lillybettybabs Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I have just rescued a little kitten, I have never had one before as we have always rescued adult cats. He's doing very well and we have gradually changed his food into Natures Diet and Orijen and he is putting weight on. I will get him vaccinated etc and neutered when old enough but when will it be safe to let him outside? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Mine were 5 months old yesterday and they've been going out into the garden during the day but I close the cat flap at night. I don't think they've strayed further than the garden as whenever I look out they're always playing around out there. I think the general rule of thumb is that they can go out once they've had their jabs. Mine are being neutered on Tuesday so they'll stay in for a bit after that I should think (I can't remember now). Hopefully once that's done I can get rid of the litter box as I'm fed up with the mess. Good luck with the kitten. Where are the photos? You know we need photos!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 Thanks, I'm going to get him chipped but unsure if to put a collar on or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 My beautiful cat Dave (in photo below) didn't wear a collar and when he got run over and killed in July the car that picked him up had no number to ring and tell me. If he'd had a collar on then I'd have been able to have him cremated as I do with all my pets instead of having the council throw him in the rubbish collection lorry (They are supposed to scan any cats found dead for microchips but obviously didn't with Dave). I always have my cats microchipped and I've made sure that the kittens have got used to having collars on from a young age. My older cat Sophie has always worn a collar too. Dave just didn't get used to them, I really wish he had. My kittens are being microchipped whilst they're under anaesthetic for neutering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted November 17, 2011 Author Share Posted November 17, 2011 i will look for a nice safe collar for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 Nancy & Rory are allowed to play in the garden if I'm there with them but they'll not be allowed out the front until they've been neutered. I've always advised adopters of my foster cats not to let them out until then for a number of reasons, most importantly with females is so they don't get pregnant or get lost and return pregnant, and they need to be a little bit wary and sensible. I've often said you wouldn't let a two year old child out on their own so why a young cat or kitten? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 17, 2011 Share Posted November 17, 2011 I have a magnetic flap and have always let any kits I've had out after 2 weeks to settle in - they never stray far. I may have to come and snuggle the kit - what colour is he? Photos?????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NouveauChick Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 Oh Seagazer that's awful! How can people think that it is acceptable to throw a deceased pet in the rubbish .... I can't even put a bird (that the cats frequently bring in) in the bin- I'm fast running out of space in the garden in which I can dig for fear of finding a grave! My cats have never got used to collers, they are micro-chipped though. If you do get a collar, make sure it's one of the easy 'snap' ones in case they get caught when climbing. We started letting ours out after their jabs were completed, they are wary at first and wouldn't go far. We didn't let them out of our sight until they were neutered, which we had to do quite early with Oscar as he was getting frisky! I was so anxious at first! But they always know where home is, and come running back if anything spooks them. I don't think ours stray too far from home, instead Oscar sits on the garden boundaries keeping watch for other cats! Enjoy your kitten whilst young... they grow so quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillybettybabs Posted November 22, 2011 Author Share Posted November 22, 2011 He seems to be a rare sort of parrot cat spending most of his time on my shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 22, 2011 Share Posted November 22, 2011 He's not part siamese is he as Dave used to spend most of his time on my shoulder - not very convenient when you're cooking dinner. Thank you Nouveauchick, it still upsets me but you have to move on eventually. I try to just think of the lovely things about him instead of the end now. My kittens are at the vets today being neutered, the house is so empty without them. But I can pick them up in about an hour so looking forward to getting them back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
