Hi, i have had my new rescue cat for 3 weeks now and last night introduced her to the garden. She was fine, sniffing about and exploring and didn't go too far but when our neighbours cat saw her they had a bit of a stand off and my cat got scared and ran into the house. The fact that she knew to come back in reassured me. Will keep going outside with her for a while but i am worried about her with other cats. She was in a pen with others at the rescue place so she is used to them but others in the neighbourhood might not be as friendly. Am i being an over worried parent?! Has anyone experienced similar? For those that think she should be an indoor cat, that is fine. Am not going to force her outside and there will always be a way in. Thanks.

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Cats will usually go out of their way to avoid each other if they are solo types (some are more sociable than others). Conflict is a last resort.

The Horizon program on the BBC a while back was really interesting and told you loads about this. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b02xcvhw - not on iPlayer just now according to that but I daresay you could find a copy of it somewhere online).

Traffic is always more of a worry than next doors mog ....

Thanks, think i just need some reassurance as my last rescue i got was an indoor cat. Hopefully traffic shouldn't be too much of a problem as outside my back garden there is no road, just a big area of grass. Thanks again

As the new kid on the block, I would guess your cat needs to establish her territory. I'm sure she'll get bolder the more often she goes out.

My cat firmly put the neighbourhood cats in their place when she moved in. One was especially put out as he was used to being top cat and getting what he wanted. She hissed and growled and yowled and after a few times of him trying to put her in her place he gave up and leaves her a lone now.

Your cat just needs to claim her territory and the more she goes out the more she will do that.