I never thought I would be writing this, and to be honest Im unsure I can actually go through with it! But I am thinking about letting my 2 outside. I am working crazy hours, up to 80 a week, and I live alone. They seem to have lost a bit of their vigour recently, some of it surely because theyre not kittens any more, but I worry that they just get bored being in the house for so long without me. They are still great friends, but as I expected they dont spend as much time 'together' any more. I rarely find them snuggled up like I used to. I would be so desperately gutted if anything happened to either of them, but I have never kept indoor cats before I had bengals and Im wondering if Im protecting them at the expense of them experiencing a life outside. I dont live in an ideal area unfortunately, its quite urban, but I just want them to experience everything I guess. All my other cats have been outdoor and loved it, but I did lose a cat to a car accident about 8 years ago and I would hate for that to happen again. There isnt an obvious answer! Spider I reckon would be king of the walk if I let him out, he wouldnt take any hassle from a neighbour cat, but Maasai doesnt have the same resolve and I cant let one without the other!

Please rethink this! You are going to be gone from home for hours and hours and if something happened to one of your kitties, you are not there to deal with it. Before I took possession of Raiden and he was just hanging around my house, he got into a horrific cat fight and ran to my back door. He was bleeding, had severe bite punctures, his eyes were scratched. Rushed him to the vet. His owner was out of town. Had I not been home, who knows what would have happened to him. You care too much for your babies to just leave them. You would NEVER leave a child outside unattended, would you? See what you can do as far as an enclosure or catio that would allow them to safely enjoy the outdoors. Know that once they go outside unsupervised, you won't be able to keep them inside your home. It's just too dangerous out there. Recently I read about a bengal who was killed in the driveway while the owner was standing outside. Someone ran over it. Things happen in a split second. You do not want your cats out where there are other cats around. Fights are common and males usually try to fight to the death. The fact that you came here asking questions means are you hesitant and want opinions. This is mine. DON'T DO IT!

Considering their ages and that you have had a cat previously hit by a car I wouldn't consider free reign an option but I would look into cat proofing your garden and maybe allowing them to use the garden during the day as well.

There are a lot of companies around who will give you a quote to come in and cat proof the garden for you if you haven't got someone around to do the DIY.

http://www.purrfectfence.co.uk

http://protectapet.com -- this one I believe is in Stoke

If you google there are quite a few companies providing this service now and it will give you peace of mind that they have more space to run around but also they are still enclosed and protected, plus in the long run it works out cheaper than the vet bills from fighting

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- Sarah
Arya 24/04/16 - Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Griffith 16/04/16 - Silver Seal Lynx Point Rosetted Bengal
Mina (in my avatar)- 1999-2016 - Seal Mink Spotted Bengal (Snow) - run free at rainbow bridge

dya know, as I said, Im not sure I can go through with this. I never intended them to go outside, and I would be fraught with worry the entire time. Im just working so much recently that I worry they arent getting enough stimulation. I love the bones of them!

You have TWO bengals and they should keep each other company. When I worked, I was gone 10 hours out of the day and I have just ONE bengal. He was fine. Of course, he has a large enclosure on our deck that he can access 24/7 and enjoyed going out there. I truly believe your babies will be just fine inside where they can be safe and sound. Just make sure you bengal proof your home in case they really get antsy and go on a wild streak.

Don't do it

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Clare
Magic (brown spotted boy born 31 March 2012)
Pearl (seal Lynx Point girl born 1 October 2015)
Bristol, UK

Please don't. For their sake. Cats are likely going to get the same exercise regardless, if left to their own devices. I don't mean to scold, and I realize you are thinking of doing what is best for them, but if you are concerned about their activity levels then spend more time playing with them. I believe you stated they are not as active as they used to be (well, that does happen a bit as they age). But I also think you said you weren't home much. It's quite possible they are getting enough activity - a lot of it you don't see. Even consider hiring someone to come in and play with them before exposing them to illness, fleas (and more illness, and dogs, and cat fights, and cars, and. . . .

Crisis averted guys. It was a moment of madness. I had never thought of letting them outside and even as I was writing it before I was cringing. I was just so tired! And then worried they werent getting enough stimulation. They wont step a foot outside.....truth be told they were completely oblivious to what I was worried about and completely fine. I play with them before and after work evey day! I needed to vent my frustration more than anything I think! Lol. Thanks for listening!

That's what we are here for!!! Love and support for our members. Mine loves the outdoors and two one-hour walks a day aren't enough for him. Nor his large enclosure outside. He wants to roam free! He can drive me crazy with his meowing and yowling to go out -- yes, he still does it after 3-1/2 years with us. He races us to the door. I have to put him in our bedroom and shut the door if we have to make multiple trips (like bringing in groceries). My husband says, "Just let him out." Well, trouble from the get-go because he wants to seek out all the outdoor neighborhood cats for a rumble. He's used up many of his nine lives already and I'm trying to save the ones he has left. I have to tolerate his behavior and know that I have to stay strong and keep the doors closed to him.