i'm worried about letting my kittens outside?

[leela]

I have two 3 month old kittens and and know the outdoor world exists and cry to go out, they have both now been fully vaccinated and i have been taking them out in the garden with me but the last two occasions one has been getting very adventurous and climbing a tree and getting on the garage roof! I worried if they go off they won't come back? how will they know where they live? are they too young to be going out?

[catlavender]

Hi Leela

I'd wait until they'd been neutered before letting them out of the garden though I know it is difficult to catch them once they're determined to get out there.

In my experience I've never known a cat not find it's way home, I'm no expert but I believe they follow their scent (and their tummies!)

You're doing the right thing by introducing them to the garden first. Perhaps when they have been neutered you could go out the back gate and see if they follow, introduce them slowly to more and more of the world outside.

Do you have a large garden? If so until they've been neutered perhaps you could put some of their toys etc out there to keep them amused and hopefully stop them thinking about what's over the wall.

Good luck x

[lankeela]

There are hundreds of cats round about where I live, and I assume they find their way home for their dinner, and over the years I have had several cats. I have never kept a cat indoors, even letting kittens have the run of the garden
and apart from one getting run over despite living on a very quiet lane they have always come home. You have got to decide whether you want them to live a normal life and let them get on with it, or whether you want to keep them as 'house' cats and never let them out. I know what mine preferred. Going out hunting and playing in the garden is a natural thing. As catlavender said though, don't leave it too late to get them neutered, or you will end up with unwanted kittens before you know it (and then have to find loving homes for them, which as another poster has found out is not so easy).

[leela]

thanks for the advice, my vet has said they can't be neutered till 6months old is this right?

[catlavender]

Yes that's right I'm afraid, they can't be neutered until they're 5/6 months old so you've another couple of months of trying to keep them in the garden. Could your vet offer any advice on letting them out?

[lankeela]

If they are male, I wouldn't worry too much as they will not be mature until they are six months old and would have trouble finding and catching a female on heat! If they are female however, a randy tom cat in the area will soon discover that they are 'available' and will try to mate with them at the earliest opportunity, so I would try to ensure that you get them in on an evening and make sure they stay in overnight, although let them out during the day whilst you are around. Don't feed them before you let them out, so they will be hungry and wanting to come in for their food when you rattle the tin.

[lankeela]

Interesting article:

http://www.darlenearden.com/artclespay.htm