Bengal cat owners...outdoor or indoor?

[Shapebandit]

We have a 6 month old Bengal kitten. When we first got her and took her for a vet check up the vet (a Bengal owner) advised that she should not be let outdoors until over a year old and preferably two years really. This is due to bengals having less common sense and not being safe out when young.
Is this common practice or a bit over cautious?
It's our first cat ever so no idea when they usually start going out either. Our kitten is getting to the stage of being keen to explore and trying to scoot out the door when someone arrives even though she is generally very happy indoors, always has someone home with her and has lots of playtime.

Has she been spayed and chipped already, Shape ?

We have a Bengal and we have cat-proofed the back garden (use Google to find out how). This is so that she can go out if she wants, but doesn't have full access to the great outdoors.
I've had plenty of moggies over the years and wouldn't say Bengals are more or less likely to stray or get run over.
They are however considerably more expensive than your ordinary cat so we prefer not to risk things. Also we live across the road from a field (a cat magnet) and have had 2 cats run over before.

True bengals are massively capable of looking after themselves. Ours killed a young fox once
To be honest, they are true outdoor cats and to me keeping them indoors would be cruel. They are not like rag dolls... I'd say bengals are pretty wild
Spayed, chipped, insured? I'd let them go and let them have fun.

She is insured and fully vaccinated. Booked in for getting spayed and chipped next week...

Depends where you live - I don't think they're suited for urban outdoors with busy roads as they don't have the road sense common moggies appear to have (in other words a fear of moving cars that has enabled moggies to survive. I have another breed who everyone advises to keep indoors (some owners won't even sell you a kitten unless it's indoor only). One of them loves outdoors, was absolutely miserable when we had an enclosed cat proof garden (lived in a city by busy road) and refused to walk on a cat lead. He also doesn't cross the road, is wary of cars, doesn't approach strangers. His half sister could happily spend the rest of her life indoors and wouldn't mind. She won't step outside for days through her own choice is the weather is bad, she didn't mind walking on a lead, and she's got zero street sense. If I'm in the garden, she'll stay around like a dog. If I'm not and she gets bored, she'll wander down the street, cross the road, etc.

It took us about 2-4 weeks when they were kittens being outdoors with them to be able to see their personalities and how they handle the urban outdoors.

I'd observe your kitten and see. She may be fine, she may not be.

My friend has a Bengal and he is an indoor cat as they live on a very busy road.