New kitten

[YearOfYouRemember]

We have had our kitten for five weeks and she is roughly 5.5 months old. She hadn't shown any interest in going outside and would sit at an open door and still stay in. Then yesterday she ventured out a few times, not for long and came back when called.

This morning she shot out the minute I opened the door and ran away from me twice before I was able to get her and bring her in.

We have two other cats who are 5-6 years old so it's a process of keeping certain doors open and shut to keep all cats happy but it feels like the older cats are missing out as they sometimes are confined to outside/utility room. There's a cat flap in there which is why the door is shut. Sometimes I put the kitten in our room when she's been naughty to give the older cats free rein.

So, when can she have freedom do you think? She was dropped off at the rescue place, stayed there a bit then came to us. We live on a close that has a few cats and dogs and sometimes idiots drive too fast. Our back garden is huge.

[dementedpixie]

Is she chipped and spayed?

[YearOfYouRemember]

Yes and yes.

[SpoonBlender]

As soon as you like then. The usual recommendation is to keep them in for two-three weeks, and given she's gone out and come back she'll be fine. Can she navigate a cat-flap by herself?

With ours we've always waited until it's raining, then open the door to the garden to let them explore - they come back in very happily!

[YearOfYouRemember]

I don't know if she can work the cat flap yet. She's so tiny though.

[viccat]

Ideally they should only have supervised outdoor access until they are a bit older - 10 months or so. Especially this time of year with fireworks season right round the corner and the evenings getting darker. They are still very much kittens and not able to stay out of danger yet at 5-6 months.

A microchip catflap would be ideal for controlling who gets out and who doesn't, is that an option?

[YearOfYouRemember]

We used to have that but boycat won't wear a collar so we had to disable it.

[viccat]

It's not operated by a collar, it reads the cat's microchip.

[dementedpixie]

Our catflap reads the microchip not a collar. Miner don't wear a collar

[Dollymixture22]

I have a microchip car flap that I will be a able to control through my phone! My kitten is nearly five months and not shipped or spayed yet so can’t go outside alone yet. Not sure she will be strong enough to open the catflap yet. I put the door on her litter tray last week and she got stuck inside!!

[YearOfYouRemember]

Has anyone got any recommendations for a microchip operated cat flap door please or is there just one and I should google for suppliers? Thank you.

[Aprilislonggone]

No pics no advice.
Thems the rules op....

[dementedpixie]

Mine is a sureflap one

[YearOfYouRemember]

. April. Everytime I posted I thought about posting a photo but I didn't want to assume anyone would want to see her…

[Aprilislonggone]

Ah what a beauty!! Love black cats!!
Very envious!!

[carbuckety]

I dint know about these either! Have googled and sureflap seem to be the people.

[Longdistance]

MN rules, you post a photo!

She’s gorgeous 😻

[YearOfYouRemember]

Her she is with her ginger mate.