I've had my rescue cat for 6 weeks now and she's been having a lot of mad 5 minutes so I thought I would see if she liked going outside (not sure if she was allowed in her last home) and maybe that will stop her getting bored.
Well today was the day, I work from home so I could choose the time. I went out with her at lunchtime, she'd had a nap but no food since 7am. She kept looking at me as she explored, then she leapt a 6 foot gate into next doors garden. I rushed up my stairs (I live in a 1st floor maisonette, so can see into next doors garden from my front door). There she was balancing precariously on the fence, again she kept check to make sure I was still there and even wagged her tail like a dog when she spotted me. Then she explored my garden, so I took the opportunity to do some weeding, I turned away from her exploring the recycling boxes and when I turned back she was gone. I called her name and rattled her treat tin, but no answer. So I rushed up to my front door to see if I could see her, and there she was waiting for me to open the door for her! I gave her some treats once inside and she seemed OK. Then a couple of hours later she was pacing inside, sitting at my feet looking up at me and meowing. As I stood up she ran to the front door, so I guessed she wanted to go out again. This time, I kept my distance and as she disappeared down the road I just hoped she would find her way without me. I went back inside but kept checking the front door every 5 mins. After about 20 mins I was getting a bit worried, but then I heard soft scratching, I opened the front door and she saunters in.
What a success! I'm going to try letting her out during the day again tomorrow then get her into a routine of going outside first thing before her breakfast as sometimes I do need to into the office so she won't be let out at lunchtime and I don't want her going out at night.
