Going outside for the first time!!

**Suzygeorgie** · 17th October 2011, 11:09 AM

I thought I'd add my own experience here with Kenny. When we first got him we thought we would be letting him go out just like our two moggies do. As soon as he arrived (he was 7 months old and we got him through the Maine Coon rescue) it became obvious he was dying to get outside. He's very boisterous and curious and wants to see everything that's going on. However, it also became obvious that he is very single minded when he goes after something or is interested in what's going on. Where we live we have a field at the front of our house and just an access road at the back so I thought it would be safe, as it has been for our other cats; but the more I thought about it the more I realised it wouldn't be realistic for Kenny for both reasons. Firstly, he's so beautiful and friendly I would be scared someone would steal him, and secondly I really don't think he is streetwise like the other two cats are. I think if he saw something he wanted to chase he would just dash for it regardless of any dangers.

At the moment my answer to it is to tether him to the pole of my rotary dryer. He has a Mynwood cat jacket and as soon as I put it on and opent he door he goes straight to the clip and waits for it to be put on. He then happily roams around playing with the other cats and is much happier than being couped up indoors. We can always see him and he really loves sitting outside. He even asks for his litter tray when he wants to go to the toilet! I don't really want to make the garden secure as the other cats like to go out and are safe to do so.

**Fozzie** · 17th October 2011, 12:26 PM

We let Mufasa out on a harness and tether which we attach to a special metal stake that screws into the lawn.

Metal Spiral Pet Lead Stake 40cm (PAP1024): Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

We move this around the garden so that he can get access to different parts. We live at the end of a cul-de-sac in a house which backs onto local parkland and a canal. You would think that this would be really safe, but our neighbours cat vanished competely. We are not sure if he was stolen, fell into the canal or got taken by a fox, I guess so many things could have happened. It seems that being in a rural location or one completely away from cars is not always a safe bet sadly.

**Antonia** · 17th October 2011, 12:44 PM

I agree with the others one here. You should be very careful about letting him go outside. There are more dangers to a cat beside cars. Other cats can injure him, dogs, predators (depending on where you are of course), and last but not least people. Either people who don't like cats, or those who wouldn't mind taking a handsome pedigree cat home for free.
We secured part of our garden with netting on top of the fences; they use the catflap to go in and out, and we can see them all the time. At night, and when we are out, they stay indoors.
Also, you could build a cat run. There are plenty of examples to be found on this forum.

**Peter Galbavy** · 17th October 2011, 06:42 PM

I have this week off and the cat proofing of the garden *will* be completed. I don't want to risk my cute-but-dumb boys anywhere near "the wilds" of suburbia. I bought them "waggitail" dog harnesses (x-small and small) but we only took them out a coupld of times. Having to have three people around, one per cat, is not so easy to coordinate.

In fact, if anyone wants a harness (these: WAGGITAIL NON PULL HARNESS, SMALL, BLACK: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors) I have three x-small in blue and 3 small in black. The x-small fitted the boys at about 4 months old and I think small will fit all but the biggest MCs - not tried them recently.

**Antonia** · 17th October 2011, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Peter Galbavy

I have this week off and the cat proofing of the garden *will* be completed.

I recall you have this huge garden that's awfully difficult to catproof. I'd love to see how you did it... so be sure to post pics of the finished result.