What age to let him out?
Discussion
This is my little rescue - Bob
I have had him for around six weeks and he is approximately 14 weeks old now. Last week he went for his first visit to the vets and had his jabs and chip.
He is getting more and more curious about going out now although he hasn't worked out how to use the cat flap he sees Boris going in and out and now makes a bolt for the back patio door every time I use it.
It's been so long since I had a kitten I can't remember how old my last mogs were before I let them venture out.
Any advice appreciated.
I have had him for around six weeks and he is approximately 14 weeks old now. Last week he went for his first visit to the vets and had his jabs and chip.
He is getting more and more curious about going out now although he hasn't worked out how to use the cat flap he sees Boris going in and out and now makes a bolt for the back patio door every time I use it.
It's been so long since I had a kitten I can't remember how old my last mogs were before I let them venture out.
Any advice appreciated.
And also don't let them out until they have been neutered. It was coming up to a year when mine were neutered and let out although I know people get them done and let them out a lot earlier than that.
You could also get a microchip catflap.
When mine went out for the first time I took them on a harness/lead around the garden and immediate area for a week or so a couple times a day. Then I let them out on their own either at breakfast or dinner time but before they had eaten.
Some people also advocate putting some of their used litter in the flowers beds round your garden.
Lastly, before you let them loose, train them how to use the catflap.
You could also get a microchip catflap.
When mine went out for the first time I took them on a harness/lead around the garden and immediate area for a week or so a couple times a day. Then I let them out on their own either at breakfast or dinner time but before they had eaten.
Some people also advocate putting some of their used litter in the flowers beds round your garden.
Lastly, before you let them loose, train them how to use the catflap.
I've never let mine out until they are less likely to chase an autumn leaf in the road.
So usually mine are over a year old before they go out. Lots of toys in the home and when I do let them out they have walkies on a harness for a while until their little hearts are no longer go bonkers with fear. I've lost way to many on the road to risk it these days.
So having said that I have 3 that are about 5 months now and are out in my garden but I now have katzecure fencing so they cannot get out and come to harm.
So usually mine are over a year old before they go out. Lots of toys in the home and when I do let them out they have walkies on a harness for a while until their little hearts are no longer go bonkers with fear. I've lost way to many on the road to risk it these days.
So having said that I have 3 that are about 5 months now and are out in my garden but I now have katzecure fencing so they cannot get out and come to harm.
Thank you for the replies, I think I'll let him get to about 5/6 months, if I can contain him that long! I will spend some time in the garden with him as it is pretty secure.
I have a microchip cat flap which has registered him now( by shoving him through lol), looking forward to getting rid of the litter tray
I have a microchip cat flap which has registered him now( by shoving him through lol), looking forward to getting rid of the litter tray
Seems that I was very laid back with my cat, let him out when he started to get curious, kept an eye on him from the door, he never sprayed and is not confrontational with other cats so we don't have a cat flap as other cats would be in the house, he goes out does his business and comes back within 10-20 minutes, if hes naughty hes out for longer periods!
joshcowin said:
Seems that I was very laid back with my cat, let him out when he started to get curious, kept an eye on him from the door, he never sprayed and is not confrontational with other cats so we don't have a cat flap as other cats would be in the house, he goes out does his business and comes back within 10-20 minutes, if hes naughty hes out for longer periods!
A microchip catflap will only allow pre-programmed microchips ie your cats in and out. You can set specific times too.Our cat flap has one of those micro chip locking things.
We've set the time on ours, so that he can only go out between 0800-1900 hrs. The rest of the time it's locked for him going out. If he is out during that time, it will let him in but not back out. All other cats are locked out via the micro chip thing.
We've set the time on ours, so that he can only go out between 0800-1900 hrs. The rest of the time it's locked for him going out. If he is out during that time, it will let him in but not back out. All other cats are locked out via the micro chip thing.
edc said:
A microchip catflap will only allow pre-programmed microchips ie your cats in and out. You can set specific times too.
Say my cat stands next to it, will others be able to get in? He likes to loiter around the back door and lays right next to it as its a sun trap and near his food!!Rupert is not too brainy or determined to do anything I would imagine one failed attempt would mean he never tries again haha!!
justinio said:
Our cat flap has one of those micro chip locking things.
We've set the time on ours, so that he can only go out between 0800-1900 hrs. The rest of the time it's locked for him going out. If he is out during that time, it will let him in but not back out. All other cats are locked out via the micro chip thing.
I have set mine up similarly so they can go in and out as they please between say 5am and 10pm but from 10pm to 5am they can only come into the house. That means if they are out at 9.30pm but return at say 11pm they cannot go out again.We've set the time on ours, so that he can only go out between 0800-1900 hrs. The rest of the time it's locked for him going out. If he is out during that time, it will let him in but not back out. All other cats are locked out via the micro chip thing.
My catflap has times and settings for in, out, in and out, or just locked. I think you can even have particular settings per cat.
joshcowin said:
edc said:
A microchip catflap will only allow pre-programmed microchips ie your cats in and out. You can set specific times too.
Say my cat stands next to it, will others be able to get in? He likes to loiter around the back door and lays right next to it as its a sun trap and near his food!!Rupert is not too brainy or determined to do anything I would imagine one failed attempt would mean he never tries again haha!!
My older bit cat Ryu is also a bit dumb sometimes. He will still scratch the door to be let out when we are there sometimes as he is too lazy to use the catflap. He is also a reasonable size so has to almost squash his face right up against the flap so his neck is in for the reader to work. Once trained they get used to it. Ryu goes made for treats and is seemingly permanently hungry. I trained him by shoving him through the flap a couple of time, then closing the door and putting his food on the other side. He soon got the hang of it
My cats were already 4 years old when they first used a catflap like this and had never used one before then.edc said:
The reader is in the catflap top section itself and reads 'downwards'. A cat needs to stick it's head in for the chip to read. Just sitting in the vicinity or even walking by it won't operate it.
My older bit cat Ryu is also a bit dumb sometimes. He will still scratch the door to be let out when we are there sometimes as he is too lazy to use the catflap. He is also a reasonable size so has to almost squash his face right up against the flap so his neck is in for the reader to work. Once trained they get used to it. Ryu goes made for treats and is seemingly permanently hungry. I trained him by shoving him through the flap a couple of time, then closing the door and putting his food on the other side. He soon got the hang of it My cats were already 4 years old when they first used a catflap like this and had never used one before then.
Great thanks, what make and model would you recommend? Guessing they are not cheap!!My older bit cat Ryu is also a bit dumb sometimes. He will still scratch the door to be let out when we are there sometimes as he is too lazy to use the catflap. He is also a reasonable size so has to almost squash his face right up against the flap so his neck is in for the reader to work. Once trained they get used to it. Ryu goes made for treats and is seemingly permanently hungry. I trained him by shoving him through the flap a couple of time, then closing the door and putting his food on the other side. He soon got the hang of it
My cats were already 4 years old when they first used a catflap like this and had never used one before then.Ours is a Cat Mate jobbie from Amazon. £70 for a bloody cat flap though!!!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mate-Elite-Microchip-Time...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mate-Elite-Microchip-Time...
justinio said:
Ours is a Cat Mate jobbie from Amazon. £70 for a bloody cat flap though!!!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mate-Elite-Microchip-Time...
I tell a lie. That's the one I have, looks exactly the same.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mate-Elite-Microchip-Time...
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