Kitten going out/other cat advice

[snowstorm2012]

Hi, I hope someone can advise!

We have a six month old kitten who started going out a month ago after being jabbed/spayed. She loves it, no cat flap though so just through a kitchen window which we close at night.

A couple of times now there's been another cat and they hiss at each other, our cat runs in so I close the window but then she wants to go out again. One time the other cat nearly came in.

So my question is - do I just carry on letting her out and let them 'sort' their issues so to speak or should I keep her in?

Thank you!

Photo 🥰

She’s gorgeous!
I would let her continue to go out. Cats encountering other cats is normal and they will sort out the neighbourhood “hierarchy.” It’s rare that cats will actually fight, they make threatening noises and raise their fur but they prefer to avoid actual attack (nine times out of ten anyway).
Also if you keep her in at night she’s pretty safe.
If she starts to appear stressed (afraid to go out, weeing where she shouldn’t etc) then you may need to try to secure your garden a bit more (v difficult w cats though as they are such climbers) or go out and firmly “warn off” the other cat out of your garden (just appearing and using a firm tone will probably scare it off).
She’ll be fine.

Yes she is thank you - not that I'm biased 😂

Thank you so much, I'll reopen the window and let them crack on, she does love going out so am pleased you said that.

Thank you, much appreciated 👍🏼

Keep an eye on it though. In theory cats don't fight as much as they make threatening noises. One of mine however will start a fight in an empty room and has cost me a fortune in vets bills as a result (he loses so the costs are mine not another owners)

I wouldn't stop her going out, but I would think about getting a microchip activated cat flap. You don't want another cat following her through the window and terrorising her in her own home as it can lead to behavioural problems in the long run.

Thank you both for replying also - I will keep an eye on it just to make sure she's okay - I work from home which helps so I'm around.

She's in at the moment sleeping so all okay.

Appreciate the replies thank you ☺️

I second the recommendation to get a microchip cat flap.

When our cats first started venturing out, they had to deal with other neighbourhood cats and get some territory form themselves. They very quickly learnt that if they ran back in the cat flap, the other cats couldnt follow, and seemed to help with confidence to challenge the other cats (not fighting but just creating a territory for themselves)

Thank you for replying also! Unfortunately we can't get a cat flap (this house is rented). I'm keeping an eye though as I work from home.

She's not really liking the cold nights at the moment anyway so tends to stay in after dark.

Thank you all