Hi,

I got a bengal kitten very recently (as in yesterday).
I've had cats before but that was on the countryside and they were mostly outdoor cats with some indoor privileges. This is my first proper apartment cat.
I bought some window nets but they are impossible to install properly and are also really ugly.
I'm not planning on leaving any windows open when she's alone but when i'm with her i would like to have them open to provide some fresh air before i can take her out on walks etc.
Should i be worries about her jumping out? we're on the second floor and there aren't any trees growing up to the window, also it opens into a yard, not onto the street.

Thank you in advance

Ps: Hedy walked over the keyboard while i was writing this post so i thought i'd leave you her message "ikoy7"

I'm guessing you live in a country where screens are not on all the windows. If you are in the UK, check out this company: http://www.flat-cats.co.uk

Cats are extremely curious and if you have an open window, it is an open invitation for the cat to check it out. When we were replacing a wall a/c, we had the a/c out and the opening was exposed and our bengal jumped up and was ready to hop out the opening -- 20 feet up from the ground. I caught him just in time. So, you can expect your baby to either jump or fall. So you need something on there. There may be other products out there as well so do some research and make sure whatever you get is secure enough. Your baby would probably like a window perch in front of the window.

Congratulations on your new baby.

Yes, im from Austria and screens are basically non-existent. i was super careful at the beginning but i started to notice that she's not necessarily that curious and seems a little scared of heights, she's also super careful. Unusual i know, but i had the window in my room open (under supervision only) for the entire day pretty much and it's open right now, she hasn't even made a single attempt to jump up on the window ledge.

You can get window latches that restrict how much a window can open, with a key for them when you need to open them fully - for example and emergency.

Just be careful that you don't allow them to open too much - I misjudged that and Ada, my little girl, climbed out of the window on the 12th floor

A kitten can get through a very small gap - think the height from the base of their jaw to the point between their ears - they can totally flatten themselves when there is something interesting that they *must* investigate outside.

Everything ended OK for us, but I wouldn't want another owner to feel as I did watching Ada jump up outside the window to get my attention.

We have our windows securely open but only a slither. I have opened them in the past, with supervision, a little bit and got the fright of my life when Ishka jumped on the window opening and almost fell out - she was hunting a bird that decided to land next to the window - and when Echo almost made it to the outside when chasing a fly that appeared on the window.
I would be ubercareful, you cannot account for interesting stuff that appears outside and that your kitty will want to hunt.
As someone mentioned above, perhaps a secure latch that allows you to keep the window open for 1 or 2 cm, securely held, may be the way forward.

all the best
Iria

In my city we have an epidemic of cats jumping off of balconies, which I did not know until I spent several days at the animal hospital with Thomas.

Apparently a bird flies by and the cat forgets that it is on a balcony, they just pounce.

My windows are all screened, but I'm still watchful and I don't open the windows too far. Even screens are not foolproof.

Interesting read. A family evacuating from Hurricane Irma came to Nashville with their cat, who jumped off their motel balcony and has not been found after three days. They are going to have to return to Florida without their beloved pet. No residents live anywhere near this area since it is all commercial. They don't know if the cat is injured. They set traps that were stolen and now they are panicking as they have to return home. Thus it is so important to make sure your cats cannot escape through windows or jump off balconies.