When should I leave Cat out?

[welshnat]

So we have recently gotten ourselves an 11 week old kitten called Cat she is very interested in going outside as her last home had high garden walls so she was allowed out. So...when should I leave him out into my garden? I let him have a wander yesterday and he seemed so happy.

[cozietoesie]

What's his current vaccination status? He definitely shouldn't be going out at all until he's fully protected, I think.

[welshnat]

Fully vaccinated/worked and flead

[welshnat]

Meant to say wormed not worked

[Fluffycloudland77]

Has cat been neutered though? They can run off and get though small gaps and then you've got a snack sized kitten on the loose.

[cozietoesie]

I think I'd be taking Fluffy's point on this one. At that age, they're definitely snack sized and also not sensible. Moreover, cats can reach maturity real early - 4/5 months say - and when they get a small dose of hormones it's over the hills and far away as soon as they spy the smallest gap. (And you may think you've got a secure garden but until it's been tested by a kitten/young cat, you just don't know - most of them really aren't.)

Myself, I've not in recent years let cats out until they're vaccinated and neutered.

[cozietoesie]

PS - I exclude The Lodger for obvious reasons: he was always a lost cause, coming to us from the street as he did.

[whattheseithakasmean]

Our vet advised that our kitty could go out 1 week after her 2nd set of vaccinations. She now enjoys scampering around our garden for short periods though we keep an eye or her & don't let her out in the evening.

It is obvious when a girl kitty goes into season & then we will have to keep her in until we can get her spayed.

[welshnat]

He is booked in to be bet checked tomorrow and will be booking to be neutered ASAP so once that's all done how do I encourage him to come back when he's let out? He seems too little to be out on his own

[Fluffycloudland77]

They don't usually neuter until 5 months at least.

I wouldn't have let mine out at 3 months. Too young, too small and clueless.


You'll have to train him to come when you tap the food bowl. So when you feed him tap the the dish with a fork and he'll learn to associate the noise with food.

[cozietoesie]

Let them out before food so that the clink of a dish or rustle of eg a Dreamies packet will have them scampering back. Otherwise, I'm afraid that you just have to grit your teeth and bear it. That moment when the tail first disappears over the garden wall is gut wrenching - and even when they mature, a significant variation from their routine can have you pacing around, I'm afraid. It goes with the territory.

For my outside-going boys, I've always been outside with them on the first few occasions. I think there's something about seeing you against the backdrop of the garden that helps the notion of 'home' in their memory. (There's probably some smell as well.)

My really sneaky tactic (circumstances permitting) was to let them out more at first when the wind was up and the rain was coming in sideways (with no birds.) Quite a few of my boys have been left with the impression that inside is food, warmth and carpet (and me of course!) whereas outside is a cold, wet and cruel place. (A bit like the inhabitants of Shangri La in Lost Horizon.) A hopeless endeavour at this time of year, though.

Best of luck.

[sashh]

Agree with let him out hungry and also if the weather is nice go out and read a book or something so you can keep an eye on him

[welshnat]

So he's 3 months now so if I wait until he's 5 months and neutered then it should hopefully be raining at some point and I'll let him out then

Just reread my op and realised half of it was she and half was he just to clarify he's a gorgeous boy

[cozietoesie]

I wouldn't worry too much about the rain. That's just me being sneaky because my boys have all been Sybarites.

Otherwise - sounds good. Be ready for the possible stress, though - there's no avoiding it, I'm afraid.

[welshnat]

I'll just get over the stress of him going out and about on his own when I'll be worrying about DS starting school