Two weeks ago I intoroduced my ginger kitten, Ruby to the great outdoors! She's 5 months old and has had all her jabs. She's also due to be spayed at the beginning of March.
While I've accompanied her outside in the garden she's started venturing further (much to my panic at first!! ) and I'm just wondering how long should I keep going outside with her before I just leave her to get on with it.. With her being female she's still quite small and I worry about attacks from other cats (there's a couple in the neighourhood!), I also worry about her being out at night. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I would definitely keep her indoors until she is properly spayed, but now that you have taken her outside it may be difficult to do this. As for attacks from other cats, that very rarely happens in a neighbourhood unless it is an issue with territory, and she will be protecting hers. Female cats are more then adequately equipped to defend themselves.

With my little girl Sheebah, I was a nervous reck when she went outside, so I let her out like you did. She will be OK now to be left to come and go as she pleases, she knows where home is and won't venture to far from home. If it makes you happier keep her in a night for a few weeks and just let her out in the daytime and then leave it open for her to go as she pleases. Honestly she isn't going to go away she will come home.
In terms of spaying, my kitten was out before she got done, I am sure she won't go and get pregnant. Anyway as long as you get her done at about 6 months that's OK.
In terms of the other cats, mine just runs home, she's to scared at the moment, I am sure once she is older she will defend herself.
Hope it helps

It isn't the point of 'i am sure she won't go and get pregnant', if they come in heat there is no choice for them. Then you have to deal with the kittens that come along.

Keep her in until you get her neutered and stay on the safe comfortable side of life.

Personally I didn't read your post.

I must say, I think that letting her go outside is a bad idea. Other cats may or may not bother her--it's hard to predict--but cars won't hesitate. And there are racoons, possums, dogs, weird people (it happens, more often than some people realize). If you have to take her out, you can start her on a leash. My cats learned the boundaries of the yard, and come when called (just like dogs, in fact); still, I've never left them out unattended. You could also build her a cat enclosure if you have the means and the inclination. And it's just a terrible idea to let her go out before she's been spayed.

Remember, also, if you leave her outside unattended, she will pick things up. This is a great way to end up giving lots of your money to a vet.

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Originally Posted by charl89

personally i didnt read your post.

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Think a while about your reply to the OP. 'You are sure she won't go out and get pregnant'. The only a way to make sure a female cat won't get pregnant, is having her neutered as soon as humanely possible. Female cats don't run away from a male cat, their urge to mate is just as strong as the male.

To safeguard any chances of her getting pregnant with unwanted and unfortunately, hard to find homes for kittens, is keep the female in until neutering can be done.

Well my cat went out for over a month before getting done so I had no problems, I was only suggesting, like me I had to get my cat out as my landlord demanded her out at 4-5 months old so I had no choice otherwise I would be homeless.
So its different for everyone.

Cats are pretty independent animals, and I don't think her being outside too much would be a problem. I live in a town, and my cat comes and goes as he pleases. He knows where home is.
Everybody get of Charl's back. I understand what they were trying to say.
Your cat will go into heat around six months, so make sure you get her spayed right away if you don't want kittens.
Other than that, I think she will be fine outside, unless you live next to a busy road.

Oh, and if your little ginger kitty starts getting really affectionate, putting her butt in the air a lot, and just acting different, Don't let her out. She is probably in heat.

I am not an expert, but I have had many cats throughout my life.

Good luck with little Ruby :)

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Originally Posted by KayGates

Cats are pretty independant animals, and I don't think her being outside too much would be a problem. I live in a town, and my cat comes and goes as he pleases. He knows where home is.

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Well, there's a big difference between what one thinks and what the facts are regarding the issues and dangers faced by outdoor cats. A 10 year reduction in average life span is just one of them.

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Originally Posted by KayGates

Everybody get of Charl's back. I understand what they were trying to say.

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This really isn't about anyone getting personal, but it is definitely about getting appropriate advice out there. The "i am sure she wont go and get pregnant" line was absurd enough to warrant a correction.

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Originally Posted by KayGates

Your cat will go into heat around six months, so make sure you get her spayed right away if you don't want kittens.
Other than that, I think she will be fine outside, unless you live next to a busy road.

Oh, and if your little ginger kitty starts getting really affectionate, putting her butt in the air a lot, and jsut acting different, Don't let her out. She is probably in heat.

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What happens if she goes into heat while she's outside? She won't be doing anything BUT looking for a mate at that point. What makes you so sure she'll even go home during that time? That's pretty comparable to having no plan at all.

Then let her go outside until she is around 5 months.