Kittens, cats and roadsense

[Yukduck]

I met a new member of staff at work today and we got to talking about our cats. We have a 7 month old kitten who is just going outside now for a mooch in the daytime only. I am nervous of the road out the front. He is our first kitten and much doted on.

My colleague said she has had 3 cats/kittens run over in the past few years. This has freaked me out a bit as I thought cats/kittens generally (apart from when being chased by dogs or other cats) had some road sense. No one I know who has cats has had one killed on the roads.

Do kittens/cats often get run over? Do they have road sense? Reassurance or advice equally appreciated!!

Huge numbers of cats get killed on roads. The majority are young so the survivors do tend to develop some road sense.
Most get hit at night so train your kittens to come in for treats at bedtime.

Where's your cat-flap? I live in the middle of town, on a corner with a fairly busy-ish road out front, gardens beyond our house, and being on the corner, gives an L shaped area, (enclosed by terraced houses) of gardens to explore.

Little Monsieur (2.5 yrs) to my knowledge has only left the garden once. Big Bruiser MCat roams the gardens, out back. The cat-flap's in the back door, so that's their only point of exit. I wouldn't consider putting a flap in my front door, for their safety. Little M would just follow people, he's a very trusting little soul.

Is cat-proofing your garden an option?

*... they have a curfew, depending on when dusk falls, and are kept in overnight.

This is where I jump on to spread the word of cat fencing.

Google it.

Securacat
Protectapuss
Purrfect fence

And there'll be more...

Personally I've always just gotten a local handyman to do it. They look good though.

I was once coming home from the shops and found The Lodger sprawled in the middle of the (town) road having a 'personal' wash in the sunshine. That cat doesn't have 9 lives - he started off with 9,999 at least!

Funsponge So sorry to hear of your sad loss and so recently. That is beyond sad.

rubbish we have no catflap ..... yet. Dh was going to put on in the back door this weekend but I think not now. I am going to keep to the 7pm curfew and kitkit has not been out beyond that time yet.
As far as I know (and kitkit is a bit of a "lad" and hates his fun being curtailed!) he has not gone into the front garden yet as we have burglar deterrant plastic spikes on top of the side fence and side gate (put there by previous owner to keep cats OUT as he had no pets and was a keen gardener). Kitkit is still mooching in our garden and over the back fence, rather than heading for the front and the road.
I never knew it would be such a worry. It's like having a toddler again! Thanks for all your replies.