Hi.

I posted on here about a month ago about my shy Bengal..5 weeks on shes stull quite a timid cat but to be honest I think that’s just how she is, and is how the previous owners described her too. she does approach me and let me stroke her occasionally but still darts off more times than not. She’s very quiet too hardly hear much of her.

Anyway, she is dying to go out scratches at the doors and patio doors and windows. She used to out with her previous owners. I let her out in the garden the other day, she jumped over the fence into our cul de sac. Which is luckily a quiet road. She was out for a while so I went to go and get her, she ran away from me at first but I managed to get her. She sure let me know that she wasn’t happy with a lot of wailing!

I’m asking for some advice please, if she’s so timid with her family should she be going out? As she wouldn’t come to me when I was calling her I had to lure her with food! I don’t know if she would come back on her own as I went to get her previously as I was worried

Thanks for the advice!

I think you answered the question yourself: she's timid, hasn't really fully bonded with you yet, and there's traffic. You have no idea whether you'll ever see her again next time she goes outside unsupervised. To me, the best way to handle this would be (in order of preference):

1. get something like this, so that your entire yard is a "safe zone"
https://www.purrfectfence.com/

2. get/make a "catio" (google it if you aren't familiar with the concept)

3. take your cat for walks on a leash

_________________
The little monsters 3

Thanks! Maybe she’s trying to escape us altogether haha. I borrowed a leash from a friend. She absolutely HATED IT!!! *face palm*

Leash training takes a while, but it may be a good solution. Don't discard it but it will take days or weeks.

Leash training does take a while with many cats. You need to make sure she is comfortable wearing the harness INSIDE your home before you ever take her out. Cats do one of three things when you put a harness on them. They fight it and want it off immediately. Or ... they lay down as if they are paralyzed. Or ... they don't mind the leash at all. The first two are problematic. Try to distract with treats. Or toys. Once the cat realizes it can actually walk while wearing the harness, they are usually okay. You may have to try several times.

Also, the type of harness is important. A figure 8 harness is not as secure as a figure H harness which has two clasps and places the pressure on the back and not the neck. Walking jackets are also popular. If you walk her on a leash, make sure you walk somewhere quiet without people and other pets. Make sure the harness is on secure enough that she cannot escape. The walks need to be calm and slow.

I would definitely see about getting an enclosure of some type. It can be portable or permanent. She obviously wants to be outside and cats will travel a ways. The odds of her returning to you are decreasing. Next time you may not be so lucky. Go online and check out some portable ones that you can just set up and put the cat inside. They come in all sizes and prices. The key is to NEVER let her out there unsupervised.

Permanent enclosures attached to your home can be huge help. We enclosed a 12'x12' part of our deck with a cat door insert in an open window and our two use it constantly. If you just Google "catio" Or "cat enclosure," you will find so many ideas.

The Purrfect fence is not cheap and if not installed properly, the cats will dig UNDER because they can't get OVER. My friend has lost 7 cats and she had the Purrfect fence installed. Nobody thought about the cats going through holes UNDER the fence.

The fact that she was obviously allowed outside with a previous owner means she wants to be outside again. They taste the outside world and that is it!!! I went through that with my bengal who was allowed to roam free the first six years of his life. He survived several vicious cat fights and infections. When the owner gave him to me, I decided he could no longer go outside and roam, thus the cat enclosure. We do take two walks a day and he got used to the harness the second it was put on him. Lucky, I guess.

Obviously, you love your kitty, however, it seems she is still not 100% bonded and comfortable in her surroundings. You really need to concentrate on that first of all. It just takes TIME and lots of patience. She may yowl and scratch, but really try to work on getting her de-stressed.

I hope things can work out and please keep us posted.

Thank-you all so much, I don’t ever think i’ll get responses in forums but I always do here by people that seem to genuinely care. So Thankyou! I will try everything you have suggested. And In answer to a companion for her I’m currently in the process of adopting a Birman to keep her company.

I will keep you updated.

Thanks again

I don't know your situation. A companion cat may be a good idea or it may go horribly wrong. Bengals are territorial. As long as you have a lot of time and a LOT of patience -- it might work. Obviously this kitty is dealing with a lot of issues -- and I'm sure they can be overcome with lots of love as well.

Another issue with a second cat is whether that can will be indoors or outdoors. So, a catio or cat enclosure might be the best thing to keep both safe.