I have 2 black kittens 4 months old, bit too young to be neutered yet but desperate to get outside. I have let them out in the garden which is surrounded by a 6 foot high fence and they have just discovered the tree at the end of the garden which allows them to climb on top of the fence and walk along it. My boyfriend says they'll be fine - we should just let them go, but I'm scared they won't come back! Also I'm worried how they will get back in the garden as there isn't a tree they can climb up on the other side of the fence!! What shall I do??
2007-04-18 05:24:54 · 21 answers · asked by Debz 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
cats are very smart, smarter than you think. Give them a little credit :) They will always find their way home
2007-04-18 05:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by brandywine840213 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cats love being outside. I let my 8 month old kittens in the garden with supervision at first. Now they are getting more adventurous and jump the fence and go off wandering but they always come back.
One trick is let them out for a bit before you feed them, then bang on their bowls to get them back in and reward them with a good feed. They'll then know the benefit of coming home!
4 months is a little young - I would wait till atleast 6 months old. That way they are well integrated into the home and know its their territory. Also make sure you get them vaccinated and neutered before hand other wise they will be fighting with other toms. Get some name tags with your address and phone number too. Pet shops do engraved ones for about £5 each.
Hope this helps xxx
2007-04-20 07:21:41 · answer #2 · answered by Kjacko 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right to be concerned as it sounds like they can't get back over the fence!
I wouldn't let kittens out at this age - they are very vulnerable both to cars, other cats, dogs and even people that may try and steal them.
You'll be racked with worry - is it really worth the risk. Restrict them for just a few more weeks when they can be neutered. Then they will be at less risk of disappearing on you.
2007-04-18 14:49:06 · answer #3 · answered by PetLover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
- Before you feed your cats - tap their bowls with a spoon or whatever. Make this a habit - they will associate the noise with the promise of food.
- Before you let them out, make them skip a meal, you can sit in the garden with them, when you want the back you can tap the ir bowls - they should come running!
- You're worried about a 6ft fence? We have a 15ft fence at the back and the cats can scale it no problem at all! As long as it's wood and you haven't de-clawed your cats.
- I suggest installing a cat flap - the magnetic one's are the best as they will only allow your cats in.
- There are dangers out there for cats, but the quality of life they will have if they are let out will be more than worth it! Cats weren't ment to be kept in-doors, I've met a few in-door cats before - they all seemed fat, bored and tended to scratch and bite a lot.
- Show your cats lots of love - remember to get them to recognise the 'food noise' - that's the best you can do!
- Go on, let your boys out -they'll look out for each other!
2007-04-18 12:36:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No they will not be fine! Most cats that are allowed to roam outside not enclosed usually end up dead.. traffic, predators, dogs ,cruel people.To stop the cats from climbing the tree to get out of the fence just buy a sheet of thin metal and nail it around the tree they will not be able to climb the tree.
2007-04-18 13:37:59 · answer #5 · answered by cin_ann_43 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ditto i had the same problem with my two, trust me they will be fine, they wont go far at all, it took a few months for my babies to wonder far, they will come back. One thing i would say is keep an eye out to start with as they are still young and older cats might pick a fight if they are about. My baby got into a fight at 4mths with the neighbors cat, she was fine, she ran and hid up until it was safe to come out. To this day i still worry when they are not in for their food, but they always come back. So many people say don't let them out keep them in the house as its safer. Yes there are dangers out there but its a cats natural instinct to go out hunting and have fun, i think its cruel to deny them of that. Have fun and Get a cat flap, i got one and its the best thing ever. One thing i will say is good luck when they start to bring mice home. Mine are great hunters, when they were young they were always bringing gifts home for me, but unfortunately they were not killing them, i had a small problem to start with. Now they are older they kill their pray and only leave it by the door. Phew!
2007-04-18 12:49:35 · answer #6 · answered by nightshadeblue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when i first let my cats out i got a dog lead and collar then some long string tied it to dog lead put it round the cat then tied to washing line gives them a chance to expore
when i let my cat go i thought he would stay in the garden buy he went straight up a tree and over fence i was so worried but he came back when he was hungry so dont worry cats are so brainey and all ways find their way back
2007-04-22 07:57:17 · answer #7 · answered by loopyforcats 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indoor/outdoor is an on-going debate in the cat-lover community.
Why do people expect a four-month-old animal to be smarter in the ways of the world than a four-month-old child? Would you let a toddler run loose outside?
Cats allowed free-access to the outdoors generally live shorter lives than those who are kept indoors or allowed outside in a "run" or enclosed area. Think of it this way--you are exposing your heart to the mercies of whatever human. vehicle or animal that comes along. Not only are there warped humans who take delight in hurting animals but there are dogs and--depending where you live--coyotes, eagles, etc. Outdoor cats risk infection with feline AIDS (FIV) and feline leukemia as well as the usual bout of cat flu and injuries from fighting.
My advice is to keep them inside the fence. This may cost a little money to string some sort of poultry-wire along the top of the fence or create an inward-leaning barricade to keep the cats from climbing out, or even climbing the tree. But you will save the money in vet bills and the stress and grief of wondering where your cats are and what happened to them.
We have 26 cats and have three enclosures that they can enter from inside the house through pet door. After we lost one of the best cats ever (a three-year-old former stray that we thought was "street-wise") to a car accident on our quiet country road, we decided not to risk that heartache ever again. Many of our cats were outdoor cats abandoned by their owners who found their way to our safe haven. And those former "outdoor" cats are the *last* one who ask to go outside.
2007-04-18 13:06:58 · answer #8 · answered by Laura P 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Your boyfriend is wrong. Cats are domesticated. Just like children, who are also not wild animals, they want to play outside. But it should be done in a way that is fun to them, but under supervision, because being hit by a car is not fun to them at all. My cats loved outside, but I let them out freely on my patio backyard and they were thrilled to play and sun there. Sunrooms are also great. Some people have cats they can watch, who will just play in the backyard. Others use harnasses and really long leashes (yes, they dont mind since it allows them to run around) that they can use while they run and play outside. You love them, not your boyfriend, so take care of them and don't worry about what he has to say. Animals live longer and are healthier and happier when kept inside. Good luck!
2007-04-18 13:21:32 · answer #9 · answered by boncarles 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the cats are fine they will find there way back and they will get back in the garden they can climbe up anything even the side of your fence just get them name tags so if a person or the SPCA comes they would know they are not strays they have a home
2007-04-18 14:13:37 · answer #10 · answered by Lette08 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I took mine out on a harness at first to get a feel for the garden and then after about two weeks of this she was free
I made sure she answered her cname before this and came back when she was called and shes been fine and we re two years down the road and all is well :O)
2007-04-18 12:34:00 · answer #11 · answered by ~*tigger*~ ** 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋