Why aren't kittens allowed out?

[poppincandy]

I have two kittens aged 10.5 weeks. They have had their first lot of injections and are due to go back in a week and a half for their second lot.

Now I have read that kittens aren't to go out until at least a week if not two weeks after their 2nd lot of injections.

I have no problem with this per se, but one of our kittens, really really wants to go out when the children are playing in the back garden, and will sit meowing pitifully by the back door. What are the consequences if he went outside and was carefully supervised by myself, and not allowed to go out of the garden - if necessary I would even purchase harness and lead if that would mean you wise MN would say he could go outside.

There are two main issues with letting kittens out so young - the first is that their immune system needs time to actually process the vaccines that are given before they have decent immunity to those diseases. The second is that if they are allowed out unsupervised (so not an issue perhaps with your proposal) is that the larger cats in the area are likely to fight with them over territory. This is probably going to happen even when the kittens are somewhat older, but at least when they are bigger they stand a better chance of defending themselves, or at least getting away fast. A further issue you might also consider is that female kittens may come into season before they have been spayed so letting them out before that comes with a risk of unwanted pregnancy. Not a problem at 10.5 weeks, but could be an issue later on and once they have been allowed out it is quite hard on them to start keeping them in again.

Sorry didn't say in op they are two boys, so not so much an issue of being spayed, but they will be neutered when 6 months to prevent them wandering too far away, when out on their own.