How old should kittens be before allowing them outside (under strict supervision!) for a little play, either with or without a harness?

I'm not talking about letting them out to roam free as that's never going to happen. Too busy around here and too many weirdos!

I know that generally people say 10 months for kittens who are going to be allowed to come and go as they please, but what about for supervised outdoor access?

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Bonnie and the gang xxx

I waited until a month after their 2nd vaccinations (to ensure it had time to take effect) (16 weeks old) and after they had got used to our place as their home. I also made sure both kittens responded to their names and came running when called from anywhere inside the flat. This was as a precaution in case they slipped their harness (which happened) and is good in case they go under bushes and you want to go back inside and can't just scoop them up.

I take them out with harnesses on, and recently got a mini dog lead too so they have a greater range. They absolutely love it!

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personally still not until they are neutered and alot bigger, even then its to much of a chance and stress, so Id still say 10months old for supervised, for Meg she was about 14months old as she comes to me on recall so Im happy for her to trot about if Im out there, but the partner has mini attacks as soon as I open the door as his so worried about them so I very rarely do it anymore!

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What is the best way to teach a kitten to respond to its name? We use our kittens' names all the time but they have never responded to their names... any tips?

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Bonnie and the gang xxx

treats say their name give them a treat, say their name give them their dinner etc

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Hmmm will try it. Only trouble with our two is obviously that there are two of them! And they will climb over each other (quite literally ) to do whatever the other one is doing... trying to get them to eat out of separate food bowls is a challenge - even if you put them down at the exact same second they always follow the other one.

So it would be a case of saying "Dinah" then placing down the bowl, Dinah trying to get in to eat her dinner, Monty shoving her out of the way, then saying "Monty", placing down the other bowl, then Dinah would think it was something different and go over to eat from that bowl, then he'd follow her... well that's our usual routine anyway. So they will probably just think "Dinah Monty" is their joint name. But I suppose it doesn't matter as long as they respond to something!

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Bonnie and the gang xxx

I took each kitten, one at a time, and stood him away from me and then called. At first gave them a treat if they looked when I said their name. Then I was a foot away from them and only gave the treat if they came when called. Then I moved further away and only gave the treat if they came from further away. Now it's not just treats, it is cuddles.

Also, every time I pet them I kept saying their name in a loving way (which other way is there with kittens) so their name was associated with something good.

The key to kittens/cats is their stomach. Associate their names with getting something good and they will consider it worth responding.

They don't respond to my husband as well as they do to me though, but I guess they have figured where the better deal lies if they respond.

Oh, and if I am grooming, wiping or brushing their teeth I never call them to do this, as they will think their names means something not so nice will happen to them.

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its quite easy esp with treats, all mine know names/nicknames and respond only to theur names! they catch on quick so dont stress

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repetition of names is key - and one on one sessions so pop one in the bedroom for a bit and do some play/training with other - then other way round next time. This allows them to know it's *them*

as for going outside on harness - we just waited til 2 weeks after jabs on my vets advice, first few trips were just in my arms... then on lead, standing outside door and so on so forth.

A week after second vaccinations, as long as you really are going to be able to stop them escaping.

liz