New kitten advice on going out needed

[mrsmilesmatheson]

New kitten is now 16 weeks old and clearly wants to go outside.

I've lost 2 cats earlier this year and the thought of him getting lost/into trouble terrifies me.

The vet says he should be kept in until he's been neutered at 6 months ideally so he doesn't impregnate any local females. That seems like a very long time.

What has everyone else done?

I kept him in until a week after neutering.

It's one of those non-negotiable things though, partly because if they get killed you'll never forgive yourself.

Don't forget to get him microchipped.

I second what Fluffy says. But I don't understand why your vet wants to wait until he's six months before neutering. We do it at four months and five is pretty standard.

The cats you lost this year - was it in road accidents? If so I'd be reluctant to let him any further than my garden (you can get stuff to make gardens impossible to escape from) and would certainly keep him in at night.

The vet won't neuter until at least 5.5 months they say. Unsure of why.

We lost one cat to a stroke and one who hadn't been with us long escaped, got lost and was handed in at the vet (deceased) the vet says not a road accident.

My dh has let him go in the garden once but he's a bit of a nutter (kitten not dh!) and I can't imagine it being easy to get him back and he seems so little.

On the plus side, he loves playing with our dog so he's not bored indoors.

And what is this stuff you get to stop them escaping the garden?

We have 5/6 foot high fences all round but he simply climbs them with his claws.

Our vet suggested a harness and lead to avoid this dilemma. I'm afraid I just couldn't do that.

In the end we just waited till after neutering and hoped for the best. He disappeared for hours but did eventually return. A few weeks later he caused a commotion by managing to climb on the ridge tiles of the house opposite - 2 storeys up.

He's calmed down a bit now he's 8. I realise this post doesn't help you at all.

I let mine into the garden, but it's escape-proof for a kitten. My adult cat can make the leap onto the neighbour's wall, but kitten still too small. For now...

I'm getting him neutered and chipped this week (5 months) but he just seems so little to be allowed to wander alone.

Some vets don't like to neuter early, mine wouldn't for some reason.

4 months is snack sized to predators.

You only have to go through it once, once he's neutered he can go out.

Oh, and something like this will keep your kitten from leaving the garden. Expensive though.

This is the sort of fencing addition that I've seen www.protectapuss.co.uk/cat-fences/

I've seen someone who has had it done (not necessarily this company) in an average size London garden. I think it cost her around £200 for the stuff and her friend did it (and it apparently took a whole day). If you have to pay someone to fit it then of course it will cost a lot more. It is very effective though.

My husband is a builder/carpenter so I'm going to show him these sites.

I think for the time being the kitten must just stay in much as he'll hate it it's the responsible thing to do all round.