Letting kittens out

[Motorina]

Hi everyone!

My kittens will be spayed on Wednesday, when they will be exactly 4 months old.

They are desperate to go out and explore. When and how do I start letting them do so.

I’m in a quiet rural area.

Photo for kitten tax.

Thank you!

I wouldn't let them out until they're at least six months old, ideally older. 4 months is still VERY young.

The last two cats we have had we've used a harness on them to key them wander and play in the garden, and intend to with them new kittens

Obviously it depends on the cat being amenable to a harness. It lets them get used to outside under supervision

Really? Wow. Okay, thank you, that's super useful.

That will mean autumn/winter before I let them out, which probably will make staying close to home more appealing, too.

Yep, 6 months minimum age. 4 months is snack sized.

I think we started letting ours out (accompanied) at about 5 months. They were such good escape artists that it seemed better to prepare them. Free access from 6 months or so.
Love your kitten btw

Update... the little horrors were spayed today. They each have a giant shaved patch, and the dinkiest little incision.

The vet has told them quiet and calm, plus food little and often.

They didn't listen.

They've eaten the first of their 'little and often' and clearly want more. They're also happily climbing the walls, curtains, swinging from the chandeliers* and jumping on each other's heads.

Help???

(*Metaphorically. I don't have chandeliers.)

(@Fluffycloudland77 they weigh 2.1kg each. Not even snack sized - more like half a mouthful!)

Oh, dear. Nothing for it but to give them a bit more to eat and wait for them to settle down. Glad to hear that they are feeling so well!

Me too, although I've spent £40 on teeny tiny jumpsuits that the little horrors won't wear!

More food being administered. Also, I'm not letting them play with the puppy, no matter how much they all want to, cos she is more than 50 times heavier than them!

Thank you.

It’s the ketamine. They’ll crash soon.

When their pupils go back to normal you know your nearly there.

@Fluffycloudland77 - ahhhh that explains it! Definitely not there yet 😂

(We stopped using ketamine routinely on our paediatric lists after we did a patient survey and got lots of feedback like, “Everyone was very nice but the giant spiders in the ward were scary”. Weird drug, does odd things to the brain. Lord alone knows what they’re seeing.)

@Fluffycloudland77

It’s the ketamine. They’ll crash soon.

When their pupils go back to normal you know your nearly there.

🤐

They are already in tuxedos and ready to hit the town I see!

The eyes😄

They are gorgeous little horrors!!

I left mine in until 9 months as it coincided with spring. I wouldn't let them out too young as they're a danger to themselves. I have older cats my kitten followed out on her first venture

Thanks, all. Yes, they were properly stoned, and all dressed up ready to hit the clubs!

Thankfully they seem to have returned to normal today. By which I mean they're bouncing around totally ignoring that they've had major surgery.

I guess that's cats for you.

Will be keeping them in til they're at least bigger than 'mouthful' and I trust them not to get lost. Much as they might sulk about it!

I completely misread this as “lending kittens out” and was horrified! Was very ready to come on and express my outrage. I now see that is completely unnecessary 🙄😂

I don't lend them.

I rent them.

For a very reasonable fee [Wink]

Haha!! 😂
As long as you are benefiting from it…😂
My second thought was about how awesome it would be to borrow a kitten!!

Mine was abandoned just after he was weened. He looked after himself outside until we adopted him.

They are tougher than you think. He still spends 95% of his time outside in the summer and is quite capable of feeding himself.