Should I let my new kittens outside?

Question

I have adopted these 2 gorgeous kittens (1 boy 1 girl) at 5 mths old from friend who is moving house.
They have been living with us for just over a week. I know most of you don't think cats should go out, but they are desperate, any time we go out they try to rush out the door and are always staring longingly out of the windows.
I would love to let them out in the garden when I am there, but I'm worried that they will run off and I won't be able to catch them (it's quite a safe neighbourhood, but there are lots of big adult cats about). Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,Jo

Answer 1

Congratulations on your new family members!

I just have to say you should first off make sure they are vaccinated, this is very important, especially with other cats lurking about. Then get them either collars (that release if caught on something for safety purposes) or have some other form of ID for them. You should also get them spayed and neutered as soon as they are old enough. Don't declaw them, if they do get away from you they will be very vulnerable to predators and other cats. These may seem like obvious things but I am always surprised how many people don't think to do them.

Now if you do want to take them outside, remember you will probably have to do this quite often because once they get a taste for it they can't help themselves from trying to get out at every possible opportunity. Be very vigilant. Cats can also be trained to walk on a leash, I have tried this but mine is just to fiesty for it. I'm sure they will be ok with you there, but you have to really watch them just like you would a child. If you start teaching them now that they can go out and play with you, then it is possible as adults they won't try and run. I have seen many people walking down the road with a cat in tow. Good luck with them, cats are sooooo much fun!

I have had my cat for 5 years, she is an indoor cat, and I do take her out on occasions to play (apart from the times she escapes through my legs out the door!!!).

Answer 2

According to what I've read, outdoor cats become prey to larger animals, vicious humans, traffic, and diseases much more often than strictly indoor pets. I've read that indoor cats can live up to 20 years but outdoor cats are lucky to make it to five years of age.

If you have a secure, enclosed yard, you might review lists of plants that are dangerous to cats which can be found on the internet, ensure your yard does not have those plants, and ensure your enclosure has no spaces through which other animals can enter or your kittens escape. Then let your kittens play there under your supervision while they're young. Even that's a risk, though, because you just never know what could happen.

On the other hand, if you do not have a secure, enclosed yard, and don't want anything happening to your kittens, then they should be kept strictly indoors at all times.

(Both my cats are kept strictly indoors. I only let my older cat out when I had an enclosed front yard. The wooden fence was about six feet tall and had no openings under or through the slats from which he could escape or other animals enter. He could freely sit outside in the enclosed front yard, but once I moved he was no longer allowed outside. My older cat is 11 years old.)

Answer 3

My best friend, a cataholic, has the coolest thing: from her bathroom window, an enclosed ramp runs to a fenced, closed-top yard area just for the cats. She said it cost her about a hundred bucks to build, but it's SO much fun for the ones who want out, and they're still 100% safe. I wouldn't let them out without something of that sort. You can't protect them, and unless you're incredibly fast, you won't be able to catch them if they start running. And if one goes one way and the other, the other, how do you decide which one to save? Anywhere there is a street is not a safe place for a cat. Glad you care about them enough to ask! some people don't.

Answer 4

I say no way. I have never let my cats outdoors. I just got 2 new ones. One is 5 and the other is 6. One of them is always trying to get outdoors. It is so dangerous for them to go out. Yes, they can run away and very fast. I live in a safe neighbourhood too but, they could get hit by a car, attacked by another cat, dog or other animal. The adult cats roaming will most likely attack them. You also never know what sicko might find them and torture them for kicks. Take them out on a leash and harness, that way they will be safe and with you, and get air at the same time.

Answer 5

You are not going to be able to keep them in your garden if you let them out. They have barely had time to become accustomed to their new home. A very important factor in your decision is whether they have been spayed and neutered. If not they are just reaching the age of sexual maturity and outside could mean disaster.

It is not a good time of year to let them out anyway. The days are getting shorter, rains and snows are coming. You don't want to be out in the cold and dark searching for a kitten who didn't come home.

They'll be year old in March and a little more perspicacious about their adventures and they will have been in the house for almost a year and may find the outdoors somewhat intimidating.

Answer 6

They're too young now. Also, with the excitement of being in a completely new environment they may run off to explore and it could be hard to catch them. I may be a little bias since I keep all 3 of my kitties inside. I'm afraid that if I let them out they could get hit by a car, attacked by an animal, or taken in by another family. If you do choose to let them go outside at least wait till they've been neutered/spayed and had all of their shots. Otherwise, the female kitty may come back with little ones. Oh yeah, remember that once you take them outside they won't be satisfied with being an indoor cat anymore.

Answer 7

Do NOT let your kitties outside! I work at a vet hospital and we see too many dead kitties from the things they can encounter and get into outside. These include traffic, other cats, mean kids, big dogs, poisons etc. It would be okay to purchase a kennel or "Kitty walk" enclosure to put the cats in supervised while you are in the garden, but don't leave them out there unattended unless you want to spend lots of vet bills putting them back together after they get in the road. Definately spay and neuter your pets immediately, they could breed any time now and are old enough to reproduce. They are probably brother and sister and inbreeding cats is not cool.

Answer 8

Jo? Have you gotten the shots on these two cuties? Have you had them spayed and neutered? If you haven't, I'd take them ASAP and have it done or you'll soon have babies all over the place.... I have two female cats, both spayed. They live ONLY in the house, I purchased MANY toys and drag toys and cats huts and geesh! all manner of things, mostly from the dollar store. My cats are VERY active and happy and the only thing they want most from the outside world, is the occasional bird or squirrel to come in the house instead of teasing them from the trees. Why risk their lives and/or their health? Keep them safe indoors from the cruelties of the outside world.

Answer 9

whats up, My vet suggested to be on the secure edge someplace between 9 and 3 hundred and sixty 5 days finding on cat's length and adulthood and the region the place you reside. If there are multiple different cats around and he or she might desire to get attacked (scrambles can frequently take place between neighbourhood cats) or there's a hectic highway which you need to to leave it till at last as previous due as available. additionally, little woman cats can, um, get knocked up! And my pal's cat have been given pregnant at 5 months (the 1st actual time she became enable loose of the abode, wee soul) so i does no longer enable her out till she's been fixed the two. desire this helps - there's a good little bit of dialogue over the indoor-exterior cat undertaking and the whilst-to-enable-them-out undertaking as you have already stumbled on from fairly some the solutions! i think of once you're apprehensive she's too little and susceptible then pass along with your instinct and wait somewhat.

Answer 10

Having them a week is not long enough. You should keep them inside for at least a month when you get a new cat.

However, at 5 months old they are not old enough to go outside yet. They don't have the mental capacity to remember where they came from and you'll never see them again.