Letting cats out for the 1st time

[Cheekystar]

We've had our 2 new adopted cats (one is 4 the other 2 and a half) for nearly 2 weeks now and one of them is very keen to go out and explore, so we thought on Saturday we'd let him out, any tips, advice etc etc?
Very nervous and scared about letting him out!

[pussnboots]

Well my mother suggested to me when we moved and my cats wanted to go out to put butter on their paws. I thought what a daft idea, but gave it a try, it wouldnt do any hard either way. The cats must have thought I was barmy. My cats came back no problem, but I will never know if it was the butter or just their good sense.

[pussnboots]

...any harm

[spanner7853]

i wouldnt let them out for a little while, I think it's at least 6 weeks if you have just moved. I didnt let my cat out til he was 6 months old, I know its different but thats what my vet advised and he has never gone astray

[kittywoo]

i let mine out after a week again using the butter on her paws...if you are nervous go outside with them and stay close they wont go far for a while anyway... they always come back when they are hungry!!! good luck

[wagonhead]

after a couple of weeks wee put our cats on cat leads and let the me have a sniff around the garden. we did this a few times before we let them out

[meltoadhall]

i would leave at least 4-6 weeks, works with our cats and we have moved 4 times with them and never lost any

[emx384]

I think the butter on paws trick stems from the fact that cats are usually happy when they are able to groom themselves in a certain place. The butter makes them groom so therefore they should associate the grooming place as home??

I have a three month old kitten and am soooo worried about her first 'trip' out!!