He was castrated and microchipped a week ago so just need to sort out some insurance and then he will be allowed to go out to play!

We don't have a catflap yet so it will be a case of letting him out and callin him back in again. Will he get this do you think? I am worried he might not be able to find his way home or might not hear when I call him!

So far he has sneaked out onto the drive a few times for a mooch about but has never gone any further. I am worried about cars (though we do live in a cul de sac so it's not too bad) and other big cats as he's still quite teeny!

Any tips on how to introduce him to the big scary outside world?

I was thinking he would stay in most of the day and night for now but just let him out briefly in the morning and then in the evening when we get in from work - and at the weekend. Does this sound ok?

It's quite a stressfull time when you let them out for the first time. But they love it so much!

Start by spreading some used litter around the garden, They can smell it from many gardens away. Let him out early in the morning before brekkie so he's hungry as he will soon return for his grub.

Think about getting a decent catflap. That makes a lot of difference, and the cat can come and go as he wants.

And relax! We let Dexter out for the first time last week (7 months old) and he bleedin loves it! He goes out, dissapears for an hour, goes deaf at our calling, then piles back through the catflap shouting his head off about what he's been doing and what he's seen, then a quick snack & back out

Ian F.

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"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

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

I have just adopted a cat of one year old and what i did I bought a Harness and took him around the garden afew times each day for about a week.
After another week the weather being nice I worked in the garden everyday while he was having a sniff round and I kept an eye on him.
We have had him 2 months now and he is fine.
We have a cat flap but at present he has not find out how to use it. Bless!! He will have to work that one out himself!!
It is a real worry and a few times i did panic.
He has a bell on his collar and so i can hear him most times.
Also I put a Loc8ter on him,
You attach it to his collar and you can locate him up to 400 feet with an remote control.
That does take alot of the stress a way.
You can locate your cat if he gets into somebodys shed or house even.
They cost about £40 for 2 locaters and you can buy them off the internet.
I bought mine from the NEC cat supreme show last year.
Hope this helps

hi, make sure he has been on all your window sills looking out, I read that they can use what they see as a compass to find their way home, let him out gradually building up his territory, short spells leading up to him feeling confident to explore on his own. Before food is a very good idea cyberfyn, one of my cats I started off on a leash, they tend to hug the perimeter first, he may cry, (this is just his flight of fright sensor coming in), it's just to say "hey, I'm not quite sure yet", just short outings at first. Let all your street know you have him, so if he does get lost, they know what they are looking for, & who he bellongs to, you would not believe how many fools just keep a kitten or cat if they see how cute they appear, not thinking of the owner fretting. Also some cats are quite happy having a couple of slaves looking after them, so he may have a couple of homes.
Baloo j. & gentle head butts from fur buddy.

Thanks for the advice!

He has looked out of most of our windows I think - quite likes perching on the sills. Trouble with a collar is every time I have put one on him he has managed to get it off again in no time!

The litter in the garden sounds like a good idea - I presume you mean used stuff?

I have tried taking him out on a harness but he wasn't too keen. He's a bit of a wuss really - I think he'll get braver over time though. I tried to tempt him out with me for a bit earlier but he didn't seem to like the wind!

We can't really get a catflap in the back door because it's glass and we can't afford it. Might be able to put one in the front eventually.

Try to keep him in during the dark hours as tis is when mostly likely to come to harm.

If using a collar make sure it is quick release as cats can get caught up in collars and suffer severe injury or worse.


Get him used to a sound as well as you calling. For instance, a whistle or tin banging as this carries further than your voice. You can do voice and sound when calling for him to come for foodthen he associates it with dinner (or a treat)