AIBU to let a 15-week kitten out into the garden?

[StuntNun]

I have had my new kitten for a few weeks and he is at that stage of attacking everything in sight. The kids are now afraid of him and have taken to shutting themselves into rooms so he can't get in. I'm having to shut him out of my bedroom at night because he won't stop pouncing, biting and scratching. He's been getting plenty of play time with different toys but he's such an energetic cat I think he needs more stimulation. I didn't let my other cat outside until she was six months old but I'm wondering whether it would be okay to let the kitten out earlier than this so he can burn off some energy. What age is it appropriate to let a kitten out of the house?

[molifly]

No don't let him outside he's far too little. Even 6 months is very young.

Are you going to have him neutered? this will help.

[Costacoffeeplease]

Not until he’s neutered and a bit more street wise. Someone I know’s kitten escaped when they were out and climbed a huge tree. He then panicked and jumped and broke both back legs 😞

[StuntNun]

He was neutered before I got him. I think he's just a boisterous little soul. My last cat wasn't quite so active and excitable.

[Bojangles33]

You need to address the behavioural issues - shutting the kitten out of rooms and ignoring it won't help. Have you tried feliway?

[StuntNun]

We're already using a Feliway plugin which has massively chilled out our older cat but had little obvious effect on the kitten. I am working on his behavioural issues by stroking and praising him when he's sitting quietly, ignoring him/walking away when he's roughhousing etc. I've also bought a variety of toys and he's getting plenty of playtime. He particularly loves the laser pointer and a stick with feathers on, and we also have a Catit ball maze that he'll play with on his own for a while. My boys are afraid of him pouncing, clawing and biting when they're sitting still but they're happy to play with him. It will take time for the behavioural training to work and of course he will calm down naturally as he gets older. I was just wondering whether some outside time (I have a very big garden) would help him burn off some of his excess energy. But from the replies I've had it sounds like he's still far too young for that.