Is it safe to let my indoor feral cat go outside and come back?

Question

Hello, I have a feral cat that has been inside for over 6 years. She wants to go out ! Can I trainer her to come and go ?

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

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.

Is it safe to let my indoor feral cat go outside and come back?

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