If you are planning on allowing your cats outside, I think 12 months is ott, most people let them out after they have been neutered/spayed at about 5/6 months, and I see nothing wrong with this.

Health wise, you can let them out once they have had their injections, but a femal could obviously get pregnant if allowed out before she is spayed. Also if they are too small, they can be attacked by magpies, most cats are big enough not to be attacked by about 3 months old.

You could of course take them out on a lead and harness before they have been spayed, this will help them get used to be out, but will mean they can't get into any trouble while they are little.

But remember, if you are getting kittens at the moment, we are going into winter, so its not the ideal time to start letting cats out. And if you let your cats out, you should always provide them with some sort of inlet into the house (cat flap) or shelter in another building (shed).

My kitten was around 11 weeks when she went out supervised during day as kids were on holiday and she wanted to play with them . But was always kept in when i was out and at night. When she was around 3 1/2 months she established how to work the cat flap so there was no stopping her .We are lucky to have a very large garden with plenty of trees etc in so they stay in garden.

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Kaz...lucky keeper of Sparky & 3 Birmans

This is EXACTLY what I mean about risk assessing, taking into account your own emotions and also taking into account the individual cat.

I would always try to cat proof a garden rather than set up an out door run (which usually are quite small) if I possibly could. Again circumstances determine choice here.

being ott i would rather be that than have a dead kitten, would you send a child out to play in the road. it takes time for them to learn to stay out of the road. i have picked up far too many to let them out before 12 months.

There was a simple way.. lock the cat flap. 3 and a half months is far too young not only are you putting her endanger with the road. do you realise how many diseases she could catch mating and then the pregnancy on such a young kittens body. it is unfair to her.

ATD

"out to play in the road"
Who actually sends them out to play in the road, I don't know what you think most people do with their cats, but you are trying to stir up trouble here by implying cat owners that let their cats free roam are taking them to the side of the road and throwing a ball out in front of a car for them to chase.
Mine go in my back garden and from time to time might venture over the wall.

Cats lern more at a younger age than they do when they are older, that is why one teaches a cat not to scratch furniture when they are little, and not leaving it till they are older.

And no I would not let a 12 month old child to "play in the road" or to play outside un-supervised at all. But the OP asked about cats not children... So whats your point?
You see, if its that you treat your cats like children, then let me ask you this? How do you get your cats to sit still in the shopping trollys when you do your weekly shop? And do you have a baby car seat or a booster?
I mean, your not suggesting you leave a kitten at home by himself are you? Would you do that with a child?rolleyes:

Cats lern more at a younger age than they do when they are older, that is why one teaches a cat not to scratch furniture when they are little, and not leaving it till they are older.

The actual learning age is up to around 10 weeks old. Form a behavourist point of view so do you let them out at this age?

And no I would I mean, your not suggesting you leave a kitten at home by himself are you? Would you do that with a child?rolleyes:

No I woulnd leave a single kitten on its own all day.

Like I have said I have picked up too many taken by the road, so I rather be ott than be sorry.

ATD

10 weeks - what a load of bull!

I said nothing about a single kitten, and nothing about all day. You would not (or should not) leave a child at home for any length of time at all, be it on its own, or with a group of friends... So in your veiws you should not leave a kitten either. Have a bit of perspective!

Thanks Jem, just the point I am trying to make.

My kitten is now 25 weeks old and the vet advised i keep him in for the first year. He is naturally inquizative (nosey) and sits at the window crying to go out. We put up with it until he was "done" and then started taking him out on the harness. He good but wants to roam more so i added string to the lead so he could get further away from me.

We decided last sunday that he would open the back door and see what he did. He was off like a shot down the garden to say hello to the rabbits then sniffed about. After about 10 minutes he legged it down the side of the shed and through the hole in the wire fence. I was gutted. My boyfriend said i was pale! He came back after about 30 minutes soaked and muddy. We back onto houses and fields.

I let him out in the morning when i go to feed my rabbits and let him roam about then bring him in to feed and then he stays in all day. I then let him out again when i get home.

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Rocky doesn't need his mummy as much now!! They grow up so fast!!