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How long before I let kittens outside?
fitnessqueen
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I am getting two kittens from my neighbour on Bank Holiday Monday. They will be nine weeks old then. I have just been over there to see them and they are all running around her garden (there are five in total) with their mum and loving being outside!
Obviously when I get them I will keep them in initially but how soon do you think I should leave it before I introduce them to the garden. It's been 23 years since I last got kittens so I'm a bit rusty!
Obviously when I get them I will keep them in initially but how soon do you think I should leave it before I introduce them to the garden. It's been 23 years since I last got kittens so I'm a bit rusty!
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When you do start letting them out once they're a bit older, do it before they're due to get fed and supervise at all times. I know you can get little harnesses and stuff, but I do not recommend them.
Good luck with your kittens, I've read your threads and I'm in a similar position myself:(. I got my boys to help me and the children through this hard time and they have been a great source of joy and comfort to us, so I hope your kittens do the same for you:)
With two of my kittens, I did keep them in till they were neutered, but that was only because of particular concerns about them getting run over, rather than anything else.
If you decide to let them out soonish, as other posters said I would only do it when you are there to supervise, say for an hour at a time or whatever suits you. I wouldn't let them roam unsupervised until they are at least six months old, kittens can be very silly and get into a lot of trouble!
Hope they bring you much joy:)
Gertrude- thanks- I am hoping that my two boys and my new kittens get me through this awful time as well and I am glad that they have helped you
They are both fast asleep curled up around each other at the moment- the vet said they might be a bit sleepier than usual this evening.
I hope they bring you as much happiness as mine did..
I kept my two minxs in until they had been fixed.. we did let them into the garden under supervision initially, but they were happy enough inside until they realised there was an outside... then there was no stopping them ! I still insist on them coming in before dark though, and they do so quite obediently, most of the time !
One day, he is might be faced with the reality that he isn't
Because he is a pedigree, cost me a freaking bomb, I'm afraid to let him go out not only for his safety, but also if he gets stolen (it happens quite a lot in my area)
He is 5 months old now, every time I open the back door for the other cats to come and go, he shoots outside, then freezes still as he isnt sure whats out there in the big wide world outside the house!
He is a British Shorthair and most people say they're usually house cats, but I feel cruel for keeping him him, but afraid to let him out - any suggestions?
I think it would be unfair (and bordering on impossible) to keep him in when your other cats go out. He is bound to escape, so it would be better if you allowed him out in a controlled way and supervised. Has he been neutered though? If not, I would wait another few weeks till you've had him done.
I have had several pedigrees, I always let them go outside - but I keep all my cats in at night.
I was hoping not to neuter him as I'd like to stud him out eventually. He's a gorgeous chunky chocolate, arent BSH's delicious?.
If I didnt neuter him, would he be more likely to wander?
My eldest are neutered, they dont go further than my culdesac lol.
Hmmm, I'm in two minds now as I feel cruel to keep him him, yet dont want to neuter him just yet.
If you do not neuter him he will start to spray urine in the house and probably become aggressive towards your other cats as he reaches sexual maturity.
If you bought this cat as a pet from a reputable breeder he is presumably registered as being on the non-breeding register - that is the paperwork I always get with my pedigrees. No other breeder would allow him near their cats in that case and you will not be able to put him to stud. -- And if they thought you let him outside to potentially contract disease and spread it to their cats they would have a heart attack!
I had the same conversation with my neighbour who insisted he wanted to breed from the cats before he neutered them and would not believe it was not possible. He eventually discovered it for himself and the cats got neutered at the advanced age of 18 months - by which time they were fully grown and fighting every cat in the neighbourhood and being generally very problematic. Fortunately a year or two later they have now calmed down!
We didn't have her tagged until she was spayed either so thatw as another reason!!
I guess anytime after injections is fine though OP!!
(I posted that because I'm guessing you're also worried about them wandering and you might get some more tips about it.)
Regarding spaying- I would have thought that was only a problem if you allow them to reach sexual maturity- I'm planning to have them both done as soon as possible (vet said about 6 months old).
FQ I have let my female kittens out before spaying but as you say you need to make sure you spay promptly. Please don't leave it till six months - a previous vet wrongly advised me to leave it and my kitten banged into season dead on six months (vet was promptly sacked). I now always have my females neutered at 5 months - my subsequent vets have said this is fine.