Is it safer to keep my kitten indoors or let her go outside?

Indoor cats typically have a safer and longer lifespan than thier outdoor counterparts. If she is happy indoors I would not encourage her to go outside. If you are able to build her a secure small "catio" cat porch outside that might be a way she can safely enjoy the outside. But cats that go outdoors are more at risk from trauma from vehicles or other animals and disease, parasites and viruses. I'd be happy that she is content inside.

While it can be difficult sometimes to turn an indoor/outdoor cat to one who stays strictly indoors, I think that Ray is young enough that you should give it a try if you're concerned about his safety. You could look into putting up an enclosure (sometimes called a 'catio') so he can still spend some time outdoors.

Hello, a cat tree will certainly add more enrichment to her environment and may reduce the her hiding behavior. However, it will likely not prevent it completely. You may start off by partitioning a part of the house for her to get used to. As you get more comfortable with her being outside of the cage, then you may allow her more space within the house. You may also ensure that the doors are closed so that she does not attempt to get out. Finally, you should also spay her before her first cycle so that she is not more likely to get out. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Since she is blind I certainly think it is safest for her to stay indoors. Even though she has survived thus far outside, it is much more dangerous for a blind cat to be outside. Maybe you can let her out supervised occasionally since she does still want to go out.

The main factors to think about are risk of injury (by cars and by other cats), risk of picking up disease (from other cats, intestinal parasites), and risk to wildlife (more of a concern if your cats like to catch songbirds) VS risk of increased stress due to being indoor only and risk of aggression between the two cats because they are stressed inside. From a behavioral perspective, being outside is much better. There is way more stimulation and it's a natural life for them. From a health perceptive, being inside is probably better, but we don't fully know the effects of the stress of being kept indoors. There are definitely ways to mitigate the risks of going outside, namely vaccination for Feline Leukemia and use of flea/tick preventatives, along with yearly fecal to check for intestinal worms. FIP, which is basically feline AIDS is not one that we vaccinate for and is transferred during cats fights, so they'd be open to that if outside. I hope that helps you think through your options! There's no perfect answer.

Thank you for helping her out! Some cats do prefer the outdoors and can be a little depressed when kept indoors. I would recommend getting her some toys and a scratching post. You can get different surfaces for the scratching post and some come with cat nip to attract the cat even more. There are lots of different toys to choose from. Get a variety. There are also interactive toys that dispense treats as the cat plays. This may keep her busy and brighten her spirits. Good luck!

Possibly - especially if she is now pretty tame. If she is easily spooked or still not particularly attached to you it might not be a good idea. I recommend starting with short supervised trips outside. You should only feed your cat indoors and offer food during specific meal times to make sure you get her to come back in at night. You can also practice calling to her and giving a treat. Keep in mind that living indoors is much safer for cats and there are risks in going outdoors: infectious diseases, fights with other cats, and cars and dogs are a few of the threats. If she has not been vaccinated for the Feline Leukemia virus I would recommend completing that vaccine series before letting her outdoors where she could contact other cats.