Advice on letting kitten out for the first time

[HoollyWugger]

5m old kitten, inoculated, chipped and chopped, and is starting to get very determined to go outside! I've taken him round the garden on a harness a couple of times; he ran out between my legs one evening last week and has been desperate to get out again ever since.

But ... how can I be sure he'll come back?!

Photo attached of him trying to see outside

He's a cutie!

He won't want to run off, even if the outdoors is exciting! Let him out not long before meal time so he's hungry and will want to be back relatively soon. Go out and explore the garden with him too, so he knows you're there with him. If you have a cat flap, find a way to clip it open so getting in and out is easy to start with.

Mainly, trust that they know where their love and food come from and won't run off!

Don’t forget to run upstairs and crane your neck to keep eyes on him when he goes into next doors garden.

Fretting until he’s home is also common.

With mine I took them outside quite a few time first just holding them.

Agree with just before a mealtime ie 10 mins before normal food time.

Build up gradually over a few days, in daylight so you can see him. One he’s done it a couple of time he should be fine. Presuming he knows his name and comes when called.

Used to put margarine on the paws of our cat when I was little, they can flow the scent home apparently, this was in the 70s!

So .... I let him go in the back garden, with dreamies at the ready to get him back in. That worked twice.

Now I can't find him in the house and think he escaped when I opened the door for a delivery

Funny how different they are. My girls just aren't very brave, took weeks to get them to stay outside on own without me -- actually Chunkster kitty still doesn't like to be outside without her sister (beautiful but dim so unafraid of many things). They are terrified of cars so won't go in front garden. Not keen on cold, wet or wind, either.

Cats are very territorial & even fonder of a safe, warm meal & kip place, OP. Have faith he wants to come home.

After four hours ... I heard him, from under the bonnet of a neighbour's car! Thank god he's alright; home now, warm, fed and grooming.