I'd always assumed he would be allowed to go outside once he's been castrated & microchipped. All my friends with cats let them out and have told me how much better it is once they don't need litter trays any more. Thing is, this morning I saw what seemed like a HUGE cat outside my house. Fluffy seems so tiny in comparison - I imagined him getting beaten up by bigger butcher moggies!!!

Then there's the worries about him getting run over or stuck somewhere! It would be terrible if he went out and never came back or came back horrible injured.

I don't really want him to be restricted to the house but I'm not sure I'm brave enough to let him out! Is there any way I could encourage him to go out but stay near the house - maybe within shouting distance?

You sound like me, lol, my cats are dyeing to get out, but im so nervous, there tiny, i think everyone ive spoke to has recommended dont feed them, itll make sure hopefully theyll come home for some food, im also gona try them for half four in the garden, and then bring em in, maybe feed them, and try again each day, with bit longer each time, lol.#

i hear that making sure theyve got a sort of landmark for them to find there way back supposed to help, fingers crossed for you

If you are worried about them going out could you not take them out on a harness in the back garden or somewhere quiet or possibly get a run in your back garden or cat proof it all together.
I suppose it would be nice not having to do the litter tray but all cat owners know that that is one of the down sides to having a kitty. That shouldn't be your only reason for letting them out.
Are you happy to have him indoors and is he happy indoors?

Well mine definately want out, and i think my gsd cant wait for them to go out, she loves them but if fed up with being climbed all over lol

I FEEL THE SAME!!!

im so scared my two will get bullied by the bigger cats on our close, they are my tiny little baby girls!! They have never ever shown any interest to go into the big bad outside world and im happy it will stay that way, they have been spayed (1 month ago) and i honestly cant imagine letting them out at them moment, maybe i am to protective but i love them so much and would die if anything happened to them x

I think it would do him good to go out because he is full of energy and goes quite wappy in the house at times, leaping round the furniture! I think he could do with more space to let off steam to be honest.

I know he will grow more (he's only 3 months old), but I can't imagine him ever getting as big as some of the other cats out there - they look enormous!

I hear cats fighting last night when my husband took the rubbish out - it sounded vicious!

I don't think there's any way we can cat-proof the garden - he'd be able to climb up the fence and the kids tend to leave the gate open most of the time.

I was thinking maybe in the spring when he's over 6 months old and had the op, I could start letting him out in the garden for a bit. Maybe he won;t be brave enough to venture too far?

Cat proofing the garden is the only way you can let him out on his own and know that he won't go far. In reality any cat that goes out will wander and though many of them do not go far there are some which will go quite a way and might be missing for days. You cannot know which type your cat will be so it is really safer to keep him in. The running around like a lunatic does settle after a while. Litter trays are not so bad. And he might take to being in a harness if you start now while he's young.
It's a very hard decision I know but definitely don't let him out until he has been neutered and make sure he has had all of his jabs.

__________________

If cats could talk they would lie to you
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

3 Months old is still a bit young though. Think about waiting until he's over 5 months, neutered, chipped and collared. Then a few supervised walks round the garden and he'll be off. Make sure you let him out in the morning before feed time, and think about getting a tinkly wind chime for a while before you let him out so he gets used to the sound. They can hear it from miles away and will folow it home!

Ian F.

__________________
"Always turn and look when your cat gazes behind you with that intent look in her eyes. Some day there might actually be something there." - T.S. Eliot

He's had both of his jabs, but I'm certainly not letting him out till he's been castrated and microchipped which he'll have done at 6 months. The weather will be warmer then too. The wind chime's a good idea - as long an nobody else nearby has a similar one!

I was the same with my cat, i was dreading letting her out, but we rescued her as an unwanted kitten that had strayed at a very young age and she was very used to being outdoors constantly, so has always wanted to get back outside and explore - at least now shes in a much safer area with a nice warm bed to come home too. She doesnt go out for long periods and has learnt to tap at the door when she wants to come back in (we dont have a cat flap as its a rented house with glass doors), and fortunately she comes to being called if shes in hearing distance.

She does occasionally get a bit of a biff from local cats who think our garden is theirs, but in all honesty cats will do that and they make an awful racket because theyre just very vocal, usually the worst cats will do to other cats is lots of noise and a bit of flying fur! She came back in a bit shaken with a few tufty bits and i was worried but 5 minutes later she was fine, no lasting damage. Im much more worried about her getting run over or trapped in a garage etc.

I must say though, on a fundamental level i disagree with keeping moggies as 'indoor cats'. I do understand that pedigrees that are showed need to be kept in or in an outdoor run for various reasons, and also understand the worry of having a pedigree cat stolen, but cats are naturally inquisitive, adventurous, outdoor animals, and they need that fresh air and natural environment to explore and follow cat instincts in...even if they show no sign of wanting to go outside, its almost as if you're stopping them from ever being able to be..a cat! I dont think its cruel, i just think its unfair.