DOES ANYONE KNOW ABOUT CATS

[peppa and georgie]

I have four cats and have had them for years but have just rescued another cat and he came to stay so cat flap locked we started, but by morning he had broken the cat flap lock and disappeared. We put up poster and offered reward and some local kids found and returned him. Great cat flap now barracaded. I am going to keep him in for awhile until he knows us as his family and this his home but,, question is when he does finally get to visit the garden with the other cats, how do i make sure he doesnt go to far and get lost. The other cats are older and were indoors for years so only go as far as garden so there is no problem. I have thought about trying the butter on paws but would like a more reliable method or idea....
Can anyone help with some ideas xxxx

 

[irishlops]

im ssorry i dont know. i hope some people will answer.

 

[Luvmyzoocrew]

i have never heard of the butter on paws thing what is that?

You could microchip him incase he gets away? i dont know if you will ever be able to keep a cat that was a stray in? MAybe try keeping him indoors for a real long time then giving some out time, let him establish that he lives at your house and belongs there? maybe?

 

[degrassi]

IF you want to let him out in your yard them put a harness on him and a string.

My friend has indoor cats but she sometimes lets them out in the yard to play. She puts them in harnesses and attaches a string to they can't jump over the fences. If you have trees and stuff in your yard they should be supervised while on the leash so they dont' get tangled up.

 

[peppa and georgie]

Thanks yes i was thinking along those lines but didnt know anyone who had been in similar situation x In his original home he just went in the garden and didnt get lost but they moved away and left him which is why i adopted him so just want him to realise this is his new home and he can also wonder in our garden but he must come back as this is his home now xx

 

[degrassi]

Keep him indoors for a week or so until he settles into your house. Don't let him out until he knows that you, and your other kitties are his new family. If he hasn't bonded to you or doesn't like your other cats he will try to run away.

 

[peppa and georgie]

Thanks, will keep you posted, he is very cuddly today and sleeping alot so think he is worn out by his escapade xx

 

[anneq]

We had a lot of cats growing up (and when I was out on my own always had them).

Keep them inside about 10 days or so, and they should be able to navigate back if they get loose.
If it's a male, well, they always seem to stray a bit - even if they're neutered, the little devils.

 

[peppa and georgie]

Thanks anneq he seems to be really bonding with us and is so affectionate xxx Hoping we become firm friends he doesnt mind the rabbits either which is great, he was a bit confused by them at first i think he thought they were more cats with long ears though lol xx

 

[Numbat]

Keep him inside for a week and make sure he knows where his food is

 

[peppa and georgie]

Thanks numbat xx They are starting to all accept each other but still hiss abit when next to each other. I love it when i finally find them sleeping together and they are friends xx

 

[maherwoman]

I agree completely about keeping him inside for at least a week. Right now, he doesn't quite know "home" just yet.

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

we have the same problem,.we go outside/he slithers out,..if we call for him long enough he relents and comes in,/we may invest in a chip,(dvm) and a collar with distance control/monitoring,..he and his sister were 4 months old when they caught the dreaded parvo-virus,.their prognosis was very slim at best for survival,.but they beat it and my visa card reached 7 grand,.oh yea,that hurt,/,sincerely james waller

 

[peppa and georgie]

Oh my god that was expensive x I have thought about trying to make my garden escape proof, my other cats are too timid to jump to high or stray too far, but this one is more streetwise and i dont know him well enough to trust how far he might go xx He is happy to have a lead on i tried today when he tried to run out the door and i took him to show him the grass then back in so may keep this up so he doesnt feel too desperate to see the outside and see how we go.

 

[DeniseJP]

peppa and georgie wrote:

Thanks yes i was thinking along those lines but didnt know anyone who had been in similar situation x In his original home he just went in the garden and didnt get lost but they moved away and left him which is why i adopted him so just want him to realise this is his new home and he can also wonder in our garden but he must come back as this is his home now xx

I was told wait a month when I adopted my first cat so that is the rule of thumb I go by. Jeff was a stray here - he was a feral cat and now we can't get him to go outside.

Denise

 

[peppa and georgie]

OH wow really? Well he keeps trying to get out when we open the doors at all and i have taken him on a lead round garden so he starts to get used to smell of area, i would like it if he turned out like that and didnt want to go out.
He sleeps lots in the day and seems to be getting to know us xx

 

[NorthernAutumn]

I think the general hope is that his passion for the outdoors will be over-ridden by his love for you, resulting in a pussy cat that loves being near you.

Glad to hear he's warming up. I agree, a month should solidify your relationship a bit better

My parents' tom cat was born feral, and he adores roaming about. They are in a very sleepy neighbourhood, so it isn't as much of a concern, but I wish that they had put the time in to keep him closer to home.

 

[peppa and georgie]

I think i have realised that he must have been let out every morning as first thing he is desperate to sneak out and then he spends the rest of the day asleep on the sofa not really bothering. So think it is a habit to want to go out first thing xx