when did you first let your kitten out??

lozzy1 · #1 12-05-11, 11:57 AM

I havent posted for ages and longer but i lurk regularly. I thought i would ask you opitions please. My kitten has just had 2nd vacc and is 13 weeks. The vet said she can start to go out now if she is going to be an outdoor cat. The thing worrying me is she is quite small and very cute looking. I am worried she might get picked up by someone or stolen as she is friendly i can imagine her approaching anyone. She also has got used to my dogs and i am worried she may not run if she is chased by one of my neighbours dogs (one side greyhounds x3, the otherside two terriers). Am i being daft. Ive never had a cat before and its all a bit new and frightening as she looks and seems so vunerable. She is very interested in going out and often tried to follow the dogs but i grab her. Any advice much appreciated thanks

Caryll · #2 12-05-11, 12:08 PM

My sister's cat went out as soon as he was able. He never went far & always came back for his food. We found out years later that another 2 families used to leave food out for him because they thought he was a stray, no wonder he never seemed very hungry!

I've never had a cat, so I can't be more help than that, I'm afraid.

zetstaff · #3 12-05-11, 12:11 PM

Ours have always gone out as soon as they've been able to after jabs etc, but we didn't have greyhounds + terriers living either side

It's difficult with kittens, but those dogs would be a worry for me. Does she have to be an outside cat ?

If it were me, she wouldn't be going out until she as a bit older. My friend has orientals + has put a load of netting/wire around the top of the fences so her cats can't get out.

Good luck xxx

Caryll · #4 12-05-11, 12:13 PM

Oooh, I missed the bit about the dogs either side! I'd consider making her a house cat, too.

Chicken wire around the walls/fences, sloping inwards would probably do the trick.

kita · #5 12-05-11, 12:49 PM

You could always get a lead and harness for her and take her out in the garden that way.

Or if you are really brave take her for along for a walk when you take the dogs (all on leads of course) .............

I have two house cats, a new thing for me as all the cats we had around when I was at my parents were either totally feral or went out (were put out) at night. My two moved in of their own accord and seem quite happy to stay indoors - well they never make much attempt to flee when the door is open anyway. One jumped out onto the pavement a month ago, I think it was a mistake as the second her paws touched the pavement she jumped back in and ran upstairs

Sue

sami · #6 12-05-11, 01:02 PM

I would be very careful because of the Greyhounds in particular I know of a few cats that have been killed by greyhound/lurcher/whippet types.

Tracy

LucyA · #7 12-05-11, 03:37 PM

Personally, with both of mine, I didn't let them out until they had been spayed.
My first girlie (RIP) Kia, was a little nightmare, she needed to be out but I still waited, I am really over protective. My current girlie, Tinks is nearly 2 in sept, she didnt go out at all in her first home because I lost Kia in the same place due to a car. When I was at my Mums she went out there because of the big garden and lack of traffic, here she lives inside and shows no signs of missing the big wide world.
That was a really long way of saying your kitten will let you know when she is ready - if she is really boisterous and brave, sooner, if she is timid, later or not at all. Sorry I am in a rambling mood lol xx

lozzy1 · #8 13-05-11, 09:59 AM

thanks for the advice guys. i have to say that i really will not be able to keep her as an indoor cat as i know for a fact as she tries to escape every time i let dogs out/ leave house its just a matter of time before she bolts and i miss lol i might leave it till the weather is better and maybe leave the door open when we are in the garden one day. She is trained to "come" to a bell so hoping she wont go far. I can always let her out the front door thus avoiding the other dogs. The greyhounds are in the house except for toilet breaks. i feel so sorry for them as the owners never take them for a walk and i have only ever seen them over the fence and they sit in the window looking miserable

never understood the mentality of getting a dog if you never walk it, not fair on the dog in my opinion. I once asked hr if she ever takes them out and she told me (nt knowing i worked their for two years) the NCDL said they dont need walking as they are lazy. sorry going on a tangent here.

#9 13-05-11, 10:19 AM

Be very wary of the greyhounds if they're out. Their instinct will be to kill a small fluffy thing. My friends have a rescue greyhound, a lovely placid boy. The first day they moved into their new house and were unpacking, dog was outside in the garden. Neighbour's cat jumped in - snap. RIP puss. Had it in a second, cat had no chance. Not the best start with their neighbours!

LucyA · #10 13-05-11, 11:36 AM

Why don't you try a cat lead? I picked one up really cheap for Tinks, it's a little harness with a lead and just gets them used to being out and which way they go to come back in. The bell thing will be extremely useful though, well done. We took the bell off Tinkys collar so she could sneak past the dogs at home without them noticing too, does she have a bell on hers? Xx