Going outside

[popperdoodles]

Before Christmas we inherited 2 kittens from a friend who couldn't keep them. They have been neutered but due to it being winter and dark and horrible we have kept them inside. Now they are 9 months old and as the evenings are getting lighter we feel it's the right time to start letting them out.
My question is do you think it's ok to not let them have complete free roam just yet? I was thinking of letting them out at 3pm when I get home each day and bringing them in at dusk. On weekends they could have more time. Will they adapt to a routine or is it all or nothing? I want them to enjoy outside but don't want them to wander too far. Do you think my plan is ok?

Interested in your responses to this thread. My cat will be allowed out for this first time in 2 weeks and I was thinking of starting off just letting him out 10 mins before dinner for the first couple of days and gradually building it up. I'm so worried he will just run off though.

Today we took them out. One ran straight back in other one loved it although didn't go further than 5 meters from the house. After about 20 mins I brought her in and she meowed at the door to go back out. I have kept her in though, she settled quickly once she knew I wasn't going to open the door.
They respond well to the routines we have in place currently, for example they are shut out of the bedrooms at night and only scratch or meow at the time we normally get up. They seem to know when it's food time etc.

That's excellent Popper. Glad he didn't stray too far. I'm dreading the first time mine goes out of sight.

I always get mine in before it gets dark as night time is most dangerous. They go out when one of us is home and the rest of the time they stay inside. I got them used to coming back in by fitting loc8tors to their collars and training them to come back for treats when I beeped it. Worked well. If they go missing you can walk round with the sensor and locate them. Was good when they were little and getting to know their territory. Problem is it doesn't work behind walls or beyond 400ft. I now have pawtrack GPS collars, just trying them so will report back.

Our are let out at half 4 when we get in from wor and are always back before 9pm. Girlcat just wanders around the perimeter of the house and never goes far, boycat disappears and will just pop up at the front room window when he's ready for food and bed. In 4 years he has stayed out overnight twice and both times has been huddled by the front door by 5am so think he has realised he really doesn't like the cold