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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

Un neutered kitten - will he roam

28 replies

Teddypops · 26/03/2020 08:01

I have a 4 month old kitten. He was due to be neutered at some point in the next month. I tried to bring this forward slightly to Monday but his appointment has been cancelled.

He seems very curious to go outside, and now that the weather is nice we will be outside in the garden more.

Will he want to roam further if he is not neutered?

I have no intention of him staying out more than a short while.

He is not chipped yet either as this was to be done at the same time as the neuter.

We live in a rural village.

OP posts:

FredaFrogspawn · 26/03/2020 08:02

I’d keep him in to be honest. He may get beaten up by feral Toms as competition and he may father a litter.

bodgeitandscarper · 26/03/2020 08:03

Yes he will almost certainly roam when his hormones kick in and risk becoming lost or injured. Please keep him on lockdown too, mine are in until around a year old, they are too curious and prone to getting into trouble when younger.

Angel2702 · 26/03/2020 08:04

Too young to be put anyway. I would definitely be keeping him in until he is chipped and neutered. Many recommend not letting them out until 10 months.

YesItsMeIDontCare · 26/03/2020 08:05

Oh yes he will roam. But as a kitten it is highly unlikely that he will roam far at first. Cats tend to increase their territory slowly. Fights would be a big worry though as unneutered smalls are a threat to the big toms.

Harness and let him explore the garden for now?

Aquamarine1029 · 26/03/2020 08:06

He needs to be kept in. I would keep him as an indoor cat permanently.

BlueGheko · 26/03/2020 08:07

You absolutely should not let him out, 4 months is far too young for starters and if owners of unneutered females have the same mindset, well it doesn't take a genuis to work out the result. It is highly likely that people will start dumping their unneutered cats as soon as they start spraying, please don't add to problem, there is going to be a huge rise in strays as it is.

Fluffycloudland77 · 26/03/2020 08:11

He’ll roam, straight under the wheels of a car. You’ll have to keep him in & it won’t be fun for either of you but it’s exceptional circumstances.

thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 08:19

I agree with Fluffy.

AhNowTed · 26/03/2020 08:23

"I would keep him as an indoor cat permanently."

That's terrible advice and not helpful to the OP. Cats are hunters and explorers and need to go out. Why anyone would imprison a cat is beyond me.

OP there's good advice here

www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/cat-care-advice/introducing-your-cat-outside

JorisBonson · 26/03/2020 09:27

Definitely keep him in. Outside is a bad place for an unneutered tom.

Namethecat · 26/03/2020 09:30

AhNowTed

Are you a vet ?

Soontobe60 · 26/03/2020 09:32

We had kittens this time last year and although they were neutered, we kept them inside until the end of summer, when they were 8 months old. As soon as they went out, all the local toms came calling!
Keep him in until he's a few months older, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Original poster

Teddypops · 26/03/2020 12:37

Thank you. I will keep him in.

OP posts:

JorisBonson · 26/03/2020 22:51

👍 nice one OP

sweetkitty · 26/03/2020 23:06

I used to work in a vets and nearly everyday we had a cat v car accident in. It was horrible. My first cat met his end this way too so I vowed never to have an outdoor cat again. Mine mooch about the garden with us in the Summer but that’s it.

AhNowTed · 27/03/2020 00:04

@Teddypops

OP your cat is a bit too young, 6 months seems to be the general online consensus. There plenty of online info about when to let them out.

But please let your cat out.

Keeping cats inside permanently is cruel.

BecauseReasons · 27/03/2020 00:16

Keeping cats inside permanently is cruel.

Agreed. We'd probably be safer if we were locked inside at all times too, but what would our quality of life be?

However, best to keep him in until he's been neutered.

Original poster

Teddypops · 27/03/2020 06:28

He won't be a house cat don't worry.

We are rural and not very close to a main road.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 27/03/2020 06:30

I’m glad you’ve decided to keep him in for now.
But pics???

Original poster

Teddypops · 27/03/2020 08:17

Ha ha he is so delicious!!

OP posts:

VivaLeBeaver · 27/03/2020 08:20

Is he a Siamese? Aren’t you worried about him being stolen?

Original poster

Teddypops · 27/03/2020 08:46

He is half Siamese. We do live in an area of the country with a very low crime rate. I couldn't keep him in long term.

OP posts:

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2020 14:45

He’s beautiful. We’ve always had pedigrees and let them out.

Darling departed boy was a Bengal & Dh always said if anyone catnaps him I want £2k to have him back.

VivaLeBeaver · 27/03/2020 15:27

He’s beautiful. I have a Birman kitten and darent let him out. He’s 10 months old now. I am thinking about having the back garden cat proofed so he can go outside though.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/03/2020 15:37

Which cat proofing companies have you looked at Viva?

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