ali-s Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Miley is now over 5 months old and so far has been a house Kitten. This last week is has been desperate to go outside. She scrambles up the windows and climbs up the half glazed doors so she can look outside. The doors have been marked where she has scratched them in protest of being kept in and one of the windows is scratched as well. She is booked in at the Vet at the end of the month to be spayed and microchipped, but I am wondering if it would be alright to let her out before then She wears a collar with a name tag attached. There are no other Cats living nearby. Miley has plenty of toys to keep her occupied, 2 activity centres and dozens of micey toys and balls which rattle. We play with her when we are home with dangly mice and feathers on sticks. She gets lots of cuddles and somone is always lying with her on the floor in front of the fire in the evenings tickling her tummy which she loves. Any advice would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 unfortunately, if they want to go out, only outside will do our next door neighbour has a boy kitten who was "going to be a house cat" yeah right! now, he is outside every night and traipsing every where I think it might be easier for a girlykit, as she wont travel far, so the back garden will probably be far enough (and outside ) for her. I would recommend that you go out with her when you let her out, she will probably stay quite near to you. we let Piperkit out when we visit my parents and she only plays in the back garden, if we go back in, then so does she good luck what ever you decide cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Until your little lady is speyed I personally wouldn't let her out as a tom cat will travel long distances for a little romance Perhaps try one of those little harnesses and leads so you can control any outside time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 Thanks Cathy and Tasha Miley was only going to be rescricted to the house until she had been spayed and until she was big enough to fend off the Chicken murdering Stoat. Anyway, the matter is now out of my hands as she slipped through my legs and went outside when I let Archie Dog out for a wee half an hour ago , she is now exploring the garden with Archie. Our garden is huge and open on all sides onto farmland. I hope she comes back . Daughter Natalie (Miley's owner) will not be best pleased if I lose her. Luckily she responds to the phrase "teatime Miley" (all her meals are teatime) and by shaking a box of kitty biscuits, she also responds to her name. Hope this works when she is distracted outside. This is worse than when I let the Chickens out of the run for the first time How far will a tom Cat roam? We only have two neighbours, across the fields and down the lane and they do not have Cats. Our next neighbours are about half a mile away at least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 they know what they want these animals don't they? Well, whats done is done, she will come back but I would be really cautious about it all until spey-day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omletina Kyckling Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I agree with the others, I'd try to limit her outside time until she's done, a male will smell her a mile away and you don't want to take the risk!! My boys are out during the day but I never let them out after dark, as that's when many cats are killed or injured, either by traffic or incidents with other animals. They make a bit of a fuss when they are first in but now accept that that is the rule, no exceptions. I don't leave food in the bowls all the time, and only feed them dried food when they ask and in small portions so I always know I can get them in with the shake of a biccy bowl. I love the way you say you play with feathers on sticks....that's what I always say to my boys, "shall we play with feather on stick?" I love the suggestion of the harness and leads - I tried these on my boys when they were kittens, thinking I could introduce them to the outdoors slowly but the minute I put the harness and lead on, they just collapsed to the floor as if they had no skeletons and refused to move! I've spoken to other people who've tried them and they described it in the same way - I think some cats will take to leads quite happily, I've heard of siamese cats who are very happy with this, but a lot of cats won't have any of it. It might be worth a try though?! It sounds like she has a lovely home life so don't think she'll go to far from home! My boys have a large garden with the farm beyond but are usually within shouting (of biccy shaking) distance!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 Miley spent over an hour outside yesterday. I left the porch and internal door open for her. I sat in the kitchen shivering listening to the bell on her collar so I knew she wasn't far away. Another escape today when I went out to the whirlygig with the washing. Only a short time though as it is freezing cold and very windy and she is a clever kitten who knows it is cosier indoors. She did lose her collar in the short time she was outside. It is a safety collar designed to come apart if it gets snagged on something, well it obviously works as it was caught on a low down tree branch. Miley hates the collar and I think she did it on purpose, I have failed to get it back on her So, no more adventures outside until the collar is back on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I love the suggestion of the harness and leads - I tried these on my boys when they were kittens, thinking I could introduce them to the outdoors slowly but the minute I put the harness and lead on, they just collapsed to the floor as if they had no skeletons and refused to move! I've spoken to other people who've tried them and they described it in the same way Piper was exactly the same she lost all use of everything, I thought she was ill, so I took it off her and she got up I tried again and the same thing happened again it wasnt a problem though, she only went on the back garden when she was visiting "granny" so she didnt need it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Another escape today when I went out to the whirlygig with the washing. Only a short time though as it is freezing cold and very windy and she is a clever kitten who knows it is cosier indoors. She did lose her collar in the short time she was outside. It is a safety collar designed to come apart if it gets snagged on something, well it obviously works as it was caught on a low down tree branch. Could you please tell me the name of this safety collar, my cat wears a part elastic collar which is supposed to stretch if it gets snagged on something, but I'm not entirely happy with it. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Miley's collar came from Pets At Home. It has the same type of fastener as this one http://www.petsathome.com/find/category-is1c0+collars/product-is-V00406 The fastener just pushes together or pulls apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Thank you ali-s, that looks brilliant I will order one for Google, not sure about the satin though Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 I will order one for Google, not sure about the satin though Tessa Miley's is red velvet with a silver glittery band round the middle, it has a red bell and a red heart shaped identity tag. It looks lovely against Miley's black fur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted March 14, 2009 Share Posted March 14, 2009 I wouldn't worry about letting her out, alison. She's going to get spayed soon enough and it wouldn't be a problem if she found a boyfriend with only a couple of weeks to go. She'll love the fresh air and spring time scents! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
