Any Hints And Tips On Letting Our New Cat Out Of The House For The First Time

[robbieswife]

we have had him since the beginning of november but he is itching to go out , but we want him to come back home (obviously) and tips ?

[B00]

First thing- have him neutered!

[robbieswife]

Hes been neutered and microchipped and is up to date with his injections.

[ummmm]

Just let him out. He'll come back.

[China Doll]

Has he had his flea protection too? How is he getting in and out? Does he need cat flap training?

With all my cats I have always begun by letting them go out the first time with me. Then once they come in that's it for the day. I do that for the first week. After the first week when I'm sure they know how to get in and out by themselves, (we have a cat flap) then I just start leaving the flap open during the day and they're away. I tend to have my cat in from about 11pm when I block up his flap, but that obviously rather depends on him coming in at this time... he's a bit of a dirty stop out.

[rojash]

Butter on the feet.

[Lisa_Louise]

I usually put butter on their paws (not too much) a few days before letting them out for the first time. The idea behind this is that they will lick the butter off and feel 'homely' and they will want to come back. As long as they know they are welcome back, know they have a safe and comfortable place to come back to with food and water at home you shouldn't have a problem. I always keep a good eye on them for the first week whilst in and out. Saying that when I have kittens I don't let them out until the following spring when they are at least 11-12 months old.

My kitten now is 7 months old and is showing no signs of wanting to go out, she is quite happy just staring out the window at our other cat!

Try the butter thing, it works every time with us :)

[boxtops]

I agree with china - I've always accompanied my cats when they go out for the first time, so they feel safe.

hwoever, we don't shut the catflap at night - ours like to go out and sniff the night air, and do night-cat things - but you might want to leave that for a bit longer.

One tip I'd use - make sure he knows the rattle of the biscuit tin or the sound of the tin opener, and let him out just before you would feed him, so he gallops back in at the sound of food.

Ours tend to go out to "use the toilet" not long after eating, so you might want to factor that in too.

How old is he?

[Prudie]

I shall be doing this in the Spring and plan to do as others say, I shall go out with my kitten the first few times. I thought the butter on paws was to settle them into a new home by distracting them, nothing to do with getting them back in. They should already know the value of home before they go out,

[boxtops]

Now I think about it, I usually take a toy on a string out with me, to attract them back in after a little while (it's been 12 years since I had all this taraddidle with No. 1 Son!) I remember my neighbour kitten sitting and ringing me to say "he's out there playing with a leaf, he won't come in!"