My kitten gets lost outside. How can I teach her to come home safely?

Hello, & thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Cats, with a bit of work, can be taught to walk on a leash ( harness ). The best would be never to let your cat outdoors as this increases the chances of run ins with cars, dogs & other cats. But once a cat is comfortable in a home, they very rarely leave, unless something happens. Make sure Luna is spayed, & consider placing a microchip in her. That way, if she does slip off, any veterinarian or shelter can scan her & get her back home to you quickly. Hope this helps. Take care.

If she grew up as a stray, then I think she'll have a good chance of surviving. Cats do have a good sense of direction, so she might return. It's not uncommon that cats go for a walkabout for a day or two, then return. However, she also may be trying to get back to her alley home. If that is somewhat nearby, then I'd check for her there. It's also good to start hanging flyers in the neighborhood and check with local shelters. People tend to pick these kittens up when they see them. I hope that helps and your kitty returns soon.

Cute kitty. It is worth a try. Most cats like being outside so it shouldn't stress her too much, unless she has just forgotten how to walk on the leash well. I hope things work out well for your kitty and that she remembers how to walk nicely on her leash. Best wishes and take care!

Mother cats usually teach their kittens how to use a litter box by example. So, if she is using the kitten's litter box, she is likely trying to teach them to use it as well. I would not discourage her from using the box as it may cause her or the kittens to start having accidents in the house instead. If you are planning on having the kittens be outdoor cats like their mother, then making sure they are vaccinated and old enough to go outside first is best. They can then follow their mother and explore outside more to learn to do their business outside as well.

It can be difficult to keep cats inside when they want to get out. First, I would recommend never taking Pawncho Jo (love the name!) outside through this door unless she is in a carrier - it is confusing to get to go out the door sometimes but not others. If possible, the best thing to do would be to confine her to another room when you are coming or going so that she can't access the door. This obviously wouldn't work in a busy house. I am usually reluctant to recommend any type of negative reinforcement for cats since it can lead to fear and undesirable behavior, but you could try making a loud noise when she approaches the door or using something like a Sssscat forced air can to scare her away.

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.

There is no fail safe way to make sure he will be completely safe as accidents can always happen, but personally I believe cats should be able to go out as it allows them to exhibit natural behaviour. Because he is an older neutered cat he is unlikely to stray too far, but obviously he hasnt had the experience of outdoors since he was young. I would start by taking him out on a harness, let him get used to your garden and outdoor sounds such as engines etc. When you come to let him off for the first time don't feed him before so he has a good reason to come home if he does venture off. Make sure he is microchipped and has an id on his collar just in case. To an extent you will just have to leave him to it, but he should be fine. Investing in a cat flap is a good idea too and make sure he is vaccinated. Good luck!