Hello!

I'm looking for some advice/tips

We rehomed a pair of black kittens (brother and sister) from a animal shelter in early December. They have both been 'done' and had all injections etc they are chipped too

They are now about 4and a half months old and I think the time is coming soon to let them outside. They are so full of energy and think it will be good for them to stretch their legs a bit more! They've gone from being very shy timid black dots into two very energetic kittens!

Any advice? I seem to have morphed from someone who was never a cat person into a fretting mother of two (not so) tiny balls of fluff. I'm very nervous that they will go and not come back, or get lost, or worse.

We on a quiet part of a housing estate so no busy roads close.

Also any advice on cat flaps? Every house around here seems to have cats too! Don't want others coming in

Thanks in advance

My first thought is that 4.5 months is very young still.. unless your garden is inescapable. I would personally prefer to leave it a bit longer.

As to letting them out for the first time, I believe the thing to do is to let them out before dinner time for a short period of time so they come racing back when they hear the familiar noises of food being prepared. I would also make sure someone is outside with them keeping an eye for their first outings so you know where they are going and you can call them in before they go too far.

Cat flaps.. if your cats are microchipped and you can afford one then you can get flaps that will only let through your own cats by scanning their chips.

Is 4.5 months too early? I'm getting conflicting advice! Some say its fine as long as they have had their ops?

I think nature dictates when they would naturally start to explore their surroundings. If they're keen to go out then its time.

I'd suggest that they get their Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) vaccine (can be spread by scratches in fights with infected FeLV cats) done in addition to their two cat flu vaccinations plus the usual worming and anti-flea/mite stuff. As well as their chip implants, I'd also suggest a collar tag with the name of cat + home address.

If it were me, I'd also suggest leaving it until the weather starts to get a bit warmer, e.g. the end of February but that's only my own personal preference.

Thanks, they seem very keen to explore everything! But I guess that's kittens.

They are going to the vets on sat so I'll ask about the FeLV too.

I didn't let The Beast out until he was 'street legal' and had suffered his initial jabs.

It couldn't come too soon, towards the end of his house arrest he was becoming a real pain; I had to sneak out to put the laundry up, and couldn't open a window far or he would try and squeeze through.

When his release date eventually came, I was quite fortunate, in that it was summer time and the garden is enclosed with a high fence all round.

I poured myself a glass of wine, put a blanket on the grass with his toys and waited to see what would happen.

After all his fuss and escape attempts, when he was actually allowed through an open door he was quite nervy; he sniffed about, but kept looking to see if I was still there. He scratched the fence, rubbed up against the gnome, pooed in the corner, then lay down on the blanket biting his mouse.

Then he got bored and went back to the sofa.

Initially I would go out a sit whilst he went outside, then I would leave the door open and let him just go out as he pleased, and I would just keep a watching brief.

First hiccup was when he climbed the tree and couldn't get down, and I hear crying so rushed out to find him about 7 foot up looking terrified. Cue getting out the steps and fishing him down. He has never climbed the tree since.

Then as he got more competent, he would scale the fence and walk on top of it, but would make a bid scene about getting down again.

Next hiccup was when he managed to scale the fence and escape into the world proper, our garden backs onto a bridle way and the drop the other side is bit more and there are brambles and such.

So he got over ok, but couldn't get back so I go into the garden, no sign of Beast but I can hear pathetic mewing the other side. So I have to put my shoes on walk round the estate to pick him up and walk back with him.

The neighbours thought this was hilarious; me walking around carrying a small cat.

The final issue was when he got better at climbing and could go where he fancied. Beast had gone out, and I was watching TV when the doorbell rang.

Was nice neighbour from two doors down carrying a purring cat

The Beast was sitting on their patio looking through the glass, wanting to come in, they had a dog, and knowing I had a cat didn't want to let it out in case The Beast was spooked and ran a mile. My daft cat had got the wrong flipping garden

IMHO OP be with them on their first few outings and watch like a hawk.

When you watch them, you can see what they discover, maybe a hole in the fence they can sneak through but is difficult to return, and you can judge their climbing to see if they are able to get home.

Regarding cat flaps, I would say they are a must if you want moggy to be a free cat and ramble about, it is so convenient, especially if they are adventurous; they can faff about and you know they can get back in whenever.

Small tip, although you may know anyway - tape the flap open at the start to get them used to going through a small hole, when they have got the idea drop the flap.

If you are worried about other cats sneaking in, there are flaps which are triggered by a sensor which is attached to the cats collar. The Beast managed to lose every collar he had so I never bothered.

It's an interesting time when moggy starts to discover the world, I think it's when you start to discover their true personality; will they be a roving adventurer, or decide that the world is a bit crap, and the sofa is the place to be.

What we did was waited until she had been done, it was a condition of getting the cat as it was from a rescue place, and that her stiches had cleared up and her fur had grown back.

So this was about 6.5 months when she was allowed out. Sorted out the cat flap first, we also got a microchip one too, then took her for stroll in the garden. Very nervous at first, but once they know the humans are there and it's fun, they'll enjoy it.

Then came posting the cat through the cat flap. We stupidly didn't scan her microchip before we put it in, but worked out really well as she learnt this hole let's me in and out.

Left her litter tray out for a few months just in case.

Although after she was allowed out windows became a problem. Instead of just going downstairs, out the cat flap, she found roofs terribly exciting. So be careful once they are out too.

Good luck with kittens first adventures.

Thank you for all the advice.

My other half is a refusing to allow collars due to the danger of strangling (think his previous cat had a problem) so the cat flaps that work with collars won't work so I think the microchip version is what we'll do. I've read some reviews and it's either 5* excellent reviews or 1* poor reviews with nothing in the middle!

The kittens are in to everything so I'm sure they will enjoy going outside! I'm nervous that they will get lost but I think I will prewarn the neighbours we have new kittens that will be allowed out. I think I will wait another month or so and hope it warms up a bit more.

^You'll be letting them out BEFORE feeding time, right ?!

We found the safety buckle feature very useful. We were buying collars every fortnight though. Ours is tortoiseshell so I wanted a reflective collar. Just type into amazon safety buckle cat collar loads will come up. Or visit a pets at home so you can see the collars in the flesh so to speak.

Re collars, I find these ones very good, they are not safety buckle as I found some of them came off too easily when the cat was not actually in any trouble, these ones are leather and then have a section of elasticated material so if they do get caught they can slip out of them

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...ilpage_o02_s00

I was worried about letting my kitten out last year too. She didn't seem to be getting very big and just seemed too small to go out. In the end we waited until she was about 9 months I think. We bought a kitten lead and went out in the garden a few times with her on that first. Never had any problems since and she's never gone much further than neighbouring gardens we don't think

Mine was over six months old when I let her out for the first time. She made friends with next door's cat pretty quickly who showed her the ropes. She didn't go very far and didn't go out the front.

A previous cat was seen by me a lot further afield. She always followed me home.

My vet always recommends not letting them out alone until at least 6 months, the reason being that under that age they aren't strong enough to be able to defend themselves in case of other cat/dog/fox attacks.

Much too young IMO, they wouldn't have a hope against a neighbour's dog, fox, other cats, cars etc

6 months if you must let them out.

Have you asked your neighbours if they mind you letting your cats out? Have you checked the area for hazards?

My cat is about 7 months old and hasn't been out yet. Having lost my previous cat due to a car, I decided I'm only going to let her out if she makes a song and dance about wanting to go. She's by the patio doors a few times but whenever doors have been open allowing investigations into big wide world she's never ventured anywhere near. In an ideal world I'd like her to go out but I'm in no rush.

My cat Noodles didn't leave the house until she was one. She had no interest in it at all where as my other cats were around 3 - 4 months old when they wanted to go outside. I sat with them on the step and watched them first of all so they were alright. My subsequent cats had Noodles and what other kittens I had after to learn from but Noodles was at a disadvantage being the first one and a bit of a lazy scaredy cat. I think it depends on when they feel they are ready really.