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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Letting kitten out for the first time

38 replies

C1239 · 19/12/2019 22:33

We have had our kitten for 2 months now (she’s now 7 months old) , I know it’s probably time to start letting her out but I’m worried she will wonder for miles or get run over ... we live on a cul de sac but there is a road near by out the front, the back garden backs onto a field so I’m thinking it’s best to encourage her in and out of the back , but any tips of how to start the process?! Keeping a cat as an indoor cat is mean on the cat really isn’t it?

OP posts:
twoturtledove · 19/12/2019 22:34

We have an indoor cat and she loves it. When taken outside she runs back in as she prefers the indoors!

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 19/12/2019 22:39

My cats don’t go outside, they kick up a fuss if I even suggest it. They will happy sit by the door and watch the world go by. They sometimes go out on a leash into the garden. I’d be scared at this time of year anyways a neighbours cat didn’t come home and was found frozen to death

GizmoGremlin · 19/12/2019 22:40

No advice but I'm wondering the same. Our kitten is due to be spayed mid January so am aiming to let her out early spring but worried over similar things! Also live on a quiet cul de sac, but near a main road

Original poster
C1239 · 19/12/2019 22:41

I was thinking I could take her outside in the back garden sometimes on a lead when I’m at home just to give her a bit of outside time and keep her indoors the rest of the time but is that a mad idea?!

OP posts:
MrsFoxPlus4Again · 19/12/2019 22:43

Do that to start with, once she starts going out she’ll come back when she wants and she’ll come back however she wants. They do their own thing no matter what to teach them lol

Aloe6 · 19/12/2019 22:45

Absolutely not a mad idea. You would be keeping her safe by having her as an indoor cat. It’s not mean or cruel.

Spinderellacutituponetime · 19/12/2019 22:49

I would say let her out at the back just before mealtimes you start. I always shock biscuits to get mine back in so they come when they are ‘called’. I butter their paws too ( old wives tale but I’ve always done it. The quality of life cats get being outdoors is obviously better, joe wants to be locked up? I don’t really get the indoor thing. Cats are independent and like to roam.

Spinderellacutituponetime · 19/12/2019 22:50

Sorry! Typing too quickly! * to start and shook! And who not Joe! 😂

Aquamarine1029 · 19/12/2019 22:50

I would definitely keep her indoors.

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 19/12/2019 22:50

Please tell that to my cats I have to carry them outside on the leash and even with the dogs and everyone in the summer they sit by the door and stare at us as if we are mental

Lindy2 · 19/12/2019 22:52

Most cats do really love to go outside. I'd like mine to be an indoor cat but it would be cruel as she loves the freedom of being outside and gets really fed up even just staying in on wet days. We've settled into a routine where she goes out for the morning and then comes in to sleep all afternoon.

For the first couple of weeks when she started to go outside we would be with her in the garden while she sniffed around and explored. One day when we were in the garden she just jumped over the fence and had clearly decided the time was right to go further afield. She reappeared about 15 minutes later.

We would then let her out for around half an hour, building up to an hour or two. She's a very greedy ex stray so generally comes back quite regularly to check if any food has appeared in her bowl.

GuppytheCat · 19/12/2019 22:56

We've just started letting ours out.

Start when she's really hungry, would be my advice. Have some string or a fishing rod toy handy to lure her back, plus some food. (And make sure you have shoes on so you can go out after her!)

GuppytheCat · 19/12/2019 23:13

Watching our kitten when it was raining yesterday was very funny. She was so indignant every time a drop landed on her nose/tail/back/leg and had to twitch or flick it off.

winesolveseverything · 19/12/2019 23:26

I've got two 13 week old kittens, and they are now allowed out now they've had all their vaccinations. I've left the back door open and gone out and pottered- they soon followed me. They haven't tried to stray too far at all, they really are quite cautious. I stay out with them for 15 mins or so whilst I'm cleaning out the guinea pigs but leaving the back door open so they know they can go back in whenever.
They've had a fab time exploring the grass and chasing leaves. A run round the garden is much better than a run round the house, plus my poor Christmas tree gets a reprieve.... 😂

Today was the 3rd time out for them and I did leave them once I'd finished outside but kept an eye on them from inside the house. They came back in after about 20 mins and put themselves to bed as they were so tired!

I tend to let them out shortly before they are due some food- they will soon be back when they are hungry...

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 19/12/2019 23:59

@winesolveseverything please say your pets are spayed Grin

GizmoGremlin · 20/12/2019 00:03

I take her out on a lead in the garden and she is very offended by it! She loves the house!

violetbunny · 20/12/2019 00:30

We took ours out on leads in the garden, slowly increasing the amount of time and frequency. After about 6 weeks we let them off the lead but hung around in the garden with them.

We also got them practicing early with the catflap. So when we were done walking them on the lead each time, we would post them back through the flap into the house Grin By the time we let them loose they knew exactly how the catflap worked.

If you let them loose for the first time, try and make sure it's a day when you're at home. Leaving something outside with their scent on it can also help them find their way home.

teentree · 20/12/2019 00:33

I've got two 13 week old kittens, and they are now allowed out now they've had all their vaccinations.

That's a typo or a joke, right?

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/12/2019 05:26

13 weeks is way too young to be outside. It’s like giving a toddler free rein.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/12/2019 05:46

I have a 7 month old kitten who I’m planning on keeping as an indoor cat. I do feel a bit bad as he’s obsessed with trying to get out the door.

Fluffycloudland77 · 20/12/2019 06:40

Could you cat proof your garden?.

GuppytheCat · 20/12/2019 07:14

13 weeks is about what our cat rescue recommends too. Ours is a little older but not much. It depends where you live, surely.

LittleCandle · 20/12/2019 07:20

I didn't let my kitten out until he had been fixed and had healed from the operation. I went out with him the first few times until he had his confidence, then he was off on the ran-dan the whole time, hunting for stuff to bring to me.

teentree · 20/12/2019 07:24

13 weeks is about what our cat rescue recommends

And are they neutering kittens at 12 weeks?

GuppytheCat · 20/12/2019 07:32

Actually, I’m a doofus - 4 months is what they recommend, and I clearly can’t do maths in the morning.

Yes, they neuter very early.