New Kitten Advice

[lillythepink]

My partner and I are getting a kitten, but we are unsure whether to keep it as an indoors cat or an outdoors cat.

We do have quite a big back garden, but we have quite a busy road at the front of our house and I have seen at least one aggressive tom in the neighbourhood.

All advice appreciated!

[ganesh]

The road near my house isn't busy but cars sometimes come down it and fairly fast when they do. In some ways it's better for your cat to see the road with all the traffic,then they can see it to stay away.
I found it hard to let my kittens out the first few times but they seem quite timid and they haven't gone far. As you've got a big garden they are more likely to explore that first,but the choice is yours.
Mine kept asking to go out at the door and looking eagerly through our cat flap so I eventually let them out (at 4months) but I still lock them in at night.
I think cats should be able to be 'cats' and hunt and explore and even fight if they want to.
My advice would be to get 2 if they're gonna be indoors all the time,actually my advice would be to get 2 anyway,
How do you keep cats indoors in the summer when you have doors and windows open anyway.?

[lillythepink]

Thanks, Ganesh, that sounds like a very sensible approach to me!

[divegirl]

Hi, I have to agree with everything ganesh says. My kitten is 6 months old now and does go out although not for long....we get the feeling that she doesn't like the cold! She too started by exploring the back garden and one of the funniest momments so far has been the look on her face when her exploring took her a little too far and she ended up in the front garden...on the window sill....looking in as if to say ' How the bu**er did I get here?'. They soon find their way around and as their confidence grows....so does yours.

Lisa x

[janeo]

My cat has been going in and out - and hunting - day & night since she was about 4 months old. By nature, cats are NOCTURNAL hunters. She is scared of traffic so doesn't go anywhere near the road.

[ganesh]

I'm keeping my 5 month olders in at night just to keep them secure from other cats (they sometimes come in through the cat flap so I lock it at night) and anything else that might frighten them. Just until they've been neutered and a bit bigger so that they can defend themselves. I know they're nocturnal and I'll let them go out at about 6months.
They would probably be fine but we Mums do worry!!

[wolf63]

sometimes it is best not to know what our little angels are up to when they go out. As long as they are neutered by the time they venture out just leave them in peace to wander.

I live in a flat in a town centre, this restricts the type of cat that I can have. I adopted my last thug when he was quite old and just wanted a quiet life, he stayed in the house and toddled around his estate.

The question of 'indoor' or 'outdoor' cats is a no winner, we will never all agree. Bit like 'stay at home mother' or 'working mother'.

Good luck, you'll need it - kittens are monsters, cute little lovable monsters but still monsters.

[ganesh]

Yes,but like stay at home mums it's nice to have the choice.
And looking at the state of my curtains,sofa and carpet-I'd have to agree,they are monsters but I love em.

[lillythepink]

Thanks all, sounds like I'm going to have my hands full for the next few years...and beyond!

I was wondering how old male kittens should be roughly when they get neutered?

[ganesh]

A frequently asked question-I asked it a while ago and if you under the question under yours about spaying and stitches you'll see a few answers.
Seems to be 6months but females can come into season a bit early,so I had to do my pair (male and female) at 5 months ,especially as the boy was getting randy and trying to pin his sister down!

[lillythepink]

Crikey, sounds like you needed to get them done when you did!