Letting kitten outside

[vegisupreme]

I have a 7 month old kitten who I got when he was just 9 months old. He got neutered when he was just over 6 months old so is allowed to go outside now but I'm just so worried about letting him out!

He has been out in the garden a good few times and had a sniff around but he hasn't yet left the garden. I also have a 9 year old cat who goes in and out as he pleases with no problems but I'm just so worried about the kitten incase he gets hurt or something while he's out. I live on a fairly quiet street with a huge field behind my house so I'd like to think he wouldn't go far but I just hate the thought of losing him or him getting hurt.

Does anyone have any advice on this? Or could anyone share their experiences of letting their kittens out? Thank you!

No advice but Haribo, nearly 7 months old has been taken out into the garden on a harness and lead. He was petrified even though both of us were there for reassurance. He went into the shed and stood by the door shaking like a leaf. He's never tried to escape from the house either.

My kitten is 5.5 months.

Neutered about a month ago and loves the garden - probably been out for an hour at the longest but goes out a few times a day.

Hasn’t attempted to leave yet (only been going out for about three weeks).

@TroysMammy Aww bless Haribo. Maybe he'll choose to be an indoor cat if he's afraid outside, I secretly wish mine was afraid of the outdoors I'd feel so much more at ease if he'd just stay in and stop darting out every time the door opens!

@DelightfulBox that's the same as my kitten! I let him out everyday for a bit for him to get used to it but I'm just dreading the moment he leaves the garden! I know I'll just be on edge waiting until he gets back

You can cat proof gardens. We live on a quiet no through road with speed bumps backing onto a field & mine was killed on the road 8 weeks ago tonight.

@Fluffycloudland77 oh my god I'm so sorry. That really is one of my worst fears, sending you hugs they really are a part of the family

I live extremely rurally with fields all around. I have still lost 2 cats to the road - one was killed directly in front of our house. It is beyond heartbreaking when it happens. You could consider pet proofing your garden ( freedom fence, protect a pet etc) or building a catio as we have done .

@Sleepforever I'm so sorry to hear that, I can't imagine how heartbreaking that must be! I'm going to have to look in to cat proofing my garden, my older cat has always gone out and been fine (touch wood) but it can happen so easily it scares me.

Vegi , thank you. I hope you manage to secure your garden and your kitten enjoys exploring it xx

You can get creative with the cat proofing, there’s some ideas online.

It doesn’t have to be expensive, unless you’ve got the disposable income then you can get them to fit it too.

And thank you, it was a blow to lose him.

One of the forums I was on recently said they’d used large Perspex sheets attached to the fence to contain their cats. If they can’t grip 5hey can’t get to the top easily.

Unless they are exceptional jumpers they jump the first bit then scrabble up to haul their bodies up to the top of the fence.

Why not follow your instincts and let the kitten stay indoors most of the time, with supervised visits to the garden? My cat is a very content indoor cat because I worry about her getting hit by a car, stolen, attacked by other animals, hurt by psychopaths, poisoned, lost, or any number of horrible things that cats face every day . I will get flamed here, I am sure, I recommend keep your kitten safe indoors and so does my vet.