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6 months before going outside?

7 replies

LIVIA999 · 23/03/2019 13:25

What are people's thoughts on letting kittens out for the first time?
Ours is four months old and has been neutered and chipped etc.
She is desperate to get out but I'm so worried. We have had her for three months ish so she's used to the house and us but all she wants to do is go out.
Some people say to wait until 6 months but others say earlier.

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dementedpixie · 23/03/2019 13:30

Mine went out supervised from about 5 months. I would pick them off fences and out of trees. You could try a cat harness and lead if they went out at a younger age (my sister did this until she could get her cat neutered)

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BigButtons · 23/03/2019 13:32

Think I let mine out before 6 months. It was a bit nerve wracking though.

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Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 23/03/2019 13:48

Mine started going out at about 5 months. They had escaped several times previously anyway...

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viccat · 23/03/2019 18:40

At four months most kittens are still completely crazy with no sense of danger or ability to judge the safety of what they do. They are also very small still at that age. I certainly wouldn't let a four month old roam freely outdoors.

What is your garden like, is it enclosed on all sides (i.e. a terraced house for example, with gardens around)? Definitely don't let her anywhere near roads, most RTAs involve young cats.

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neversleepagain · 23/03/2019 19:00

I waited until ours was 6 months (we got him at 3 months). He was never bothered about going outside though and thankfully now at almost 8 months he has never come close to leaving the garden, he doesn't jump fences either. If he hears a noise he comes rushing inside to hide behind the sofa. I am hoping he will remain a scaredy cat and not wonder far.

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LIVIA999 · 23/03/2019 20:24

I think I'm going to try @dementedpixie idea and get a hardness. All she wants to do is go out.
She escaped this morning when I was gardening and was so happy pelting about chasing bugs and flys. Im terrified she'll run off or run to front of house. The side and back is fairly secluded but neighbours fence is hanging down at points where they haven't fixed it so she could easily get in their garden.
I think I'm going to try and told off another few weeks and then let her out with us.

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LIVIA999 · 23/03/2019 20:26

Just realised she's nearly five months actually. Six days off it.
So I am going to try and wait a little longer.