I recently adopted a stray that turned out to be a “dumped” pet. As a young adult female…
Honestly, I’m not a fan of letting cats outside unless the space is both safe from intruders and the risk of the cat becoming scared and running away. Once the cat has become frightened of “something” in the yard, she may generalize and blame the outdoor environment even if the intruder or scary sound/smell has disappeared.
I wouldn’t put pressure on this cat. If she’s comfortable inside, make some places available to her for viewing pleasure out a window. Eventually she may regain her courage and be willing to take a chance on outdoor exploration once again. But being allowed to interact with feral kitties that may be infectious, or have contact with dogs or traffic that could injure and possibly kill her, is a huge drawback to the unfenced yard. So I wouldn’t rush the reintroduction until/unless safety measures can be taken. Good luck!
Original post by Cat Advice (Emotional): Purina® Cat Chow® Mentor Amy Shojai and software by Elliott Back
