is, is fields and my cat has had all his boosters and has been nurtured and micro chipped so i dont see how thats would be a problem as i have taken all the safety precautions

Sigma Force

Driveways alone are a danger in winter, cats like to hide in the cars engines to keep warm. Neutering and vaccinations are important but they have nothing to do really with a cats saftey the countryside is a haven for cats of course but there are risks there too, farm machinery, traps, posioned land, dogs etc.

Cats as a species love to roam in general they love the freedom but so do dogs given half the chance my lot would be up the fields doing their own thing.

A pen is a compramise between total freedom and the saftey of the garden.

A cat pen can be enriched with logs and trees, fountains, shelves to lounge on, it gives cats the mental stimulation, chasing insects and sunshine. There's all sorts of things you can do with a cat pen to make it fun the possibilities are endless.

Some people go all out and build cat walkways and tunnels etc. So many cat toys out there as well that can be added or even another kitty for company.

sparky89

Sigma Force wrote: »

Driveways alone are a danger in winter, cats like to hide in the cars engines to keep warm. Neutering and vaccinations are important but they have nothing to do really with a cats saftey the countryside is a haven for cats of course but there are risks there too, farm machinery, traps, posioned land, dogs etc.

Cats as a species love to roam in general they love the freedom but so do dogs given half the chance my lot would be up the fields doing their own thing.

A pen is a compramise between total freedom and the saftey of the garden.

A cat pen can be enriched with logs and trees, fountains, shelves to lounge on, it gives cats the mental stimulation, chasing insects and sunshine. There's all sorts of things you can do with a cat pen to make it fun the possibilities are endless.

Some people go all out and build cat walkways and tunnels etc. So many cat toys out there as well that can be added or even another kitty for company.

This is not an option for me as i would not have the funds to cost the build even tho it is a great idea and does sound like cat heaven

Themadhouse

Lots of people leave their cats inside. Most of my friends cats are indoor only. SOme are in houses with access to a run, some are kept within the house and others in apartments.
Most cats adapt to being indoors. A run is an advantage as the cat can chase flies, watch the birds, have fresh air etc.
Playtime with the cat in the evening will give him the interaction he needs, a laser mouse is brilliant and he will chase it for hours.
If you keep your cat indoors you are keeping him safe, safe from other cats, dogs, cat haters, cars, poison, the list goes on.

Just make sure he has a scratching post and toys. A few high place to sleep on and a cardboard box is a brilliant toy.

mymo

A cat run doesn't need to be big or costly, some lengths of timber, cut and made into a simple frame, and some avery wire or chicken wire stretched over. Just make sure there are no sharp edges on the inside.
You can cover 3 sides and the roof and fix it to the wall over a window, leave the window open and the cat can go in and out. Put a good size fallen tree log or some branches for scratching posts and the cat will be happy.
Make sure the pen faces the sun and the cat will be really happy.
I know my friend in the uk built one for about £60 so sure it wouldn't cost much.

kildare.17hmr

runs can be made very cheap if your creative and do it yourself. Like the other poster said you can fill it with loads of things. Steel fencing is cheap enough and if your handy with your hands you would knock something together in a day and for under 100 quid that would last years and keep your piece of mind and the cat happy

Mo60

Cats are independent creatures so will not always do what you expect of them. If you let them out they will come back in their own good time.

You have to accept that an outdoor cat faces more danger than an indoor cat, but have to balance what you feel is the best thing to do in your situation.

buckieburd

I've got a rescue cat as well, got her when she was a kitten the mum was feral. I had her for a year before she was let out due to there being a busy road near the house. We moved to quieter place and started just by letting her out the back for a while. She comes and goes as she pleases now, and although i still worry she might get run over / not come back I'd rather have a bit of worry than her being cooped up in the house all day. She is so much more relaxed and happier now that she gets out. I know there is a lot of pros about having an indoor cat, I just think it a bit of a shame to keep a cat in the house all the time...

The Sweeper

Yeah, I think it's a bit of a shame to have your pet torn apart by greyhounds or laminated across the tarmac on the road, but live and let live eh? Wouldn't want to coop them up what!

serenacat

Why would butter on paws make a difference?

sparky89

Everybody has there own views on keeping a cat indoors but when you have to look at your pet everyday knowing that he wants to go outside and seems unhappy inside, you only want the best for him.

I dont live near roads or any danger hazards so im not worried about that part

I only asked for advise on will my cat come back if i let him out not if he will be laminated across the road or killed my cows etc

If people could advise me on WILL HE COME BACK i would be grateful as the other advise is not useful to me and as for building a pen, my view on that would be the same as keeping him in doors and i live in rented accommodation so it is not an option

sparky89

serenacat wrote: »

Why would butter on paws make a difference?

It was an old lady who told me that so im assuming its a wifes tale

She said that he will spend so long licking the butter off his paws he will be used to the garden surroundings

sparky89

buckieburd wrote: »

I've got a rescue cat as well, got her when she was a kitten the mum was feral. I had her for a year before she was let out due to there being a busy road near the house. We moved to quieter place and started just by letting her out the back for a while. She comes and goes as she pleases now, and although i still worry she might get run over / not come back I'd rather have a bit of worry than her being cooped up in the house all day. She is so much more relaxed and happier now that she gets out. I know there is a lot of pros about having an indoor cat, I just think it a bit of a shame to keep a cat in the house all the time...

It horrible looking at him everyday crying looking out the window and scratching at it so i dont think keeping him cooped up in the house is doing him good

buckieburd

The Sweeper wrote: »

Yeah, I think it's a bit of a shame to have your pet torn apart by greyhounds or laminated across the tarmac on the road, but live and let live eh? Wouldn't want to coop them up what!

I would hope if someone had aggressive dogs they would not be roaming free where they could attack other animals or children

sparky89 wrote: »

It horrible looking at him everyday crying looking out the window and scratching at it so i dont think keeping him cooped up in the house is doing him good

Cats know where their bread is buttered, they always come back when they are hungry

TooManyDogs

sparky89 wrote: »

If people could advise me on WILL HE COME BACK i would be grateful as the other advise is not useful to me and as for building a pen, my view on that would be the same as keeping him in doors and i live in rented accommodation so it is not an option

No one can advise you on if he will come back, how would anyone know? The thing about roaming cats is they generally come home until the day they don't but you'll never know when that day is. They'll regularily go missing not coming back for hours or days after they should and and one day they simply wont come back. The only way to guarantee you know where he is is to not let him out or build some kind of enclosure

Little_Focker

I say let him out. He will want to explore his new surroundings so may stay away for a few hours. I live in the country too and have 3 cats, 2 of them LOVE being out, they get distressed if they want to get out and I wont let them, is that fair? I dont think so personally. They never go too far sometimes will see them at the end of the field sitting on the wall watching for mice. Or if I call them they come within a minute out of the long grass etc.

Sure I would love to be able to fence in the garden so they cant get out....maybe when I win the lotto

sparky89

Little_Focker wrote: »

I say let him out. He will want to explore his new surroundings so may stay away for a few hours. I live in the country too and have 3 cats, 2 of them LOVE being out, they get distressed if they want to get out and I wont let them, is that fair? I dont think so personally. They never go too far sometimes will see them at the end of the field sitting on the wall watching for mice. Or if I call them they come within a minute out of the long grass etc.

Sure I would love to be able to fence in the garden so they cant get out....maybe when I win the lotto

Thank you for your advise its nice to hear something positive

Mo60

Little_Focker wrote: »

I say let him out. He will want to explore his new surroundings so may stay away for a few hours. I live in the country too and have 3 cats, 2 of them LOVE being out, they get distressed if they want to get out and I wont let them, is that fair? I dont think so personally. They never go too far sometimes will see them at the end of the field sitting on the wall watching for mice. Or if I call them they come within a minute out of the long grass etc.

Sure I would love to be able to fence in the garden so they cant get out....maybe when I win the lotto

+ 1

My views exactly. OP do what you think is best for your pets and what makes them happy.

planetX

OP he will come back. Stay outside with him for the first few times, let him get to know his way around. Let him out before feeding him so he won't go far. If you can put in a catflap it's ideal, otherwise leaving a window open will give him a safe retreat and he can explore at his own pace.
And put a collar on him....though after reading through another thread I'd be inclined not to put a phone number on it:mad:

af_thefragile

Why do people always compare cats with dogs. They're completely different species with different personalities.

Dogs are pack animals who rely on their pack for safety and food. For pets, their owners and "family" is the dog's pack and the dog will want to be with the "pack".

Cats on the other hand and solitary independent ambush predators who rely on their senses for safety and food. They have lived for millions of years by themselves and know how to look after themselves alone. They have a need to explore and hunt for prey which is why cats are more willing to roam outside than stay indoors.

Also dogs on their own usually don't know what to do hence if you let them out, they'll end up following people and cars etc and will get lost. Also an aggressive dog can very easily injure and also kill a child which is why you have license for keeping dogs and laws which don't allow them to roam outside on their own.

Most cat owners like to see their pets roam free like they would naturally in the wild. Its not about being responsible and caring for the pet's life no matter what. You can keep it indoors safe and protected all its life and it will probably live a fairly happy life. While you can also let it roam free outside and live life fully like its meant for cats to do which makes the cats happy.

Its the same as keeping animals in a zoo where they live their life in a small enclosure all their life compared to seeing the animal roam free in its natural habitat in the wild.

Bottom line cats and dogs are two very different animals and you compare the behaviours of the two...




All that aside to OP,

If you're too concerned about your cat's safety while at the same time want to fill its need to explore the outdoors, you could maybe take the cat out for some supervised play time outside or if you're scared your cat will run away and not return, then you could try to get the cat used to a harness and take it out on a leash. You might get some strange looks from people but it'll give the cat a chance to explore the outdoors while also give you the peace of mind that the cat's not going to run away anywhere and stay safe with you...

The Sweeper

af_thefragile wrote: »

Why do people always compare cats with dogs. They're completely different species with different personalities.

Because people used to let their dogs roam, and now they don't, because it's now considered responsible pet ownership not to let your dogs roam free. Are you old enough to remember the ads on Irish telly in the 80s, the animated ad where someone puts their golden retriever out for the night and it runs with a pack of roaming dog and worries sheep? The message was to keep your pets in for the night.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Dogs are pack animals who rely on their pack for safety and food. For pets, their owners and "family" is the dog's pack and the dog will want to be with the "pack".

Indeed it will - and it will be out killing livestock with that pack if given the opportunity, except these days we don't give them the opportunity.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Cats on the other hand and solitary independent ambush predators...

Anyone who has a successful multi-cat household will refute this. Cats function extremely well as part of a colony - they mutually groom, play and sleep together. Feral cats will frequently inhabit popular feeding and breeding grounds in groups of five or more (and often it's far more, we're talking 25 or 30 cats.)

af_thefragile wrote: »

...who rely on their senses for safety and food. They have lived for millions of years by themselves and know how to look after themselves alone. They have a need to explore and hunt for prey which is why cats are more willing to roam outside than stay indoors.

No they haven't lived for millions of years by themselves. Are you just making this up? The domestic cat was domesticated within the last 10,000 years. Just because they can revert easily to a wild state doesn't mean they're the same species. They thrive on companionship and proper care.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Also dogs on their own usually don't know what to do hence if you let them out, they'll end up following people and cars etc and will get lost. Also an aggressive dog can very easily injure and also kill a child which is why you have license for keeping dogs and laws which don't allow them to roam outside on their own.

Just because a roaming cat is unlikely to kill a child, (though there are plenty of cases of kids bitten and scratched by cats), WHY is that the deciding factor between allowing your animal be an irritant to the entire neighbourhood? Roaming cats absolutely infuriate people who don't want them crapping in their yards or walking the wall, winding their dogs up. Is the death of a child actually necessary for cat owners to consider their neighbours? ...do we need to breed bigger cats?

af_thefragile wrote: »

Most cat owners like to see their pets roam free like they would naturally in the wild.

Again, a statistic you've pulled out of your arse. "Most" cat owners? Most that you know? I'll bet I know more cat owners than you, and the vast majority of them don't let their cats roam.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Its not about being responsible and caring for the pet's life no matter what.

Yes, you're dead right, it's not about being responsible. There is no "no matter what" here. There are plenty of ways to restrict your cat's roaming tendencies, keeping it safe from dogs, cars and other people, reducing frustration to your neighbours and preventing it from becoming a nuisance.

af_thefragile wrote: »

You can keep it indoors safe and protected all its life and it will probably live a fairly happy life. While you can also let it roam free outside and live life fully like its meant for cats to do which makes the cats happy.

Don't anthropomorphise the cat. All cats need to be happy is food, shelter, warmth, cuddles, something to scratch and a game with a toy that fulfills their hunting instincts. That can be indoors, in the garden or boundary-free.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Its the same as keeping animals in a zoo where they live their life in a small enclosure all their life compared to seeing the animal roam free in its natural habitat in the wild.

No it isn't. The habitat of the domestic cat is far smaller than you seem to realise, especially if it's a neutered cat. The average garden is sufficient for a cat to get sunshine, fresh air, have a crap, chase some butterflies and scratch a tree. If you don't have a garden, you can either commit to keeping your cat indoors with cat trees and toys, or just don't get a cat.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Bottom line cats and dogs are two very different animals and you compare the behaviours of the two...

I have no intention of comparing a cat to a dog. What I do, and will continue to do, is compare a cat owner with a dog owner. Both have animals who will roam if allowed. Both animals will cause frustration and agitation to neighbours if allowed to roam. Both animals run the risk of being hit by cars or abused by non-animal-loving humans if allowed to roam. Both animals run the risk of being seriously injured or killed by dogs (ironically enough for other dogs) if allowed to roam. The difference between the two is that with dogs, both culture and the state have stepped in to legislate against roaming dogs and to put people in the mindset that allowing your dog to roam is the wrong thing to do.

af_thefragile wrote: »

All that aside to OP,

If you're too concerned about your cat's safety while at the same time want to fill its need to explore the outdoors, you could maybe take the cat out for some supervised play time outside or if you're scared your cat will run away and not return, then you could try to get the cat used to a harness and take it out on a leash. You might get some strange looks from people but it'll give the cat a chance to explore the outdoors while also give you the peace of mind that the cat's not going to run away anywhere and stay safe with you...

Aaaaaand, this bit I agree with.

sparky89

The Sweeper wrote: »

you need to relax im looking for advise not a slagging match about cats a dogs

sparky89

af_thefragile wrote: »

All that aside to OP,

If you're too concerned about your cat's safety while at the same time want to fill its need to explore the outdoors, you could maybe take the cat out for some supervised play time outside or if you're scared your cat will run away and not return, then you could try to get the cat used to a harness and take it out on a leash. You might get some strange looks from people but it'll give the cat a chance to explore the outdoors while also give you the peace of mind that the cat's not going to run away anywhere and stay safe with you...

Thank you for your advise, I have tried the cat harness and he freaks out wen u put it on him so i done it a few times and he got worse and worse so i havnt done it since

The Sweeper

sparky89 wrote: »

The Sweeper wrote: »

you need to relax im looking for advise not a slagging match about cats a dogs

/shrug - if you don't want an opinion, don't post on the internet. And it's cat owners and dog owners, not cats and dogs.

rabbit.84

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056363848

maybe threads like that would put you off. I think if you cant guarantee that it will be as safe outside as it is inside then it stays inside.

My current cat is indoors only. He is happy enough with this. When I move somewhere with some outdoor space he will have and outdoor enclosure. I found my previous cat dead on the road and it wont be happening again.

af_thefragile

sparky89 wrote: »

Thank you for your advise, I have tried the cat harness and he freaks out wen u put it on him so i done it a few times and he got worse and worse so i havnt done it since

You've got to try to get them used to it slowly. Like first just put the harness on top of them and once they get comfortable with that, put them in it and such. Some cats won't mind it much and will get used to it pretty fast. For some it'll be a very slow process. Some will never like it...

Anyway, if your cat doesn't like the harness, maybe you could just take him out with you for a walk in a park or something giving it some supervised time outdoors. You've gotta be prepared to run after the cat as it won't necessarily go where you'ld want it to and maybe also bring a few treats along so you can entice the cat back to you if it's wandering away too far. Best to let him out in the back garden first and make sure he doesn't climb the fence and goes away too far. Then you could give it a bit more freedom.

As always with a cat being let outdoor, there will always be the risk it'll get freaked out by something and run away or get itself into trouble and such. So you've gotta be careful and prepared for that.

sparky89

af_thefragile wrote: »

You've got to try to get them used to it slowly. Like first just put the harness on top of them and once they get comfortable with that, put them in it and such. Some cats won't mind it much and will get used to it pretty fast. For some it'll be a very slow process. Some will never like it...

Anyway, if your cat doesn't like the harness, maybe you could just take him out with you for a walk in a park or something giving it some supervised time outdoors. You've gotta be prepared to run after the cat as it won't necessarily go where you'ld want it to and maybe also bring a few treats along so you can entice the cat back to you if it's wandering away too far. Best to let him out in the back garden first and make sure he doesn't climb the fence and goes away too far. Then you could give it a bit more freedom.

As always with a cat being let outdoor, there will always be the risk it'll get freaked out by something and run away or get itself into trouble and such. So you've gotta be careful and prepared for that.

Thank you for your genuine advise and i will be using some of it in practice, you see to know your stuff

sparky89

The Sweeper wrote: »

/shrug - if you don't want an opinion, don't post on the internet. And it's cat owners and dog owners, not cats and dogs.

Thank you for your advise i have got all i needed off you

The Sweeper

sparky89 wrote: »

Thank you for your advise i have got all i needed off you

Oh you're very welcome - if your cat goes missing, do a search on the forum before posting - all of the advice on phoning the council to see if it was picked up off the road, phoning the local shelters and local vets, putting fliers up in the supermarket and the post office and doing a letterbox-drop of your neighbours is all here already.

If you let your cat out, he will come home. Until he doesn't.

af_thefragile

The Sweeper wrote: »

/shrug - if you don't want an opinion, don't post on the internet. And it's cat owners and dog owners, not cats and dogs.

Bah... when you own a pet, you treat it the way its meant to be treated. Dogs behave different to cats hence dog owners treat their pets different to cat owners.

Anyway its pointless arguing here. And no matter if you like it or not, you will always find cats roaming around on the streets. Its what they do. Nothing can change that. Its unfortunate some have accidents and injure or kill themselves but such is life. It can happen to a cat, it can also happen to any person.

Ophiopogon

af_thefragile wrote: »

Bah... when you own a pet, you treat it the way its meant to be treated. Dogs behave different to cats hence dog owners treat their pets different to cat owners.

Anyway its pointless arguing here. And no matter if you like it or not, you will always find cats roaming around on the streets. Its what they do. Nothing can change that. Its unfortunate some have accidents and injure or kill themselves but such is life. It can happen to a cat, it can also happen to any person.

It's not what they do, it's what they are let do. They are a pet so they can only do what they owners let them do.

ISDW

sparky89 wrote: »

Thank you for your genuine advise and i will be using some of it in practice, you see to know your stuff

sparky89 wrote: »

Thank you for your advise i have got all i needed off you

Maybe if you bother to read through this forum you will see that Sweeper knows a helluva lot about cats. Personally I would regard them as a cat expert, and listen to their advice above anyone else on here. But, maybe its because she/he isn't saying what you want to hear?

ferretone

af_thefragile wrote: »

Bah... when you own a pet, you treat it the way its meant to be treated. Dogs behave different to cats hence dog owners treat their pets different to cat owners.

Anyway its pointless arguing here. And no matter if you like it or not, you will always find cats roaming around on the streets. Its what they do. Nothing can change that. Its unfortunate some have accidents and injure or kill themselves but such is life. It can happen to a cat, it can also happen to any person.

Why are you comparing a cat to "any person"? The whole point is that the world out there is dominated by humans, and a person can understand that world and behave in such a way as to be reasonably safe in it. A cat can't do that, and is very vulnerable to dangers which very rarely pose a significant danger to us. Also, we can be arrested and made accountable for damage or harm we do, which again does not apply to a cat.

So a responsible owner does not let them roam.

Zapperzy

sparky89 wrote: »

Thank you for your advise i have got all i needed off you

I seriously doubt that, as isdw has said I too would consider sweeper as a cat expert, if you actually listened and wanted to learn you would probably learn a lot about everything cat related but especially keeping cats safely confined to your house or garden.

Asking will he come back is like buying a scratch card, you could be very lucky and keep winning (your cat comes back home), until the day you don't win. I could be pulling this outta my ass, I'm not too entirely sure on the exact number but I think the average lifespan of an outdoor cat is 3 years old. If you do a search you will find many threads on indoor/outdoor cat dilemmas, you will find a few recent threads with posters who treat a roaming cat no different to vermin such as rats (shooting, poison, trapping and releasing out in the middle of nowhere etc.). Another thread was started by a poster who witnessed men with greyhounds out blooding their dogs at night on pet cats.

You will find stories of people who have had cats all their lives who have lived into late teens and had outdoor access, you will find equal if not more stories of people whose cats just never came home one day. At least keep your mind open to other options or try them out before making the decision to allow outdoor access.

If your open to advice on harness & lead training a cat then I will gladly give you advice. As I'm sure others would happily give you advice on options for cat proofing a garden (I think sweeper has a cat fence) or building a run, or simply keeping an indoor cat occupied and happy.

carwash_2006

I still remember the day about 5 years ago when I brought my gorgeous ginger and white lad to the vet for his first shots. The vet commented on what a gorgeous friendly cat he was as he purred away while the needle was going in and then snuggled up to the vets hand.

Anyway, the vet looked me in the eye and told me he'd probably be dead on the road before the year was out. I smiled broadly and told him that he wouldn't be getting out on the road due to our secure cat enclosure. He was delighted to discover that this was one cat that wouldn't be ending up flat on the road.

audreyp

There are a lot of valid points on this thread. Letting cats out is a huge risk! I am considering looking into catproofing my garden, i'm not sure if its possible so if someone could link to a thread on this, thanks in advance.

In response to the op's original question I have gone through this myself. My oldest cat has always been an outdoor cat. He was a bit wild when we got him and there was no way of keeping him inside. He is happiest killing mice and dropping them in interesting places about my house :-) Or even better bringing home live ones and killing them leaving a dexter style blood bath in the house. Anyway recently he was hurt and broke his tail and it had to be amputated. He was in a lot of pain and we kept him in for a full week and isolated to one room as we have kittens and we didn't want him fighting or stressing about him.

I was so nervous unlocking the cat flap in case he left and never came back as he associated everything he had been through with me. Since I brought him to the vet and he had to stay there for 2 days and have a scary operation and then once I brought him home, and his painkiller patch wore off. I fed him painkillers through a dropper in the mouth. I felt like the worst person ever and I was sure he hated me and once he got out he would never come back.

He was so miserable inside, crying all the time and once he was fit the vet rang and checked up on him. I said he really wants to get outside but besides that he is fine. Then he said well it is your decision but you have to ask yourself if you are keeping him in for him or myself. My question was answered, I opened the cat flap and he went out and came home 10 minutes later. He doesn't really leave the house at all now he just likes the option.

I'm considering cat-proofing now as I couldn't keep him inside all the time but I don't know how possible that is for me as its a townhouse and management companies won't even let me change my door colour!! Anyway that is a different thread. I just wanted to let the OP know my experience. It is scary and a huge risk but cats will come back to where they are fed and you have to hope nothing will happen to them on the trip there.

loveisdivine

Right, heres my opinion.

Cats have a built in instinct to roam and play in the sun and catch mice etc. However, this instinct they are born with doesnt really contain any details for them on how to deal with cars, and people that participate in animal cruelty.
Yes it is natural for cats to want to be outside, but the world they are living in is not the world they were designed for, if you get what I mean.
A cat can sense a predator animal, it cannot sense how fast a car is going and whether it will make it across the road. Also, they do not know which humans are caring and which are abusers.

If you live on an island, where there are no roads, and you are the only people there, then go ahead and let your cat roam free.
If you live in the real world, then you are letting your cat out to face dangers it is not instinctually prepared for.

Edit - Oh and the only answer to whether or not your cat will come home, is it all depends on what happens to him while he is out roaming.

Robinwood

Why don't you take him outside for a ride on your vehicle, i guess that the least you can do to him to enjoy the climate !

sparky89

Robinwood wrote: »

Why don't you take him outside for a ride on your vehicle, i guess that the least you can do to him to enjoy the climate !

A ride on my vehicle, I dont think thats the safest option !