Sending my Kitten into the big bad world

dixie06

I have a new kitten he's 12 weeks old and due to get his 2nd lot of jabs and microchipped this week. What age is OK for him to go out in the garden? He's going mad for the back door everytime I go out there and is staring longingly out of the patio doors! Any advice on when he can go out and how to make sure he doesn't go far and comes back he's only ickle and would hate for any harm to come of him.

LittleTinker

I have always let my kitties out of the house fairly quickly. Obviously they dont stay out there but they get a taste for outside life.

Just open your door and let her peek her head out. You will probably find that she will run back in if she hears any loud noises or hears things she doesnt like.

They are pretty cautious at that age and wont try to run off.

My new kittie is about 10 weeks old now and happily plays on the patio when I have the doors open

Millier

I had this same dilemma when my 2 were kittens. they were only 12 weeks old and seemed sooooo small but they were itching to get out and really playing me up.

The first time I let them out I went out with them and they stayed by my legs shaking the whole time (different story when they were sitting by the french doors!!). Any dodgy noises and they ran back inside.

It took a good couple of weeks before they would go out without me - which I was happy with because I was soooo worried. They are 7 now though and love it outdoors.

Good luck!!

Lucy x

whitewing

Awww...this is such a sweet thread.

divadee

I have always kept my female kittens in until they have been neutered approx 4-6 months. They can get pregnant very very young, which is extremely dangerous for them and I have seen kittens die from trying to give birth so young.

BUT as yours is a tom cat i would say that after he has been chipped and his injections given, then play it by ear and stay out and play with him for a while. He will soon get used to the great outdoors and will start chasing a piece of grass etc..

MrsTinks

Second Divadee's advice... keep females in till they are spayed Well that's what I did at least! I have a girl and a boy who are now about 6-7 years old and had them since they were 7 weeks old. They ran riot indoors and would pester me to go out but I knew there were loads of un-neutered males where we lived and I didn't wanna risk anything so I kept both in till they had been done...
Although if you have solid wood fences to 4+ feet and no holes then I might risk supervised play in the back garden but the meowing to get out will only get worse if you do let the little one out and then keep it in again when it gets near spaying time...

dixie06

Thanks for your advice guys. He's definately desperate to get outside, although this morning when i got home from work my DH hadn't shut the inner door so he almost shot out but got to the threshold stopped dead and sniffed and went back in. If i'd have gone out with him he prob would have went out. So i'll give that a try Wed after injections. Its all pretty safe in the garden 6ft wooden fences etc so i'm sure he'll be fine....the little tinker.

poppyoscar_3

I'm going through the same thing at the moment with my 'kitty'.

Only thing is he's a great big bruising tom cat!!!!! I moved him back from France about two months ago (big house, big garden, fields beyond, to terraced house on estate with pocket handkerchief sized garden and other similar gardens behind with PEOPLE in).:rolleyes:

He is not the bravest puss cat on the planet, and whilst despearte to get out, only has to hear someone breathe and comes bombing back in like someone has tied a firework to his tail.:eek:

No cat flap either, so daren't let him out without me being home to let him back in.

Happy days!!!!!

nappentass

My girls are getting on now, but I have a specific 'tune' I whistle for each one which I started when I got them as kittens, whistling them at feeding time and whenever I wanted them to come in (reward with a treat or fuss)

When we moved I was worried about them straying to far - no worries - one goes out of the garden - all I do is whistle and she'll appear

HTH
Jill

dixie06

Let my ickle puddy cat go out today, he had a sniff round went back in, had another sinff round went back in, etc. etc. didn't seem to keen had visions of him galloping around the garden. Oh well i'm sure he'll get used to it all!!

supersmith

my 2 are about 5 months old now and getting 'done' next week. we've been letting them out with us in the garden to keep an eye on them for a week or so... they were very unsure at first but now love it and keep trying to scale the brick walls to have a look at our neighbours gardens too! not letting them get any further than our garden until they're neutered though. They both love string so have found that a useful ally in getting them back inside... or off the wall