Letting My Cat Outside

Angel · Member Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 42

I let my cat Jay out the back. This is where he lives now. It has been a whike sinve we have let him out. With it being this long he can now jump all our neiboures fences. Which that means he can get into there back yard. I am a bit worried about that but that is'nt the main thing. The main thing is that he can get out the front and when my brother and I were walking to school he followed us. We then had to run because he wouldn't of came all the way to school with us. The problem is if he goes to far away from home, meaning nito other streets and then gest him self lost. That is what worries me. If not lost then fed by another family and then stays there. I would be really sad if that happened. Crying or Very sad

Is there any hepl that you can suggest. PLZ Your the best

Mary_NH · Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:28 am Post subject:

keep him in - he'll adjust to life inside. That way he's safe and you won't have to worry about him not coming home. A lot of dangers out there for kitties - cruel people, dogs, cars, poisons, parasites, etc.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

I would never let my cat outside. With all the cars, sick people, dogs, wild animals, and deadly feline diseases out there, it's just not worth the risk.

-Chelle

loves-da-pits · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:29 pm Post subject:

Is there a reason that Jay NOW has to live outside? Did he ever live inside the house? My cats never go outside. Even the stray feral cat that we adopted 14 yrs ago. At first she wanted to go outside but eventually she was quite content to just look out a window.

Maybe you can design an enclosure outside on a porch or something that Jay can sit in and still be safe. A free roaming cat usually doesn't have a very long life expectancy. A strictly indoor cat that is relatively healthy can live to be 18 + years.

halaroo · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 1:50 am Post subject:

You can always harness train him and then have him out the backyard, supervised. That's what I do with my cats. It gives them the best of both worlds.

Chezza · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:59 am Post subject:

No he doesn't have to live outside, but I cant keep him in, as soon as the door opens hes out like a strike of lightning, especially when kids go out..He loves it out there, and meows profusely to get out, its really loud. Shocked

Bente · Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject:

I know what that it's like Chezza. Kyrre is an indoorcat, and ever since I started taking him out on a leash he's been standing at the front door meowing 24/7. Unfortunately the leash thing didn't work for us, he is used to being outdoors from where we lived before, and was not very happy having me following him around and restricting where he could and could not go... Now it's been ages since I took him outside, but it's only over the past two weeks he has given up the meowing. It was hard... Confused

We are planning on moving in November, and even though I know he'll probably live longer as an indoorcat I want to mowe somewhere he can be outdoors. He hasn't been the same cat since we moved one and a half years ago, and I want for him to get that happy spirit back.

Well, now i'm rambling on about me, myself and I. I hope you find a solution to the problem. Was he indoors only before you moved?

eman · Member Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 340 Location: Canada

if u must let him go out, make sure he has a collar on with address and phone number in case he gets lost.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

I know I've mentioned my cats' tags before, but I really do love them.

I ordered them from http://www.boomerangtags.com/page.php?c=collartags&k=h

The clip onto the collar and lay flat against it so that they are not dangling down to get caught on things and they are guaranteed not to fall off the collar. The cost around $8 each and are custom engraved (we have their name, microchip ID, and the phone number of the microchip service - so they'll be good no matter where or how often we move, but you could have your phone number & address done too)

-Chelle

sunset05 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

I haven't let my kitties out in over a year now and I still stress over it. Mittens was so happy when she went outside. She's not the brightest kitty, though, and has gotten very sick more than once and has had worms more than once. She is safer in the house.

I do take her out on a harness and leash once in awhile, but like Bente's kitty, Mittens craves going out after that and meows at the door. I keep strong, though. Sometimes I want to give in and let her out but it hasn't happend yet.

So I guess if you keep your kitty in he will be safer and healthier. Maybe he'll be happier if he goes out. Sorry, I'm not good at giving advice about this.

Chezza · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:51 am Post subject:

Yea I have all of that, ID, Tagged with name and address. Two bells that are loud enough to hear him..He is happy to come in for a cuddle and pat, but then he wants out..He is a different cat since being out, he's happy as Larry, and rolls in the sunlight, its lovely too see, he will be treated regularly for worms, fleas and all that, I'll make sure of that, I love him dearly and would not let anything hurt him that's in my power. He just loves the sun and lays for ages in it.. Mr. Green

When we lived in the old place he was inside, but was sad, he sat at the door for hours and hours, and when my daughter took him on the leash and harness, his desire got more and more. And it was sad to have to isolate him indoors again, Tiff is different she'll pop out briefly then want to come in again, so that's cool, she's more indoors, and happy to be so Very Happy

.

Chezza · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:58 am Post subject:

Had a look at the tag t_chelle16, excellent, I will invest in one of them, they are a great idea, the tag he has does dangle a bit, he didn't seem to mind at all, but they look a lot better indeed. Thanks. Your the best

sunset05 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:42 pm Post subject:

My Socks is like your Tiff, Chezza. She'll go out for a little and want right back in again. I don't even have to put Socks on a leash when I take her and Mittens out. I wish Mittens was like that.

I don't let Socks out without Mittens because I don't want Mittens to get jealous of Socks and cause behavioral problems.