Conference misery::feline_v1

       If they seem content inside, I would leave them alone.
    
       However, if you really want to do this...
    
       If they are used to leashes, take them out on leash first.  Walk
    them around the yard, allowing them to become familiar with the
    outside of your house and the yard.  Then take them out and let
    them run around while your out there.  
    
       I believe most books I've read reccomended a) a week or so after
    moving in to let the cats get settled before taking them out and
    b) a few days of supervised outdoor acitivities before letting them
    loose.
    
       When we started letting Cinnamon go outside after being an indoor
    kitty for over 2 years(confinement stress), we started by letting him
    out with us and bringing him in when we came in.  Then we started
    letting him go out on his own for short periods of time while we were
    home to keep an eye on him.  After 4 days or so of this, we started
    letting him go outside while we were at work. Seemed to work fine for
    him. 
    
       One thing to keep in mind,  your kitties may not want to go outside.
    Nazzie was traumatized by dogs outside when he was 4 1/2 weeks old.
    We've taken him out on leash to help him getover his fear of the
    outside, in case he finds himself outside and doesn't know what to
    do.   Yesterday I came home to find one of the window screens knocked
    out and all the cats outside.  Naz was sitting at the door, screaming
    to be let in!  He was frantic.  He recognized my car but didn't
    know where I get out of it, so when I parked he ran around the car
    trying to find me.  (He could hear me but couldn't see me.)  He
    was QUITE releived to be back in again.
    
       A friend of mine has a cat that's been indoor all her life and
    intends to remain that way.  He got her when she was 1 year old.
    He had just moved to a 14 acre farm and was going to give her the
    run of the place.  No way!  You open the door and she hides under
    the bed.
    
       Maybe your kitties will love it outside.  That's great if they
    do, but don't force them if they don't want to go.
    
    tlh
        

    ...and make *sure* that your cats have had all their shots,
    including Feline Leukemia shots, before you let them go
    out.  Those other kitties roaming through the neighborhood
    just might have the disease.  Also, you didn't mention this,
    but if your cats have been declawed, you really shouldn't
    let them out alone.  You might not want to let them out
    alone anyhow since they're probably marshmallows compared to
    the war-hardened toms in the neighborhood.  (Speaking of toms,
    are your cats neutered? If not, and if you have females....)
    
    Last weekend Jim had Chorniy outside.  Well, old fluffball saw
    this big orange-striped cat (a regular at the catnip plant)
    sauntering along the stone wall in the woods behind the house.
    Took him two seconds to be *gone* after that cat.  Orange cat
    probably would have eaten Chorniy for breakfast if Jim hadn't
    been right behind our wimp-cat.  Needless to say, both Jim and
    Chorniy got their exercise.  Orange cat would run a ways, then
    look back over his shoulder to see if Jim was still there, then
    run some more.  They were about 6 houses down by the time Jim
    caught that black rascal, and boy was that cat winded!
    
	Louise

    IOf a cat us used to Inside, leave it that way!
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr
    

        Keep them indoors.  They'll be happier and healthier.  After
        all, they are your best friends, and they're not used to the
        outdoors.  But if you _must_ let them out, as has been noted,
        make sure they've got _all_ their shots, and plan on higher
        health bills then you'd have if they were indoor cats.
        
        Tom

    re .4:
    
    Also plan on a shorter lifeaspan if they become outdoor cats.
    
    Steve Kallis, Jr.
    

    
    If your cats express interest in the great outdoors, by all means
    give them the opportunity to go exploring.
    
    Be sure to keep them in the house for at least 1-2 weeks to get
    the smell and feel comfortable with their new home.
    
    Then, if they want to go out, go out with them, walk around a little,
    and bring them back in after a little while (15 mins).  Do this
    gradually increasing the amount of supervised time outside for about
    a week.
    
    I try to keep them on a routine.  If the weather is good, I give
    them breakfast and then let them out for the day.  Then they come
    in for dinner and I keep them in til the next day.  If you let them
    out again after dinner, they may very well stay out all night.
    
    And, if you feed them well in the morning and evening, they'll be
    less apt (somewhat!) to murder and eat every little critter in the
    neighborhood.  This will cut down (not eliminate) the number of
    germs they encounter.
    
    Yes, I suspect vet bills are higher, mostly for antibiotics used
    to fight infections, which are more common with outdoor cats.
    
    But the pleasure from watching them play out side can't be beat.
    
    Good luck,
    Fern
    

    
    	re. .5    Auto racer Bruce McLaren noted that a better measure
    of a lifetime than duration was quality :  It's not how long you
    live, but what you do that matters.  My 6 month old Maine Coon,
    Copy, is enjoying the warm days outside while I'm at work or off
    bike rideing.  He sleeps better at night and seems to be enjoying
    life more all around.  I know it's a risk, but I wouldn't have it
    any other way.   - Chris