How soon

40 posts

We've adopted a stray 1-yr old cat in the last week. At the moment he is being kept as an indoor kitty because we want him to get used to being with us, and to know if he comes back he'll get a regular feed, some attention and a place to sleep. he is, however, desperate to go out, he begs at the cat flap and he knows the other cat is allowed outdoors.



How long is it usually a good idea to wait before allowing a new cat outside? I don't want him to try and find his way back to where he was originally found (about 20 miles away), and I want to make sure he understands he is meant to come back to us. At the moment he's still a bit nervous, he doesn't play - he does not seem to understand what to do with the profferred string or ball, he cries for food, he eats whatever food crosses his path and he sleeps. So he's clearly not feeling entirely safe and confident he'll get a next meal.

From South West UK, 2002 posts

Hi Mindy, I would keep him in for at least 6 weeks and get him neutered if he hasn't been already. Un-neutured cats tend to wander off looking for lady cats! When you eventually let him out, make sure it is well before he is due for a feed, when he's really hungry.

Hope this helps!

40 posts

Cheers for that. We got him neutered on Monday and he's been ok so far, a bit nervous, but our other boy is starting to warm to him (there's been no fighting, just avoidance mostly, which is a welcome surprise and relief), the sniffing of each other is now not accompanied by nervous hissing so...



4-6 weeks is what the vet said too, so I guess we'll have to endure another month or so of sleepless nights as one gets to go out and the other whimpers and pounds on doors in frustration.

From South West UK, 2002 posts

You will probably find he will start to settle more now he's been neutured Mindy, patience (and maybe ear-plugs!) will pay off in the end! At least your other cat has accepted him, often that takes a little time. Sounds like he's still got a bit of ferrel in him but in time he will gain more confidence. It is a little scary letting them out for the first time, wondering if they will return, I have fostered many ferrels and luckily never lost one!

40 posts

Yeah I think he's a bit wild, but nowhere near what you would have expected. He's still a baby really, the vet reckons around a year old, and he seems to like people, he's happy to purr and rub against us and to be around us but he doesn't play like a domestic kitten would do. I had a long game of ball with our other little lad last night and the new guy wasn't even interested in what was happening, but he did try to play chase feet under duvet so, he's starting to loosen up.



It will be nice to get to the point where both cats will be in the same room together even if it's not involving food. Our older boy had a littermate that he grew up with until she was hit by a car a few months ago so he's used to other cats, plus he has loads of other cats about in the neighbourhood, ours used to sun themselves with our neighbour's cat, but he was an old fella and was put down over the summer. Hopefully having company will perk him up a bit once he gets used to the company cause he's been missing his companion.

From South West UK, 2002 posts

They will both come around to accept each other better eventually!

Your new cat will probably bring you lovely little gifts on the doorstep, mice and birds etc! He will probably play more readily with them, than toys, before he offers them up to you! Ferrels seem to be mostly black I found, or with a touch of white. For some reason the black ones seemed to be more 'wild' than any of the other colours, maybe coincidence I don't really know. Yours already has an excellent start, some of the kittens I cared for where really wild. My hands used to get shredded but I just kept persevering until they realised I wouldn't hurt them. One in particular was a real challenge, he was never ready for re-homing so I kept him rather than risk upsetting him. He was only 6 when he died tragically, but by that time I could pick him up and pet him. We called him Panther. All the others were re-homed, it was very hard when they had to go but at least by the time I had done my job, they were given good homes. I cried every time when each of them went! But I have to say it is very rewarding when you see a tiny hissing spitfire, with teeth like needles pricking you, and claws like a little demon, blossom into a beautiful loving domestic cat.

I also had my own 4 adult cats. My last cat died 18 months ago at 16 years. I haven't had another since but I do miss not having a cat now. I will get another couple of cats eventually, when the right ones come along!