What's the best way to integrate my housecat into the outdoors?

Question

She's a few months old, and I live in a suburban area. I don't want to keep her cooped up inside all her life, but I don't want her freaking out and getting run over as soon as I let her outside. Should I wait until she's older? She's still more than a little hyperactive. Thanks!

Answer 1

Definitely wait. My advice is to do nothing. If she is interested in going out, she will let you know. My sister had a cat who hated to be outside - it didn't like the wide open spaces.

If you have a backyard and you can take her out back with you and play with her, she will just think of that as another room of the house, and then can decide if she wants to venture further on her own. If you do take her out back, I would leave the door to the house open so she can just go right back in if she gets scared by a noise or vehicle.

Peace!

Answer 2

Kittens are always full of energy!!! Some cats love the indoors - they can live indoors their whole lives and be happy as a cat can get in this world (and they have far fewer problems with fleas and ticks). Other cats love the outdoors. Outdoors cats face a lot of problems: they have to deal with traffic and other loud noises, other pets and wildlife, and often get fleas (and, if you live near woods, ticks). If you live next to a busy road with a very small yard, keep the cat indoors and kitty won't know the difference. If you live in an area where your backyard is distant from the road, it's a better situation. Let the cat out on a leash for the first few times, letting the cat know that "This is my place". Gradually, over a few weeks, let the cat out for longer and longer periods of time. Never let the cat near the road; try not to leave the cat outside over night; and keep the cat indoors when there is no one home. Find ways to block kitty from going under the car and other unwanted areas. Always check and make sure that you don't have anything toxic around that kitty could get into - from chemicals to plants (you can check the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center - http/www.aspca.org/toxicplants - to find out about plants). Always leave fresh water in a good spot and show kitty where it is. Also, in spring to early summer, check and see if there are any active bird nests; if there are, keep the cat in until the baby birds grow up and fly away. I hope this helps you. Good luck!

Answer 3

Letting a cat have outside access is going to seriously lower it's life expectancy. Take her out on a leash if you really want her to go out any. No matter how "street smart" an individual animal may seem, they are still not capable of realizing the dangers of traffic. They should not be forced to compete with traffic in any area no matter their age.There are a slew of other dangers associated with roaming pets. Though still prone to many wild instincts, cats and dogs face a small trade off in order to live safe healthy lives indoors. As a pet owner you are aware of these risks and must provide saftey for your cat even though you can't explain the risks to her. There are many ways to amuse a cat inside the house. Don't fall victim to believing that a cat should get in touch with it's wild roots, city and suburban life makes such a situation too deadly.

Answer 4

Why do you want her to go outside? I have had cats all of my life, and none have been outdoor cats. If you want her go outside with you, get a harness and a leash, and then you can control where she goes.

There is no reason for her to go outside. They can be perfectly happy living their whole life inside. Most of my cats lived to be 18-19 years old.

I have two cats now, and they love to lie in the window. They watch the birds and squirrels and just enjoy the sunshine.

I would never let my cats outside without being on a leash and staying right with them. Get another kitten for her to play with. They will get enough exercise chasing and playing with each other.

But if you want her to die young, then by all means let her outside. She will probably be attacked by other animals, get run over, or end up on someone's supper table. And I am not joking about that.

Answer 5

The average life span of an indoor cat is 15 years, and for an outdoor cat it's 3 years. It's more than likely your cat will get killed. Can you handle that? I know I couldn't. Most cats will lead a super happy life indoors, and you can take them out on a lead and harness. Just get a long piece of rope and let them walk where they want to, don't lead them. I have a friend who has lost 3 cats in the past 3 years because she's let them outside. Don't do it.

Answer 6

I don't think letting cats outside is a great idea. They live longer and are healthier (and safer) when kept indoors as long as you make sure they have lots of activities.

My cat of 17 years only went outside with me. My mother's cats that lived in the same house were indoor/outdoor cats and they both died before they were 6. (actually, they came up missing....they were both persians)

My best friend has lost all of her cats to cars or coyotes. And...the first cat we got when we moved into this house in 2002 was hit by a car across the street. We live in a court!!! My husband picked up his cat from his father's house shortly thereafter and she ended up getting lost and then picked up by the pound DEAD.

My father in law has an indoor/outdoor cat that is always getting injured or in a fight, she has even been attacked by a dog.

The three cats we have now are indoor cats. Sometimes we let them in the back yard with us or on the deck but that is it. They get lots of exercise playing with each other and we make sure to play with them too. They are very happy, believe me! And....they are alive and have no injuries.

I am not saying that anything bad will happen for sure, but this is a very important decision for you to make. Your cat's life depends on it. Think it over, does the cat REALLY need to go out?

If you decide to let her out, I would wait until she was at least a year and a half to two years old and for the first few times make sure you stay out with her. Take it slow. Make sure she knows how to get back into the house and make sure that your neighborhood is safe for her to explore. For the first week, only let her spend time out in the backyard with you. Coax her back in with some treats or a favorite toy, make sure that she relates returning inside with something good. Never, ever get mad or yell at her if she does not come back when you want her to. That will make her afraid to come to you. Leave something by the door that smells like her, a towel she has slept on is a good idea. Also try to put a couple of things that smell like her around your yard so she can find her way back.

Good luck!!!

Answer 7

I waited till my cat got curious and wanted to go out when I opened the door and I left it out for a little while...after a while it will start to want back in because thats what its use to so let it back inside...it will keep doing this for a little while but eventually you can leave it outside...this is what I did with my cat

Answer 8

Cats live longer, healthier lives as an indoor pet. If she never goes outside..she won't know what she is missing. Outdoor dangers: cars, poison (anti-freeze, rat poison, etc.), harassment by people/kids, dogs, wildlife, diseases from other cats, cat fights resulting in abscesses, and cats kill millions of birds each year no matter how well fed they are!

Answer 9

Cats are best kept indoors. Trust me. They don't care about being kept inside, they prefer being inside to being left outside to be ran over, tormented by mean kids, being in cat fights, catching diseases, attacked by dogs and wild animals. Keep kitty indoors. I have 3 indoor kitties, they don't want to go outside. One is actually terrified of the outdoors.

Answer 10

Are you serious? Cats are domesticated animals. You keep them in the house unless you train her on a leash to go out. You let her out, you've just decreased her odds of living a long happy life. Like the happy life she'd have curled up on your lap and being perfectly content to chase sunbeams from room to room.