Hi guys,

Hope this is the right place to ask a few general questions!

I got Lily (picture attached) about five weeks ago from my local Cats Protection, and I love her to bits!

On Friday, we started letting her out into the garden - quick sniff around, letting her get to know her surroundings etc - and all has went well so far. She's getting ever-more-confident every day, and today she decided to leap onto one of our fence panels, and into our next door neighbours garden, much to my horror! She was sniffing around, and almost got into the next garden, but we managed to coax her back, and my Mum grabbed her!

Obviously, Cats will wonder, but I'm extremely worried she might just wander off and never come back?

The other issue is trying to get the collar on her! It wasn't such an issue when she was indoors, but now she's starting to wander around, I'm worried she might be mistaken for a stray or something - the trouble is, she's sussed what we're trying to do, and is very resistent!

Thanks!

Attached Images

lily.jpg (229.6 KB, 22 views)

First of all, congratulations she is a beauty!! And well done you for rescuing her

How old is she? If you don't want her wandering off and are worried she may not return is there any way you can build a run for her in your garden so she can have the freedom of being outside but you know she will be safe?

Re the collar: is she microchipped? I know it can be really hard to get a collar on but if she is chipped and you let her out and someone thinks she is a stray she has a better chance of getting back to you if she is chipped. Also, I doubt people would think she is a stray as she looks so healthy and well fed

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as shes still new to going out, you can let her out before dinner so she'll be hungary if she needs a bribe!
rattle treat box or similar as a guide to come in & this should 'train' her to return

as above post - chips are essential

and i eventually got a collar on my tabby, which has been on for 6/7 weeks ( previous record was 2 days!) i got an engraved tag with her name & my number for 2 or 3 quid on ebay.

Thanks guys - she's just been out! Jumped on the bird table, then on top of the fence again! She was there for about 10-15 minutes, and she was showing no signs of wanting to come back, to my distress! However, my Mum then lifted up one of the fence panels, and she shot back into our Garden, so it seems it was more being unable to jump back than wanting to come back!

And, yeah, she's been microchipped.

Tbh, if it was my choice (odd thing to say, considering it's meant to be my cat, but that's another thread in itself...!), I'd rather she stay indoors, I know alot of people believe it's cruel, and that they're outdoor animals... but she's been happy enough the last few weeks, and has a lot of stimulation indoors.

Get her used to the sound of rattling biscuits (Whiskers temptations are great for this!) Mine come running when they hear them as they know they are getting treats!

You won't be able to control her. She will control you but you never her!

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There is nothing wrong with keeping your cat indoors if that is what you would prefer. There are many people who don't let their cats outside and they have very happy contented cats. You say she has lots of stimulation and that is what is important. At least you know where she is and that she is safe. There are many dangers outside from nasty neighbours, nasty dogs, cars, foxes etc.

You have four options:

Keep her indoors.
Cat-proof your garden - not as difficult as you may think.
Build a run in the garden.
Let her out and free to roam where she likes.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

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Yep mine come running when I say " come come " and hear the treat`s. Really useful for them to know.

I lost a cat awhile ago to a car, and when I got two new kitten`s I made use I wasn`t going to lose another cat...We build an enclosure, and as they know no diffrent ( freedom ) they really love it.
It really wasn`t that expencive. And there in more than out, with all this darn rain.

Here in Norge the chipping for cat`s hasn`t really bin a big thing, but for the cat`s being showed.
So even though I do it for my mixed breed`s, am afread they won`t check the cat for a chip if one of them get lost...

So I feel better haven an enclosure.

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I know I need a spell checker.