Tips for getting cat to go outside!

Is there any way you can get a cat flap? Seems she is worried she won't be able to get back in. It's easier in the summer, they're nosy gits and if you're out in the garden she will want to be out there, so as the weather gets warmer maybe you could try eating your lunch outside on the weekends, going for a potter (trimming bushes etc) of an evening etc to get her confidence up. But cat flap would be my best solution.

She may just want to be an indoor cat though, is there any particular reason you want her to go out?

Firstly, is it essential that she goes outside. My two are not that fussed. One likes to sit by an open door and sometimes will be on the patio within a metre of an open door. For thye first year or so she needed to see that I was around so that she was 'safe'. My other cat pokes her nose out in the summer and will have a 5 minute wander if the weather is not cold, wet, windy or too hot, oh and when she is in the mood.

We have no cat flap but let them out when we are home and encourage them to go out sometimes, but generally they just aren't bothered and are happy to be inside. I would never force them out as it would stress them too much and they seem happy to be inside. They have also never been out for more than 20/30 minutes at a time if we aren't sitting outside as they run back in when they have had enough.

Cat flap isn't really an option as both our doors are decorative glass ones so don't think we'd be able to get one fitted and if we could i'd imagine it would be very expensive!

Probably selfish reasons for wanting her to go out but our baby is due in a couple of months and ideally i'd like it if the cat went out during the day so I didn't need to worry about where she was and if she was in baby's stuff. She's a bit of a pain! MiL has outdoor cats and doesn't have litter trays as they are always outside which also appeals to me - although I have read on some websites that you should still have a litter tray for them overnight anyway. It was my H who brought her home (rescued her at his work) and I wasn't particularly keen on keeping her, I have taken to her now but would prefer it if she went out every now and then!

Will definitely try your suggestions of us going out more when it's a bit warmer! ?

I think your reasons for wanting your cat to go outside are pretty selfish - they don't seem to be anything to do with what the cat wants!

As for litter trays - if you don't provide one at all you are essentially saying that your own cat's poo is not your problem, it is someone elses. I am sure it does appeal to you not to have to have a litter tray, but why should other people have the job of cleaning up after your cat?

L
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I would have thought that if she does ever venture outside she'll not leave our garden anyway so we would still be cleaning up after her - it just wouldn't make the house smell!

And if I wasn't worried about what the cat wants, I wouldn't be looking for advice - I would just put her outside and let her cry all day and hope she'd get used to it? But I haven't and I'm trying to see if there are other options I can try! I think she just needs to build her confidence, i just wasn't sure of the best way to do it!

It might be confidence in that case let her follow you outside and walk around so she can follow you. She might be more willing to do this when it is warmer. However, she might just like inside more naturally. I really wouldn't let her cry outside alone as they might just scare her off the outdoors totally.

She will go out when she wants, cats all have a mind of their own.

I think you need to look more at making it appealing to her, as cats will only ever do what they want to do! At the moment you're giving her a bad association with going outside as your husband shuts her out and she can't get back in, I wouldn't have thought that is the best way to encourage her. I think appealing to her nosy nature is the best way.

That said, my cat loves the outdoors but he will only spend an hour or two a day outside (and then again at night) - most of the time he's conked out on the sofa. I think you will probably need to look at the way you deal with the baby and it's things, i.e. not putting clothes where the cat can get to them and not leaving the baby alone in a room where the cat can access - so it may mean shutting the cat out of rooms. It may be worth starting this now (I assume you have a designated 'baby room') as our cat very quickly got used to not being allowed in the spare room when we had the lodger and almost seemed to forget it was there. Also, going outdoors is no guarantee you'll lose the litter tray - my mum has a nervy cat and while she will wee outside, she will only poo in her litter tray. She's an odd creature though!

? I think she just likes her home comforts - she's currently curled up underneath the radiator! Who would want to spend the day outside in Scotland in February! WIll maybe leave it til it's a bit warmer then go out with her for a little bit at a time!

We have already stopped her from going into the room that will be baby's room and she doesn't get into our room at night time either as this is obv where baby will sleep at first.

I think we'll just have to wait and see how things go when the baby arrives as she's a little vicious sometimes but i'm hoping that it's just a feisty kitten stage and she'll grow out of it - our dog is petrified of her as she attacks him for no reason, he needs to toughen up a bit though!

I agree, the only way you'll encorage her to go out is to find a way for her to come and go as she likes. Shutting her out is cruel.

Nice picture Nick ?

And I agree Sophie, just need to make my husband agree now! He thinks that it's the only way she'll learn - and moans at me for being a softie and letting her in as I can't bear the crying!

Sorry, I know I am being arsey, but it really does sound like you are trying to force the cat to do something she doesn't want to/isn't naturally inclined to do

L
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She is more likely to go and find another home where she will be let in and get fuss.

don't apologise - i asked for opinions! But she is a feral cat so I would have thought she would naturally be inclined to go outside - maybe she's been inside for too long now though!