Cat Flap stuff

Hi there,

I recently found a kitten at the scene of a traffic accident and while he's still a little wild, he has calmed down alot.
He's had all his vaccines and flea drops and now it's time to let him wander (sniff sniff)
We have a cat flap installed, but i wonder how i can ensure he'll come back once he's let out?
Should i first open the flap while there's someone in the house?
(i'm goin away for the weekend, so i dunno if this would be a good time, he might think he's been abandoned!)
Is there anything i can do to entice him to come back once he's out?

I would suggest you keep him as an inside cat only. Inside only cats live longer, safer lives than in and out cats.

If you want him in and out, I would wait until he is older. Then you will be sure that he comes home. The outside world can be very exciting to a kitten or cat, and trying to entice him back in may be a problem at times.

Also, until you have him neutered, he will be likely to fight with other cats, and can get injured.

I do have inside cats and outside cats, as I live on a farm. But my inside cats are inside only.

Originally Posted by Hazie

Hi there,

I recently found a kitten at the scene of a traffic accident and while he's still a little wild, he has calmed down alot.
He's had all his vaccines and flea drops and now it's time to let him wander (sniff sniff)
We have a cat flap installed, but i wonder how i can ensure he'll come back once he's let out?
Should i first open the flap while there's someone in the house?
(i'm goin away for the weekend, so i dunno if this would be a good time, he might think he's been abandoned!)
Is there anything i can do to entice him to come back once he's out?

Click to expand...

I second the recommendation to keep him indoors only until he has 1. been neutered 2. received his rabies vaccination (I'm not sure if this is standard practice in Ireland...it is in the USA). If possible, instead of allowing him free reign outdoors....it would be best if you could build him an outdoor enclosure. I have read too many stories of people who have lost cats, found them run over, found them poisoned, found them killed by a dog or another predator....the world isn't as friendly as it once was for a cat....and especially for a kitten. An outdoor enclosure will allow your kitten to enjoy the scents of the outdoors without the possibility of having something bad happen to him.

Ideas for enclosures:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...t+enclosure%22

Katie

If you are sure it is as safe as possible where you live ( no main roadsor predators - unlikely to be in Ireland!) then you can train him to use a catflap. I have always let my cats out but not till they were 6 months old or so. And I train them on a harness first, walking them all round the house and around the garden and environment daily for a week or two, letting them go where they want as far as it is is possible. Then having installed the catflap, I open the front door and play with the cat, holding the catflap open as they go through it. Sit in the garden with the cat while it explores - most cats will do htis quite slowly, though if the cat is already used to the smells and shape of the outside he will do it quicker. Never let the cat out by opening the door - make it go through the flap so it becomes used to the idea that this is the way out and in. Do not leave the cat alone outside until you have seen it use the flap several times on its own.
Opinion on this Board is divided between keeping cats in and letting them out - But there are so many differences between environments that everyone has to make their own decision.

Very good post Jenny....sometimes it is easy to forget that there are still many places where indoor/outdoor cats can live without the same issues that are encountered here in the USA.

Katie