Letting a kitten out for the first time

[Davey S2]

I know about letting them out for the first time before feeding them so they come back when they want food but what can I realistically expect the first time I let our 6 month old cat out of the house (we have had her for about 6 weeks).

Will she sniff around and stay close or just go mental and dissapear for a day or more?

She has been taken outside both front and back regularly over the last fee weeks to get used to the sights and smells outside.

I feel like a father who's daughter is going off on her first date!

[telecat]

I'd open the door and let her go under her own steam. I'd also hang around for a while and see what she does. You can't stop her running off but just let her know you are around so she has a bolt hole when she meets the "locals".

[GhiaX]

Make sure she has a collar and tag on her just in case.

I've always made sure they are very hungry on the first and next few susequent outings. But have also done as you have to take them out on a cat harness for a few weeks so they can have a controlled walk around and sniff of everything.

Then it is a case of hoping for the best and that they come home. I've got a 6 months old also and am struggling this time to let it go having lost my most recent one on the road a while back.

[Simpo Two]

Davey S2 said:

She has been taken outside both front and back...

I feel like a father who's daughter is going off on her first date!

!

[omgus]

Good Luck, I still remember doing it with my kitten and was terrified he would run away.

Now days i sometimes wish he would.

[Sammo123]

I took our Kitten out for a wander round the back garden a couple of times and then he wouldnt stop whining at the back door because he wanted to go explore by himself. The first few times he went out he stayed in the garden and would spend his days trying to catch birds in mid flight (and managing it quite a few times). Now he travels all over the place. I have seen him at least 2 roads away from the house before when walking home!