2007-04-07 13:29:19 · 17 answers · asked by Lisa 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
I don't recommend letting your cat out unsupervised. He can be injured by a car, another animal, eating a poisonous plant, chemicals on someones lawn or by someone who just doesn't like cats.
A leash and harness is a great way to let your cat have some outdoor time but mine love their kittywalk - check out www.kittywalk.com. They are a wonderful way that your cat can spend some time outside - eat some grass, soak up some sun and stay safe. They can be simple or elaborate - it's up to you.
In any case, your cat is much safer when you know where they are.
2007-04-07 14:39:16 · answer #1 · answered by earthgurrl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 indoor cats and they both went outside on occasion. I had to train them to stay around the house though so that they wouldn't run off.
I would say first that they're up to date on their vaccines and are spayed/neutered. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend them going outside.
If you start taking him outside, you'll have to be outside with him at all times at first. I didn't put my cats on a leash, I just did a lot of rounding them up. That way, they learned that every time they went out of the yard, they were brought back into it. It's been about 3 years and they just stay either in the backyard or sometimes in the front yard. No leashes necessary. I would start out with minimal time outside, no more than 15 minutes at a time. You can increase it from there. They will obviously be very hesitant at first, but will also be very curious.
My cats don't try to sneak out, but if given the opportunity they will go if they want. They no longer need supervision and I know that they won't leave the yard and they'll come back to the door when they want back in. I accidently left one outside overnight, and he just found shelter under the deck or the shed. A little dirty, but ok.
2007-04-07 14:43:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you can take him outside once in a while, on a leash because he doesn't know the rules set up by the other animals who live outdoors more (like who's territory is where, which yards not to go into because the dog will kill you, what cars are and what they can do to a small soft body, not to eat dying mice because they could have mice poison in them, etc.). You'll need to keep him tethered all the time so he can't run off. And make sure his vaccinations are up to date so he won't pick up anything left by other animals. But once your cat has been to the Emerald City, there's no going back to Kansas--he's going to always want to go outside and will make it well known; he'll try to con and weasel his way outside whenever the door is open so be careful. And if you walk him through brush and grass, he may pick up fleas and ticks.
2007-04-07 14:01:52 · answer #3 · answered by Inundated in SF 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can, but I don't recommend it, for the reasons listed by the other answerers. Once you do let it out a few times, your cat will probably want to go out more & more often. It may even start to sneak out when you go in or out of the house without you knowing it. If you aren't aware the cat is outside, it is at very high risk of getting injured or killed.
2007-04-07 14:30:37 · answer #4 · answered by fartmongers 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
supervised on a leash or harness. If he is an indoor cat (which is the best), he will be lost outside and at risk for getting beat up by other cats, eaten by wild life, contracting diseases and parasites, getting hit by a car, being stolen, running away. Keep him in or only out on a leash.
2007-04-07 13:47:30 · answer #5 · answered by ALM 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Indoor cats aren't use to being outside, generally.
If you are going to let your cat outside, I'd reccomend you stay with him while he's out. You don't want him to wander away. He could possibly get hit by a car, become lost, or he could find a female cat.
When I take my cats outside, they have harnesses and leashes. I know it sounds silly, but they love it. I can keep track of them and there is no danger of losing them!
2007-04-07 14:19:43 · answer #6 · answered by Lauren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had an in door beautiful Siamese cat. She wanted to go out, but when let her out she nibbled on grass, came in & always threw it up. The blades of grass are not good as they w/cut their insides. I didn't want to take a chance of her getting near the road either. Also, you take the chance of getting fleas in doors & eventually in the rugs etc. Then you have fleas to worry about. Also, if you just start letting him out, he'll drive you crazy expecting to go out more & more. My advice, leave well enuf alone!! He's fine inside & you're just inviting more problems for yourself & him. Is it really worth it? It's up to you...
2007-04-07 14:38:20 · answer #7 · answered by Sue C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We take our indoor cat out on a harness and a leash...she gets to go around the yard and explore with us right there....there are way to many cars. Bit of warning though....she will mew and mew at the door forEVER if we don't take her out. She wants to be out all the time. One a Saturday, I had her outside in the yard for SEVEN hours.....or longer ....I read, she explored.
2007-04-07 13:49:00 · answer #8 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you only want him going out once in awhile then like i would really not even cuz sometimes with cats when you let them out for the first time they will want out again and they will meow and meow untill you let them out that is what happened with my cat smudge
2007-04-07 15:54:02 · answer #9 · answered by funkymunky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not unless he is outside under your supervision and is current on all his vaccinations...too many diseases that he can catch, animal abusers out there, and danger of being hit by a car...point blank is there are many people out there who dont have high regards for domesticated animals
2007-04-07 13:58:58 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋