How long to keep kitten indoors before letting out

[Gisellenextdoor]

Hello, we got a kitten 3 weeks ago. Just want to know how long do we need to keep her in before she goes out in the garden independently.

I let her out for about 10 mins today, she enjoyed to so much she started running away from me and definitely didn't want to come back in.

We don't have a flap, but we want her to explore the outdoors under supervision.

I know that, shock horror I also know they don't need to be in season to get pregnant.

I was making a point that that first season usually motivates people in getting them fixed.

I wouldn't let them out until at least nine months personally.

Before that they are too small and silly and wouldn't stand a chance against an adult cat in a fight, or on the roads.

Getting pregnant so young could kill your kitten so do not let her out until she has been neutered. They can get pregnant from about 4 months old and they are too small for all that it entails. Do not do this to your kitten.

Also very unreasonable to let your kitten be outside even with supervision without being fully vaccinated. Get the jabs as a matter of urgency.

Kittens have very little sense. They're adventurous and risk takers. If you live near even a slightly busy road I'd hold off for a bit.
My rule of thumb is not before they're 6onths old, fully vaccinated and spayed.

Thank you, I'll take everyone's advice of course. I don't mind keeping her in at all, it's just that she seems so keen.

Until she’s fully vaccinated and neutered.
kittens can become pregnant.

I certainly wouldn’t be letting any cat out until they are fully vaccinated and neutered there are some hideous diseases about . Why not cat proof your garden that way she will always be safe .

My two girls are 10 months. We haven't let them out yet. Live beside a small but busy road. Would it be unkind to keep them as indoor cats?

My son has indoor Siamese that are 11 months old , they had a catio built this summer and the boy cat in particular really loves to go out and get some fresh air . It’s a nice compromise as there is absolutely no way they are going out otherwise . The alternative is to cat proof your garden , this wasn’t an option for us as my son house shares with my sister and the garden is huge and they live by a very busy road so if the cat proofing failed it could be a disaster .

We are starting building work soon so once that's finished we are going to get outdoor space for them. My garden is also quite large so can't cat proof it. They are the most docile gentle cats I've ever met so can't justify letting them out into the world. We play with them a lot, I'm here all day with them and they have free reign of the house .

After being spayed and vaccinated I've always gone for 6 months or just after.

Catproof your garden if you want to keep her there. That means high fences with overhangs installed so she can't jump them (she can jump higher than you think). Otherwise don't let her out at all. Indoor cats live a happy and interesting life as long as their owners pay them enough attention!

No, not at all, as long as you're providing enough enrichment/entertainment for them indoors.

I’m American and it is frowned on to let your cats out here. I have three. Two will follow me onto the patio and then rush to get back inside and one won’t even consider sticking his head out. They have things to climb on, toys, a shelf by a window to sun themselves. I live in an area with a lot of coyotes and outside cats are often caught by coyotes and eaten. I don’t even know anyone with an outdoor cat.

For me it would be at least until fully vaccinated and spayed. Even then, I’d probably wait until 8 mo the or so. And then it wouldn’t be an open the door and off you go scenario.

I would be going into the garden and interacting with them. And I would be getting them used to the fact that hearing the shake/rustle of a Dreamies packet gets them charging back in. Treats are given for one reason only here - coming back in when the packet is rustled!

The most important thing is spaying. Owners of female cats need to take far more responsibility around this. Breaks my heart to think of such young kittens getting pregnant. Obviously, owners of males should take the same responsibility, but those owning females are the ones who can make more of a difference.

As everyone else has said, she needs to be chipped, vaccinated and neutered first.

But when you do decide to let her out, I strongly suggest you do it just before meal time.

For example, if food usually hits the bowl at 6pm, let her out at 5.55 for the first time and then make an almighty racket getting the food ready so she comes running back in. Give her a bit more time each day rather than jumping into a full two hours at once.

One thing to be aware of with female cats. If they go through heat or have kittens their risk of suffering from mammary cancer is about 90% higher than if they don't. I got a rescue cat that had just had kittens and lost her at the age of 15 to it and it was devastating to me.

I'll always spay them before their first heat now as I couldn't bear going through that again.

Thank you so much, very helpful x

We did not let ours out on her own until 7 or 8 months but we did get a little harness so she could explore the garden under supervision for a while first.

Marking place 🐈‍⬛