Cat 'freaks out' after he's been outside.

[amyjess]

Ok, so I've had my cat Walter for 3 months now. He's 1 and a half years old and was very timid when we got him. But he's like a completely different cat now, he's getting so brave around us. He still doesn't let us pick him up or sit on our laps yet though. But recently I started letting him outside. He's never been outside before and was a bit skeptical at first. But after a few tries he finally took his first steps outside. Each time I let him out he goes further and further to the point where he ventures out of our garden now. This is all fine and he's in a perfectly safe area and is flead/wormed/micro chipped. But every time I call him back in he dashes back into the house and hides from me. And he stays hidden for a while. It's so weird. And if I go outside in the garden with him he's the same. It's like he can't process me and outside at once! Is this just because it's a huge change as he's never been out before and he will be a bit overwhelmed at first? It's just so strange, like while he's been out he forgets who we are for a moment haha! Once he's done hiding he comes out and he's back to his normal self again.

Any ideas? Any cat behavior specialists out there??

Thanks.

Amy

 

[red top rescue]

It sounds to me like feral behavior.  What is his background?  I have seen this in cats who have been rescued as feral kittens and acclimated to the house, but if they get out, they return to their fearful feral nature.  Feral cats have to be wary or they don't live long, and even if you get them as young kittens, this seems to be imprinted.  Why do you want him to go out when he is perfectly happy and safe in the house?  You could harness train him, then he would get to enjoy the outdoors but he would be safe. 

 

[amyjess]

Can a cat be feral if he's never been outside? Fair point though. He was brought to the shelter because his previous owners had way too many cats so maybe he's a bit feral because of that? And it's not that I 'want' him to go outside, it's to see if he wants too. He's always meowing at the windows and doors and is amazed when he sees another cat go by. If he doesn't like it outside then that's fine too, just wanted to test the waters.
Thanks for tour response that's really helpful Amy