First few days outside and cat flap issues.

[emmab]

Our cat is experiencing his 3 day outside but so far I have only been brave enough to follow his every move amd he has not ventured very far. However when I do shut him back in he is very agitated to go back out and is nearly destroying the cat flap. It has been 3 weeks and for the past few days has been very keen to go out. How do other new cat owners cope with this period of him inbetween in and out as it is difficult stopping him wrecking the cat flap. He uses it fine and has doen so from his first trip out but is driving us mad. I have read I should leave him outside to find his ebarings for an hour or so but am not brave enough to do it!

[Kay]

I would block off the cat flap when he's in so he isn't tormented by not understanding why it suddenly won't open for him

it is nerve wracking letting them out unsupervised at first, but it has to be done - if you are always firm about shutting him in between dusk and dawn he will be a lot safer - far more accidents happen to cats during the hours of darkness

but if you can afford it why not invest in one of those devices which allow you to locate him when he's out of sight?

[emmab]

thank you. I have now put a board there so hopefully will help. He winges all the time when he cannot go out. I am sure he will be fine but not sure whether to just let him go out unsupervised. Today is day 3 and the past 2 days he has been out for 15 minute stints supervised. The garden is very secure but as we know, all cats can jump so need to be sensible. The more he goes out the worse it gets it seems. Thanks again.

[Kay]

not all cats jump much - when I discovered Tosker could get out of my cat enclosure I assumed he was jumping, but later discovered he was clawing his way up the 8ft wooden poles, and manoevering round the overlap, so do think climbing as well as jumping when looking for weak spots

[emmab]

Eek...blocking the door atm is not working. We have had to shut him in his room for a couple of hours.mHe has been constant meowing and trying the cat flap all afternoon and now he is trying to pull away the wood from the cat flap.I am not sure whether to let him out most of tomorrow and just let him get on with it with the occasional calling? I am hoping more time outside will mean sleep by the evening after his tea? I do not recall our other cats being so bad? He seems quiet in his room atm.Would we be better keeping him in there at night until he is able to go out 24/7?