Outdoor cat owners: how soon did you let kitty out?

mummyroysof3

glad you asked this as im concerned about keeping our kitten in all summer as it will be difficult with 3 kids home...im a silly for thinking about getting a lead untill im sure he wont run off?

manda1205

We let ours out at about 16/18 weeks, but only for an hour and thats with us constantly checking him and calling him back again. We did try to let him out a bit earlier but he used to get scared and run back indoors. Once he'd been neutered and healed he went out all the time(this was when we put the flap in too) but used to shut him in a night. Now he's 1 he's in all day and out a lot of the night(however have got up in the night to find him in conservatory with the dog) we do live in a very quiet village so dont have to worry about him so much.

balletshoes

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

glad you asked this as im concerned about keeping our kitten in all summer as it will be difficult with 3 kids home...
im a silly for thinking about getting a lead untill im sure he wont run off?[/QUOTE]

thats why we had our kitty on a harness with a long lead to start with, so we could grab the lead quickly if he looked like he was about to do a header over the garden fence .

Kimberley

Kittens should NEVER be allowed outside until they have been Neutured.

Mupette

11 weeks, Georgie had her first set of jabs and OH was itching to let her out.

Just in our garden, no other cats or foxes dare come in and she is never allowed out alone.

Just had her final jabs today, and her id tag inserted, vets will allow her to be spayed at 5 months. Until then it will be supervised outdoor play.

OH was fine about letting her out a little early, had cats all his life and was adamant she would be fine

Fire_Fox

Statistically entire males are the most likely to become strays, entire males and kitten-cats are the most likely get knocked down by a car and any unneutered animal allowed to roam free is at risk of all sorts of STDs. Your poll is heavily biased as you have not allowed categories for those who have indoor only kittens, a cat run or cat proofed garden. Seeming resilient and being resilient are two different kettles of fish, perhaps your kitten is bored of Crayolaville?

Mupette

Georgie is too small to get out of the garden it's totally enclosed, and before gizmo goes out we will be putting netting up to stop him from leaving the garden and pooping in others gardens.. will post piccys when that gets done (fingers crossed this weekend) gizmo will not be out until then.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

- it's up to you whether you keep it indoors until it's been "done", it won't harm the cat, as such, one way or the other.

Errrr except that they can get pregnant or impregnate others - adding to the huge overpopulation that already exists!

crayola wrote: »

Also - and there's no nice way to say this really - our flat is not ideal for having a kitty toilet installed. Although it's a large 3-bed. there simply isn't anywhere obvious for it to go other than a spot that is a little too close to the kitchen for comfort. We want rid of it asap.

Even if your cat goes outside you should still keep a tray indoors - both my cats go out and both still use the tray when needed. It's often the first (and sometimes only) signs that there is a problem (ie blood in urine, runny bottom etc) - if you don't have one, how are you going to know this?



Mine are never allowed out until after neutering (jabs done well before this) - so 6+ months.

*doodle*_2

Mine were allowed in the garden from the age of about 4/5 months. This was, however, strictly supervised. They could go roaming from the age of 10/11 months but this was when they figured out how to jump the 6ft wall that I have.

I must say that they first unsupervised roam left me a bundle of nerves until they came home.

*doodle*_2

Even if your cat goes outside you should still keep a tray indoors - both my cats go out and both still use the tray when needed. It's often the first (and sometimes only) signs that there is a problem (ie blood in urine, runny bottom etc) - if you don't have one, how are you going to know this?

Absolutely this. I still have two litter trays that are only used when there is a bit of damp in the air. My lad refuses to get his fur wet.