cat

[sunflower68]

Hi there, my cat is almost 6 months. He only ever goes out into our back garden. He is ready to 'go' soon and I wondered if you have any safety tips.

If I let him out the back, it backs onto our road which is not busy but he has escaped before and hides under parked cars.
If I let him out the front there are many bushes and trees for him, the only worry is a more major road is just over the fence.

How do you prepare your cat to flee the nest?

[johnlambert]

My ex wife said to rub butter on the cat's paws!! I let her do that and almost wet myself watching the hillarious tornado of cat fur,teeth, claws yowls, hisses and scratches.
Just let him go, he'll know what to do

[burnhal]

as said above- just let it go! There is nothing on earth is going to stop a cat going where it wants to go. Roads are unfortunately a danger cat owners just have to live with. Some seem to have a natural sense of danger from roads- some just bumble along regardless.

[jules77]

I have heard the butter on paw theory as the cat licks his paws and gets the scent of home and knows where to return to, but as to safety tips, I am afraid that the cat will possibly roam around, and if you live in a busy area, you do have to think about the possibility of him getting run over. Is he neutered? if you are really so worried, why not let him just have the run of the garden on a harness/flexi lead. I am afraid it is what my father has had to resort to as his cat has already been run over and still insists on sitting under the cars and fighting with the other cats across the road.

[sunflower68]

I think I will try the butter theory - even if it doesn't work, it will be good for a laugh!
I guess I just have to let go and hope for the best; he is an animal - they are good at finding their way home. I think I am more worried about him getting lost than run over.

[wolf63]

Make sure he is microchipped and neutered first.

Then off he goes into the big wild world, cra*pping on other people's gardens, winding up the neighbours dogs and sitting staring at nothing for hours on end.

He'll be fine.

[pingping]

apparently unneutered males will travel up to 7 miles from their home, but a neutered male will normally only travel up to 240m from home. if he is not neutered yet - you might want to consider getting him done (and for health reasons too so he won't get FiV)