When did you start letting your kitten outside?

[cattyycat]

We have a 13 week old kitten and plan on putting in a cat flap and letting her wander in and out independently eventually. But not sure when is the best time to do that. She loves going in the garden - absolutely loves it! But we only let her go out there supervised at the moment.

I’m not sure she’s old enough to wander free yet, and I worry she’ll wander away and not know how to get back / care about coming back!

What do you all think?

Absolutely not until neutered, microchipped and recovered post op.
If she’s already going in your garden supervised that will be letting her get used to scents and she will be fine. They really are clever.

I was distraught when my adopted cat escaped. She had been a house cat- purely because the previous owners never got her done- and, although I did get her done immediately, I thought she was perfectly happy as a house cat. I was wrong! One slightly open window and she was gone. I thought I’d lost her. She came trotting back, happy as Larry, an hour or so later.

BTW the rules are, when you start a thread on the litter tray, you have to pay the cat tax and post a picture of your cute bundle of fluff, congratulations on becoming a cat slave 😊

We recently let our 4 month out supervised but we have a safe enclosed garden be couldn't even nearly jump the walls yet. It started with our other cat literally letting him out the microchip cat flap by her standing there to activate it for him! He comes in when we do, he only likes short bursts out there. Recently we have the back door open and he just likes to sit at the back door washing and watching. I think it comes down to their personality and temperament. If they're showing signs of wanting to start escaping and roaming, then being her back in. You know your own cat...if she isn't bothered and follows you around then you can relax a little. Agree she needs to be spayed but short little supervised tastes outside isn't going to be a problem as long as she's safe. Be warned she may have some funny tummies initially as she is exposed to different germs and eats random things like flies. Also check you don't have any serious toxic plants out there.

Ours were 7 months when they went out. We still only let them out during the day/evening and they both have tracker collars on.

We have a walled bit of garden that they can get out of but not back into (one of them had to be rescued after sitting on the other side meowing sadly for about 2 hours 😂). Little cat goes around the neighbouring gardens (under the fence) but not that far. Bigger brother just lazes around the garden
We will probably let them go out more freely when they are 12 months or so and the little one is bigger.

Has she been spayed? Has she had all her jabs? Is she microchipped? Is she being wormed & deflead monthly?

Cats can get pregnant from as young as four months old & it’s really bad for their health as well as the complications with kittens etc.

Also get her an AirTag/GPS tracker.

I didn’t let mine out unsupervised until about 7 months old, they were spayed and had all their jabs and knew they couldn’t climb the fence.