For a very brief period (he was abandoned as a baby) our kitten, Mr. Wiggles, spent his life in the open air, but since we adopted him at 7 weeks he has been a contented apartment-dweller, occasionally venturing a few feet into the hallway outside our door and quickly returning. But we've rented a house in the country for the month of August and we are planning to take him with us. (We briefly considered asking a neighbor to come in and feed him while we're away, but we think he'd miss us - and we would miss him even more!) Wiggles will be just about six months old by then.
We're figuring that we will keep him inside in the country, too - there is a screened-in porch, so he will be able to get some fresh air - but I'm wondering: When he starts smelling those country smells, won't he start pining for the great out-of-doors? And if he does start to pine, is it right to keep him in? Will we even be able to? Will it help stem the wanderlust if we make sure to get him neutered before we leave? (He'll be a little younger than the orthodox 6 months, but I understand that's usually O.K.)
Also, I've been wondering about micro-chipping, which sounds like it would be a good precaution in case he does wander away. But shouldn't he still wear a collar and a tag? After all, not everyone who spots a stray cat will bring him to a shelter where he can be scanned. (Someone who finds a kitten without a tag might assume he's a stray, and keep him.)
We're figuring that we will keep him inside in the country, too - there is a screened-in porch, so he will be able to get some fresh air - but I'm wondering: When he starts smelling those country smells, won't he start pining for the great out-of-doors? And if he does start to pine, is it right to keep him in? Will we even be able to? Will it help stem the wanderlust if we make sure to get him neutered before we leave? (He'll be a little younger than the orthodox 6 months, but I understand that's usually O.K.)
Also, I've been wondering about micro-chipping, which sounds like it would be a good precaution in case he does wander away. But shouldn't he still wear a collar and a tag? After all, not everyone who spots a stray cat will bring him to a shelter where he can be scanned. (Someone who finds a kitten without a tag might assume he's a stray, and keep him.)