We recieved a 2 year old female cat KiKi, yesterday, and she has taken really well to her new surroundings. My question is, how long should we keep her inside before we release her to nature for the first time in her new area. She sits and looks longingly at the outdoors.We want her to come back! We are in a rural area so we will try and bring her in at night. Thanks for any suggestions.
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New Adult Calico
- Thread starter theglenns
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I would think at least a week or two? I'm not sure since I've never let a cat outside (I live in a big city). I once saw a suggestion that I thought was brilliant. Someone said to put up wind chimes that the cat can hear while acclimating (indoors) for a week or two. Then when you let them out, they can find their way home by the wind chimes.
Since this kitty is new to you, I'd give her at least a few weeks. She needs to bond to you...that way she'll want to come "home". Right now, you're not "home" to her.
Since this kitty is new to you, I'd give her at least a few weeks. She needs to bond to you...that way she'll want to come "home". Right now, you're not "home" to her.
Depends on the cat and the history. All my cats go outdoors and are fixed. My adult rescues obviously roamed only within a safe distance, going back to where life is better than before. They adjusted within their first day.
But QT, who used to belong to my sister, had to be kept indoors for more than 2 weeks. She missed her original family and I was afraid she would go off looking for them. After she was accepted by my other cats, I took her out on a harness for another week. Then no harness and then no supervision.
I'm sure i read somewhere here it should be 6 weeks?. Either way i would do what Maria said about taking her out on a harness to get her used to the smells around your home.
Is she spayed as well so you don't have any unwanted kittens
Is she spayed as well so you don't have any unwanted kittens
Something I have done with the barn ferals that I take in is to put them in a large tall crate for 3 wks. That way, when I release them they know where they belong and don't run off. I love the idea of the windchimes. I never thought of that. If you used the wind chimes inside, and then take her outside in a crate, along with the windchimes, she would associate the two. I would take her out in the crate for several hrs at a time during the day, and she should get used to being in the yard area. then when you do let her out of the crate for the final time, she should stick around. Just a thought. I'm sure others with a lot more experience will have better ideas. You could also feed her outside in the crate. If you have a lot of time, you could put her on a harness and walk her for a few days outside, Just a thought? Keep us posted as to how that works
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Just be careful of the crate, though, if you have predators in the area...she can't get away, and depending on the predator, they might be able to get her. The crates not a bad idea, though, if you're outside with her. I agree that she needs to familiarize herself with the smells of the area. The harness is also a good idea. She just needs to be very familiar with her new area.
You are so right about staying with her. I should have put that in. Just sitting with her for a bit and both enjoy the outdoors. My ferals never leave the area. If I'm on the tractor they will follow behind me, sometimes running if I get away before they see me. They now want nothing more then to be held and loved on. talk about spoiled. And yes, they really are ferals. For 2 of them I was told to open the crate door when I released them and to get out of the way, that they would attack. very spoiled now. the other 2 just showed up and over the past year or two decided that they wanted to live here, so I had him neutered and now he is even sweeter then the girls
Mary
Mary
