Indoor or outdoor

[SarahK]

0

Raven has started to take an interest in the outside world and I'm now starting to doubt my decision to keep them indoors.

We have started work on the cat run at the side of the house, but I'm thinking now, that it'd be better to be able to just let them out the back door. So, we may work on cat proofing the whole garden.

Our back garden is fully fenced, but only about 1.6 meters tall. The fence is corugated steel, so they can't climb it, and so far they haven't learned they can jump! So what I'm wondering is, would it be safe to let them out in the garden?

Is there anyway to convince a cat that its territory is the garden and no further?

Don't really want to have to get the harness' on everytime I want to hang out washing! So if it was possible for them to go out with out them, that'd be much better.

We live in a fairly quite neighbourhood, but there are dogs and other cats and a slightly busier road not far off.

I think I'm babbling, so sorry

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Your fence is short for a cat. any healthy cat can leap over 6 feet with one bound. Mine do. As they grow older they will jump the fence but if you let them out now with you, supervised and always call their names to come to you and bring them in with you, they will come to call when you do let them out and they will stay close to home.

There are no guarantees they won't wander some but all of mine are always within earshot and they DO come when I call them. They even know that 10 PM is time to come in for the night and they are always in the driveway waiting to be called. Like kids, they "make" you bring them in from playing outside!

Anyway, if you do this when they're young they'll be content hanging out with you in the yard and stick close to home. Waiting for them to fully mature might give them wanderlust and you can risk them taking off for a couple of days the first time out the door. As for the dogs and other cats, I wouldn't worry. Cats are smart enough to steer clear of danger. They will fight with other cats, especially since the other cats were there first and yours will be considered intruders. They settle it all out eventually though.

Nothing can guarantee the roads though.

[SarahK]

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Hmm, I think I'll start bringing them out with me so, to play in the garden, supervised. And we'll try to extend the fence too, so hopefully they will stay close to home.

I'm planning on getting some cat friendly plants and stuff that will hopefully make the garden adventure enough for them. And I've bought some baby sunblock for Magpies nose, so he won't burn!

Thanks

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Catnip. Plant catnip in several places. Just note that you might get other cats lurking around for the plants too!
You can put them in pots and bring them in at night too to help prevent that.

do you have my poisonous plants chart? I'll upload it here in a sticky just in case. It'll be in the main pets section.

Here you go Sarah http://www.twitchinkitten.com/showthread.php?tid=518

[SarahK]

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Thanks alot - I will print that out and check the garden - there are existing plants, half of which I don't know what they are - I'll have to find out before I let the kittens out.

I have some catnip seedlings, but they're weeks off being any use, so I'll get a few mature plants.

[LKTraz]

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To help germinate the catnip seed, place a moist cloth in a plastic lined box, place the seeds on the cloth and fold it over. Slightly moisten every day. Place the box in a dark closet for 3 or so days. Plant them after they show signs of change.

(Old pot growers trick!)