Cyber Chook Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 P.S. I let the cat out into the garden for the first time yesterday early evening, after a month of keeping her in. I imagined she'd timidly look around and scoot back into the safety of her new home.... One hour later, after calling her, making chirrupy noises, shaking her treats tin and climbing up a ladder to see her exploring next door's garden, I finally managed to persuade her back indoors. At that point it was almost too dark to see her This one is an adventurer Help!! I'm not letting her out again until she's been micro-chipped, and then I guess it's going to have to be a question of hoping and praying that she'll find her way home to us. She hasn't been outside for a year (she was a stray and was in a rescue centre when we found her), so maybe the novely of freedome will wear off after a while anyway. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Oh I feel for you, it's an anxious time letting them go out... We had two rescue cats, whom I kept in for 6 weeks before letting them out, and like yours they then shot off to neighbouring gardens to explore, leaving me and my daughters hanging over walls anxiously calling back... they did come back and three and a half years later still do come back, yet we still have the occasional calling session in the street and garden (wonder when the neighbours will start throwing shoes at us)... We went through the same anxiety when our kittens, now aged nearly two, first went out... it's like letting a toddler go off to a party on his own!! Of course the kittens were always fine too... I hope all goes well for you and your feline friend, I must say that in my experience, once settled, and happily looked after, fed and cuddled, they do come back... I do agree with the microchipping though, it's huge reassurance... Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 That's reassuring, Ziggy, thanks. I had pet rats when I was about 14 - they make lovely pets, don't they, so intelligent and friendly? Unfortunately, I think I've got a rat problem developing in the garden and I'll need to be putting down baiting stations for them Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I echo Ziggy's comments. It is anxious making when you first set them free, but cats seem to love being outside so I think you have to be brave and take as many precautions as you can. Definitely get her chipped, and maybe buy one of those safety cat collars that break apart should the cat get snagged on a branch or similar. I am sure by now your warm loving household is her default setting, there is no reason for her not to return for food and home comforts. Good luck and keep us posted Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Thanks Tessa, and yes, I will. Our house doesn't have a cat flap - I'm a bit concerned that if we let her out, and then go out ourselves and she comes back and finds a closed door, will she know to come back and try again? I'm trying not to be too precious about all this, but these things are occurring to me as we go along and I'm not recently experienced in these catly matters. I thought I'd try to pick a day to let her out when i know I can be home all day, for her first Big Day Out. Brainwave: how about a 100 yard-long piece of elastic tied around her tummy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I agree with Tessa's safety collar suggestion... the number of times our cats have come home with no collar makes me think that without snap-off collar they might have got into a difficult situation... bless our elderly neighbour, who regularly comes to bring us collars found in his garden... A cat flap is good... but obviously not always easy depending on your circumstances? Could you have one fitted? The cats learn to use them very quickly... This being said, my mum and dad have had cats for 20 years, never had a cat flap, and their cats never went too far, and always came back and hung around for doors to be opened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 It slightly depends on how much it might cost to have a cat flap installed. We have a double-glazed back door, and no free wall space for a through-the -wall cat flap. I guess it'd mean changing the door glass... - that's not me embarrassed, that's me going hot at the thought of the possible expense! I'll look at the vets tomorrow at safety collars. Or can you get them at any pet shop? Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 You can't put a cat flat in a double glazed door, you would have to replace the glass I am afraid. If you got a cat flap, you might get one on Freecyle, you could take it to the glazier who would cut the hole for you exactly to size. Our vet doesn't sell the safety collars, you could look at the pet shop in Park Rd, or Pets at Home have them online (I think it's called Pets at Home, somebody correct me if I'm wrong ) We have a cat flap cut through the wall, my Google is happy coming into the house but flatly refuses to go out through it, little madam. She sits on the mat and miaows pitifully. Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 I'll wait and see how things go, in that case, and will track down a safety collar for good measure. Ziggy, I've only just peered at your avatar - seriously cute Caroline P.S. Tessa, I'm having the cat microchipped tomorrow (do you go to Hill's, and if so, do they 'do' chickens?), so I'm now cornered into having to decide on a name by 4.30pm. I'm a Piscean, and neither fish can agree on which direction to go in, says it all really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutmeg Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 To overcome the problem with the cat flap in the double glazed door, we put a cat flap into the back door of the garage, so if we were out all day and evening, our cat could go in there in his temporary bed, until we arrived home. I'm now cornered into having to decide on a name by 4.30pm. I'm a Piscean, and neither fish can agree on which direction to go in, says it all really. I love that! I'm a Piscean and cannot make a decision to save my life. PS If it helps, she looks like a Tabitha to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 To overcome the problem with the cat flap in the double glazed door, we put a cat flap into the back door of the garage, so if we were out all day and evening, our cat could go in there in his temporary bed, until we arrived home. I'm now cornered into having to decide on a name by 4.30pm. I'm a Piscean, and neither fish can agree on which direction to go in, says it all really. I love that! I'm a Piscean and cannot make a decision to save my life. PS If it helps, she looks like a Tabitha to me. I'm a Piscean too - I do the 'I don't mind, you decide' line all the time! I've got safety collars on my cats and they are microchipped. We were away once and I had a message left on my phone from an elderly neighbour saying she had Dave's collar - I had a complete panic until I spoke to ES and he said that Dave was alive and well. I'm sure puddy will get used to being out sometimes when you are all out. My mum and dad didn't have catflaps and our cats survived. Good luck with deciding on the name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 P.S. Tessa, I'm having the cat microchipped tomorrow (do you go to Hill's, and if so, do they 'do' chickens?), so I'm now cornered into having to decide on a name by 4.30pm. I'm a Piscean, and neither fish can agree on which direction to go in, says it all really. I go to Abbey Vet in Muswell Hill, I don't know whether Hills do chickens. So funny that your cat still doesn't have a name Get your thinking cap on!!! Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 15, 2009 Author Share Posted April 15, 2009 So funny that your cat still doesn't have a name Get your thinking cap on!!! Tessa Well, Tessa, we named our second daughter on the last possible day of the 6 weeks you get to register the birth (in fact it was a week later than the legal requirement - Camden Town Hall sent us away, as they had too many births and deaths to register after the Christmas period), so in fact four weeks to come to a decision is us doing really well (I should really say me, rather than us, to be honest) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gem_Seb Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Hi there! I have always kept cats and never had a cat flap, they will always just wait for you! a cat will never get wet! they will always find somewhere nice and warm to wait! Saying that we got 2 kittens from a rescue centre this year who insisted that we have a cat flap. like you we have glass doors, it is possible to have one put in the glass but i think its in the region of £150!! What we did was! - went to a window company and bought a uPVC insert, took the window out and replaced it with the insert, my partner managed to fit the cat flap as we gave them the measurements and they cut the hole as well! think in total it was £45 so a much cheaper option!! Our kittens decided they wouldnt use it after all this so we took the insert back out and put the window back in! at least we know we got it now though it they do decide they want to go out in the big wide world! at the moment they are enjoying home comforts i think seeing as they were strays!! I hope you get a lot of enjoyment out of your rescue cat! ours are like our children! we really do spoil them too much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 That's useful thank you. I'll see how it all goes and decide later what to do. Took cat to the vets yesterday for her micro-chip (she was v brave and gentle), and she's now .... drum roll.... Ta dah! TABITHA Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 Welcome againt to Tabitha, but "officially" this time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber Chook Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 Why thank you, mostin. I let her out again today and luckily it started raining so half an hour later she came back indoors, safe and sound Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutmeg Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Welcome Tabitha; a lovely name for a lovely looking puss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
