When to let cats out

[BadgersBiggestFan]

I realise I can google this but I’d rather be able to have an actual conversation if that’s ok.

My cats are 7 months old now and was wondering when to let them out? Do they need to be spayed first?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Every time I even let them in the garden I have a major panic thinking they might run away.

Yes we let our cat out once he was neutered at 8 months old. At first we took him into the garden and surrounding area of the house on a harness to get used to it, we did that a few times then let him out without a harness when we were in the garden, we played with him etc. I was so scared that first time!

Definitely neuter before letting them out or you'll end up with kittens.

Most owners I know aim for about 9 months (big enough to look after themselves) although some have gone out earlier.

Let them out when they're hungry and feed them when you call them in so they associate coming home with good things.

They will roam much further from home if they aren’t neutered before you let them out. They should also be microchipped, just incase h y g t lost and someone finds them or they get hurt and taken to a vet.

They are still quite young to be out - once they are spayed and vaccinated make sure they aren’t out after dark. Most cats killed on the roads are under 12 months and they are killed at night.

Have you thought about a microchipped cat flap. They could come and go a bit during the day, then you could lock it once it gets dark?

Will definitely keep popping out to the garden with them and get them used to being called in with food I think.

My vet told me something about a voucher to get them neutered so I’m getting in touch with cats protection regarding this as we don’t want kittens. Well, it would be lovely but I’d want to keep them and would hate to think of them going to bad homes!

Happy to keep them in for another couple of months if that’s what’s advised as would be absolutely devastated if we lost them.

I thought night time would be safer as less cars on the road so I’m glad you mentioned that as I’d actually been planning to let them out properly at night because they seem to prefer it outside at nighttime.

Hadn’t thought of a cat flap! Our doors are glass though.

Glass door? No problem!

You need to get them neutered ASAP whether they go out or not! Are they both girls?

Ohhhh fancy Milk!!

Why? viccat
I’m planning to anyway as fairly certain I want them to be outside cats but if they weren’t going to be why couldn’t I leave them in tact? Yes, both girls.

This is a good article about letting them out at night

www.petplan.co.uk/blog/debate-on-allowing-cats-out-at-night/

Thanks!

Getting a female cat spayed has other health benefits - mainly reduces the chances of getting certain cancers.

Also I think there is always a chance of a cat escaping. Also there will be behavioural issues of your cats going into heat every few weeks

There is so much information when you get a kitten. I am totally overwhelmed at times! Food has been a particular mine field for me.

My kitten got spayed two weeks ago so I have been getting loads of advice.

Ahh I see! I don’t want them in heat don’t they shout all the time when they are?

🙄

Not only will a female cat on heat shout all the time - all the local toms will come and shout outside your windows! And leave your cat "presents". And try and break in.

She is gorgeous

Uneutered females are a pain in the arse when horny. No need to put them through that or you when they shove their arse in your face.

Neuter, chip and insure before letting out.

Omg 😂😂😂
I definitely don’t need that in my life!

Uneutered females can go psychotic too.

I’m so worried about them having an operation though. Are they terribly poorly after it?

It barely phased my little one. She was five months. Didn’t even need a collar.

The vet gave me a painkiller that I was able to squirt into her mouth like calpol. She was off her food for a day but was back to normal pretty quick.

Kittens bounce back quickly from ops. They can be neutered at 4 months so tiny compared to 7 months old. The op is less risky than young cats having kittens.

I can’t imagine them having an operation when they’re as tiny as they are at 4 months. I definitely don’t want them having kittens.

A lot of stray mum cats that get rescued with their kittens from outside were pets that got lost - a female cat in season will attract all the local toms and often ends up chased far away from home and gets lost and has their kittens outside.

As others have said there are various health benefits to early neutering, at 7 months they are likely to have their first season any day now if they've not already had it - neutering before they go into season for the first time reduces cancer risks later in life so really it should be done as soon as possible now.

The anesthesia is not any more risky to a kitten than it is for an adult cat and neutering is a very quick operation.

In my experience vets used to neuter at about 6 months and we always started letting the cats out after that. Our most recent pair were already neutered (at Battersea) when we collected them at 9 weeks. They started going out alone between 5 and 6 months old.

All sorted out with cats protection and I’ll be calling the vet on Monday to arrange their op.

Will he let them stay together? They’re always together