First Cat! 5 months.. please advise

[Sputnikle]

Hi! I'm very pleased to have my first ever kitten. He's 5 months old and orange. I'd love some advice please - I'm told I need to keep him in for a couple of weeks so that he knows where home is, but can I take him in the garden and things on a lead? How should I introduce him to the outside world? Apparently he was too scared to go outside where he used to live, but he was in an inner city environment there - we're in the countryside here with no road for at least 250m. Thanks very much.

Ahem, I think you forgot the photo...

Congratulations. It's a while since I had kittens but as I recall they didn't go out before they were spayed or neutered, and we kept all new cats inside for at least three weeks. The kittens must have been at least six months before they went outside, certainly they were cat-shaped rather than kitten-shaped.

I did try a cat harness. Every one of mine promptly lay down and refused to move. But other people seem to manage.

On their first trips out I made sure I was hovering behind them like a helicopter parent.

Thanks! He's so tiny and soft I feel really protective of him although he's running rings round my big dog. I've got him a rabbit harness which he seems fairly happy in. I'd like to show him round the garden a bit - I'd hate to be trapped in for 3 weeks! Six months seems reasonable - he's going for his jabs next week and will be neutered when he's settled enough. It's not letting me post a photo?

I can see the photo and he is gorgeous. What are you calling him?

He's nice isn't he? He's called Leon.

Lovely Leon. I do love a ginger. Welcome to happy serfdom @Sputnikle

He’s very cute! Does he want to go out?.

Go outside with him. Or if he doesn’t mind being picked up you could carry him outside. Just let him nose around and sniff the air for a few minutes. Make sure he knows his name and that you stay with him at first.

Aw OP how lovely that you've got your first cat!

Ok please don't feel guilty about keeping him indoors for at least two weeks. All of my cats have had free access to the outdoors, and even those who absolutely loved being outside were fine for their first few weeks.

This initial settling period is important. If your cat was to escape outside during this time it's sadly likely that he would be so spooked that he may dash off, loose orientation and get lost. He also needs to know his home is comfortable and safe so that he bonds to it and feels it's the best place to return to from the outside.

I would be extremely careful carrying him outside. Cats spook remarkably easily outside and can be very hard to keep hold of if they feel determined- plus you hanging onto him for dear life will not help your bond.

IME few cats like harnesses, again they can spook easily outside and get out of the harness.

I really would be tempted to just ride this initial period out and keep him inside. Be careful with open windows and doors in case he makes a dash for it.

Don’t let him out until he’s neutered and microchipped. Then let him out unfed and fairly early (so he has time to get back before dark!) Go out with him and play/give treats in the garden. It’s also a good idea to get him used to coming when called. Call when putting food down to make the association.

Let him out on an empty stomach and feed him when he comes in.
Be prepared to feel very panicky.

He's gorgeous.

Leon is a cutie! There's some excellent advice on this thread.

If you find he adores dreamies like many cats you can use this to your advantage.

Put them in a rattly metal tin and get him used to you rattling the tin before giving him some dreamies. He may well then learn to come running when you rattle the tin. This has saved my nerves countless times when DCat hasn't come home for a while.

//Thanks everyone, I'm really glad I came here to ask! This has been really helpful. Yes he really wants to go outside! So I will get that rattly tin. I'll keep him in till he's neutered and microchipped as well,although I've sometimes picked him up and stood in the garden when the dog goes out just because he's making a run for it. Is it normal for him to bite me while he's playing? And to wake me up at 5am to play?!

Very normal kitten behaviour. He'll grow out of it. You can encourage him not to bite your hands by using toys like feathers on a stick to play with him instead of your hands.

Thank you @CatChant that's reassuring! Sharp little teeth little lion.

@Sputnikle all very normal. They can be bitey and scratchy especially when they are so young. He will grow out of it.

Encouraging play with toys at arms length may help.

If he does grab you it's usually best not to pull away as that's when the damage can happen. Just hold still and they usually play bite and let go.

Oh and cats are naturally almost active at dusk and Dawn- know as crepuscular apparently. It can be somewhat frustrating although I rather like my cat coming in for a cuddle in the early morning!