I need to make my indoor cat an outdoor cat by summer.?

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Pam C

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So, besides just opening the door and hoping for the best, how do I get my indoor cat used to going outside and knowing to come back? She is almost a yer old
 
Just try to keep a close eye on her for the first few days. Cats have very strong instincts as well. She knows she has a good home and won't stray far. Just don't leave her out when you go anywhere. I once adopted a cat that I got from a lady who really didn't care about her cat. While the lady was at work all day male cats used to gang up on her cat. Poor cat was all scared up with wounds and loss of fur. After I took the cat home I never let her out again. She adapted pretty well and became a happy and healthy in door cat.
 
what we did to make our cat an outdoor cat was start putting his food out side so that he could start to know that he can come out here to eat. if it's her first time exploring then what you do is put some butter on all of her paws and let her explore, anytime that she gets lost then she can follow the scent of the butter back to home, after putting on butter that one time then she knows how to get around! If she doesn't want to go out side then show her that your outside and it's ok.

p.s. for all you people who believe in just having indoor cats and that it's best to keep them inside because of their health, then what about millions of years ago when cats didn't know what the indoors were? they do just as fine, and that's why there here today. But I would never put a kitten outside, just so you know. when there a year, then it's time for them to explore.
 
That's the equivalent of giving the car keys to your 16 year old. All may go well and many disasters and even death may await your cat outside.

That's what you may face by just opening the door and hoping for the best.
 
I would put her on a cat leash for the first month at least so she can get use to her surroundings and the smell of where you live. A lot of cats get lost by being outdoor cats, people tend to think they are strays and feed them and end up keeping them as their own. Also, I wouldn't let him/her outside if they have been declawed, that's what they use for protection. It's really just not a good idea, I know, it's easier than cleaning out a litter box though.
 
Why would you want to?

Cats that live indoors live longer, healthier lives. Statistically, the life span of an indoor cat averages 12 to 14 years, whereas it is only about four years for the outdoor cat. More than 1 million outdoor cats are killed each year by dogs, traffic, and exposure to disease. In the long run, keeping your cat indoors will also save you money in vet bills.

There are many risks that come with letting your cats roam free outside:
- They have a much higher chance of catching diseases and other illnesses such as: Feline Leukemia (FeLV), Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP), Feline Herpes Virus (Rhinotracheitis), Feline Distemper, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), rabies, tapeworm, ringworm, heart worm, hypothermia and urinary tract infection
- Ingesting chemicals or poisons such as pesticides, home garden products and car/motor products
- Getting fleas or ticks
- Injury/death due to dangerous traffic
- Eating poisonous spiders, insects or plants
- Injury/death due to cruel humans, hunters or neighbors
- Attacks from dogs, other cats or wild animals
- Other accidental injuries
- Getting lost or stolen
 
I have 2 cats, and they both were indoor cats. One of them would always sit by the door and cry his head off cuz he wanted to go outside. We would let him go outside and watch him. He was fine. And one time he just took off running across the neighborhood. But he came back after a while. That's kinda how it started. Now he will sit at the door in the morning and waits for us to let him out. I haven't let him go outside very much in the winter though. But when he goes, he'll come back. We never tought him, it just happened. He is still not a 100% outdoor cat. He sleeps inside and spends most of the day inside. He just goes out for a few hours during the day. Sometimes he's gone all day when we are at work, but he always waits for us at the door when we come back.
Our other cat will go outside sometimes but she turns around after about 2 seconds and comes right back in. We couldn't make her an outdoor cat if we wanted to.
Does your cat generally like to go outside? Try to take her outside, maybe on a leash or something so she can get used to it.
If you do manage to make her an outdoor cat, make sure she has all her vaccines. Our little man has gotten in a fight and thank god he had his vaccines. Supposedly the other cat was a stray that is known for killing other cats because it carries all kinds of deseases. Fortunately our little man was fine. But you have to be aware of all that.
 
why the hell would you do that to your poor cat. talk about neglecting and abandoning the poor thing. keep your cat as an indoor cat or find a home that will keep her as an indoor cat. no good ever comes from cats going outside
 
Ok, so my mam doesn't like cats OR litter, so my cat had to go outside poop when she was small (not that small) I said it was cruel, but she doesn't care, my cat got used to it and she quite likes it, we keep her inside all the time, she just wants to go out poop because she knows.
I guess you have to let your cat out, and cats get used to the place, they might go somewhere for few hours, but I'm sure she will come back, give it a go.
 
introduce the cat to the garden for about an half hour a day, keep an eye on him, he will be a bit nervous at first, make sure there are no dangerous roads in the area, as i wouldnt recommend letting him out if this is the case.
Cats are very intelligent, i have 8 cats, i do find that cats love being outside more than being inside but do bear in mind more accidents can happen outside in the wild,i have found that i have been so worried in the past when they go out, my first cat i got a lead and i took him out each day on the lead in the garden, and one day he got under the fence the lead came off, and i was calling and calling him, crying my eyes out and panicking, then about 20 mins later he popped his head up from the end of the fence, and ran away again, evenually after around an hour, he decided he would come close enough for me to return him back to safety but he loved it.
A good tip is let the cat out before you feed him, and you can call him in, for food, as a fed cat is a happy cat so you will never get him back in, if you feed him before he goes out.
The whole training process is very quick but just introduce him to the garden a bit at first, as sometimes they do get into trouble and end up too high in trees or in my cats case on top of a garden shed,2 doors down and the people were out at the time and he cried and cried and i kept calling him, and all of a sudden there was thunder and lightening and a huge downpour and he came down so quick so they do learn very quick and the answer to your qustion is yes he would be ready for summer, and they would know how to come back there is also an old wifes tale that if you put a little bit of butter on the cats paws he will follow the scent back home but they are really clever and they do come back when they want to(of course), a cat flap is a great idea too as otherwise you find you are opening the door and closing it all day,as they can neer make up their minds if they want to come in or go out, but with a cat flap he can come and go as he pleases and hope this helps.
 
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