Question about letting foster cat outdoors?

Hi there,

I'm relatively new here...had another thread about a neglected cat that had to be put down so haven't been back in a little while.

I am also a foster carer for the RSPCA and at the moment I'm looking after a gorgeous ginger cat by the name of Alfie. He started out VERY nervous and was hiding away for the first few days but with much encouragement we've gotten him to relax quite a lot but he's still very nervous around new people and even my mother! He seems to trust me the most because I'm the one who feeds him, plays with him, cleans his litter box and he sleeps with me at night. He's not one to hide his affection and I am covered in his hair daily to prove it! I do wish there was something that could be done about his nervous behaviour as I don't think he was like this in his previous home. The owner signed him over to the RSPCA because she said he was going for one of her other cats that wasn't well. It doesn't seem like him but apparently he was fine when picked up by the inspector and then all of a sudden just freaked out. He's still very jumpy with any sort of movement.

So that's one part of it...the other is that he seems to be asking me to go outside a lot. I'm sure he must miss it but everytime I go towards the back door he runs as if he's expecting to be let out. I've bought a cat lead to take him out but he REALLY doesn't like it. He becomes very submissive and either lies on his back or crawls along instead of walking. We've had him here for nearly 4 weeks and the RSPCA have told us not to let him out in case he runs off so I'm just wondering if anyone has advice on this. Will there be any point where I can let him out without a lead and ensure he's not going to run away or is it just not safe to do this? He is just yearning to go out and I hate to see it and even though we're not supposed to let him out, other people manage to have outdoor cats that don't run off. 

Any suggestions on the above?

Thanks very much for reading.

I agree with their advice.  He might really want to go out, but unless your backgarden is totally escape proof he has to stay inside.  He is far too likely to go and never be seen again.

He might also try to return to where he originally lived.

Buckley escaped from the cattery (friend's house) through the crawl spaces of the house.  He had been at the cattery for almost 10 months.  Two weeks later (and two miles) he returned to where he was originally taken from--the the feral colony I take care of.  He crossed busy streets and major roads to get home.  (Happy ending--retrapped, adopted out successfully several months later.)