Letting cats outside.

LittleTinker

If you keep your cats in the house for weeks at a time, the only place they come to know is the inside of the house.After a couple of days, take them out the door with you and set them down something nice to eat on the doorstep straightaway.Keep doing this for a few days but just leave it a little longer before you put the food down.YOu will find that if a noise scares them or they get spooked by anything, the only place they will run to is back inside the house.Hope that helps.

Maz

I've only ever kept any new cat indoors for 2 days maximum. They were usually screaming to get out by that point and they always returned. Maybe I've just been lucky!

Smithyp1

Hi everyone, first post on here so please be kind!

We have 2 male kittens (brothers), who are 17 weeks old called jasper and riley.

We are at sometime wanting to let them out to play but were wandering at what age should this be done and are there any tips or advice on making sure they come back !!

We are gradually letting them out the front door and wander very close to the the path and the same in the back garden, they love sniffing around and watching birds etc, but we are always on guard ready to pounce on them if they wander too far.

In the house they are very loving, love to play and be handled, so they obviously feel very safe and loved, but any advice on the above would be a great help.

Thanks

Amanda65

Hiya

We did not let ours out until after they had had their injections, and then intially when we were in the garden. They really didn't wander too far - only a few gardens down for a while - and always came back with a call and rattle of the box of cat treats :rotfl:

matimage

Never!
I am sure your neighbours would agree.

Smithyp1

Well, when they are in the house and we rattle the treats box, they run to me straight away so we thought that would be a good trick to use, but when we let them out the front and they wander down the path and then do it, they don't want to know!! Cheeky little monkeys !!

Magenta_Wolves

An old wives tales, but we've always done it - "Rubbing butter on cats' paws helps them find their way home if they are lost"

MrsNozzle

We've got a kitten (Rufus the Ginger Ninja ) and he's nearly six months old. He'll be neutered in the next week or two and then he'll slowly be introduced to the big wide world.

According to our vets, kittens shouldn't be let out until they've had both sets of injections and they've be neutered/spayed. It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment of sexual maturity and imho it's irresponsible to let them out if they haven't been done in case they procreate and make unwanted kittens.

HTH

Smithyp1

MrsNozzle wrote: »

We've got a kitten (Rufus the Ginger Ninja ) and he's nearly six months old. He'll be neutered in the next week or two and then he'll slowly be introduced to the big wide world.

According to our vets, kittens shouldn't be let out until they've had both sets of injections and they've be neutered/spayed. It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment of sexual maturity and imho it's irresponsible to let them out if they haven't been done in case they procreate and make unwanted kittens.

HTH

Totally agree..both of ours have had all the injections and will be 'done' in the next week or two.
I suppose vets will differ in opinion on when to introduce them to the outside world but definately dont want to keep them indoors all the time.

annaangeluk_2

My kitten Poppy is almost 7 months old. She's had both sets of injections and will be having her "bits" done in a few weeks. Vet has told us that a pregnancy / birth would be v dangeous becasue she is so tiny.

Pops was the runt of the litter and I'm a bit worried that she might be too small to go outside. Am I worrying over nothing?! Will she be able to hold her own against bigger cats?? Also next door have big dogs, they don't go out in the garden that often but is it still safe to let pops out?!

Once she's recovered from her op I would like to let her out as she's an "only kitten" and seems to be getting bored in the house!