Many cat owners worry about letting their cat outside, especially if they live in a city. You want to keep your cat safe from road traffic accidents, picking up infections, from wandering off and becoming lost, and being injured in cat fights. And if they’re an expensive, treasured pedigree breed, there is also the worry that they’ll be stolen.
This is where you'll find answers and pros and cons to some of the concerns cat owners may have before they let their feline friends access to the great outdoors. Read on to find the best ways in which to help your cat enjoy some fresh air safely.
When Can Kittens Go Outside?
Kittens should be given the opportunity to go outside once they’re about four or five months old (under supervision) and have settled into their new home. They should be neutered and have had all their vaccinations (at around 12 weeks old).
Make sure that your cat can be identified with a microchip and collar with ID tag. Wearing a quick-release safety collar is recommended so that if the collar gets caught on something, it will snap open, and the cat can go free. If your kitten hasn’t already been microchipped, this should be done as soon as you get them home.
Indoors or outdoors, your cat needs a place to call home and be comfortable in. The garden or outside space should be safe and secure. It should also be cat-friendly with places to hide and climb, a scratching post can also be a good idea.
If you only have a small patio or balcony, a catio could be the answer. Put a climbing tree, perch, somewhere to snooze and a place to hide inside.
Choose a quiet day and time when you let your cat out for the first time so that the experience is positive. You want your cat to feel safe and not spooked by any loud noises.
Before breakfast, leave the back door open and see if they venture out. If they do, leave them for 10 or 20 minutes before calling them back in for their breakfast. Repeat this, increasing the time outside until they’re happy to be outdoors.
Letting an New Adult Cat Outside
If you have recently adopted an adult cat, make sure that they're settled in their new home before letting them have outdoor time. Some cats may have been kept as indoor cats at their previous home and may not be confident enough to leave the house.
It might take anything from two to six weeks before they want to take their first steps outside. Never force them to go outside as this will just make them feel more anxious. Try leaving the back door open and see if they want to go out. You may have to train them to come back inside - more on this below.
Will My Cat Come Back if I Let Them Outside?
You can train your cat to come to you by using treats. Call their name and shake the packet of their favourite treats and they’ll soon learn to come running to you. Practice this inside from different rooms until your cat always finds you when you call out their name. Another idea is to sprinkle some used cat litter around the perimeter of your garden to help establish their territory.
Keep to a feeding routine and only allow them to go out before feeding time so that they know they’ll get fed when they return. This will help if you don’t want your cat to stay out overnight. And always feed indoors so your cat knows they’ll get fed when they go back inside.
Installing a cat flap will allow your cat to come and go as they please. These can be fitted with a microchip scanner so that only your cat can come into your home. Most cats find using a cat flap easy, but some can be nervous about going through one. You can guide them through the flap giving them rewards of praise, treats, or toys until they’re comfortable with it.
What Should I Do if They Don't Come Back?
Don’t panic if your cat disappears over the garden fence. If you’ve trained it to return for mealtimes and treats, and they’ve been neutered, they should come back when they’re ready. Some adventurous cats may go AWOL for a couple of days, but if they’re missing for longer, it might be time to contact your vet.
What Do Cats Do Outside?
Cats love to explore the wild and can spend up to eight hours a day hunting. It’s part of their natural behaviour. Their prey drive means that even if well-fed indoors, they’ll still spend a lot of time hunting if they’re allowed outside.
Cats allowed to roam will patrol their territory, and being territorial they can get into fights with other cats, especially if they haven’t been neutered. Another good reason to make sure your cat is neutered before they venture outside.
If you want to keep the local birds and small wildlife safe, add a small bell to their collar so they can be heard before it’s too late! Indoor vs outdoor cats can depend on the breed of cat you have. There are benefits to keep your cat indoors but forcing them to an indoor environment if they're disposed to being outdoors can lead to your cat becoming bored.
With training, your kitten or cat will soon adapt to the routine of being outdoors and returning indoors for food. You’ll always want to ensure your cat is safe. But after getting used to it you'll be able to let your cat outside with the confidence that they’ll be come back to their home comforts.
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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis – https://www.vetlexicon.com/treat/felis
Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.