Cats are curious creatures by nature that love to go on an outdoor adventure. If you have a kitten, have just moved, or if your cat is not used to going outside, this can be quite an exciting step for both the animal and the owner. In this blog, we give you 10 tips on how you can best prepare your cat so that he can go outside safely and then come back home.
At what age can a cat go outside?
In principle, it is not age-related when it is best for a cat to go outside for the first time. Nevertheless, it is advised for kittens not to let them go outside until they are six months old. A kitten can be in heat from four months and therefore become pregnant. Most people are not waiting for an unplanned litter, especially when the cat is still so young. It is therefore important that you wait until your cat is old enough to have him or her spayed/neutered. A six-month-old kitten has also had vaccinations. Of course, this does not only apply to kittens: older cats can also be helped and vaccinated before they go outside to investigate.
Practice indoors first
It's best to make sure a cat is comfortable indoors before you begin introducing the cat to the outdoors. Have you recently moved? Then keep the cat indoors for at least a month after the move so that it can get used to its new environment and to prevent the cat from walking back to its old home.
In the house you can teach the cat to come to you when you call it or whistle for example. Practice this regularly and at different times and, of course, reward him lavishly with a treat or attention when he obeys.
How do you prepare a cat for the outdoors?
Before actually letting a cat outside, it is wise to take a number of precautions. We discuss the most important points with you below:
1. Have the cat chipped
Although it is not mandatory in the Netherlands to chip a cat, this is recommended. You can have a cat chipped at the vet from 9 weeks. A chip contains a unique identification number so that a cat can always be recognized. This number is linked to the cat owner's details (name, address and telephone number). If the cat goes missing and is found by someone, a vet can read the chip and contact the owner of the cat quickly.
2. Make sure the cat is vaccinated
We mentioned it briefly above, but make sure your cat is up-to-date on vaccinations when he goes outside. This way, the cat is protected against annoying diseases, but you also protect cats from other cat owners against diseases.
3. Spay or neuter the cat
As a cat owner of a cat, you probably don't want unplanned litters. Of course, if you have a hangover you don't run this risk, but hangovers generally run away from home more often if they smell a cat in heat. Unneutered tomcats also fight each other more often. In that sense, it doesn't matter whether you have a cat or a hangover: having the cat spayed/neutered before you let him or her outside is definitely recommended.
4. Safety collar with tag
An additional way to make a cat recognizable is to put a collar with a tag on it that has the cat's name and your telephone number on it. If you want to put a collar on your cat, make sure that it is a safety collar (with elastic or a special click closure, for example) in case the cat accidentally gets stuck on a branch, for example. By putting a collar with a tag on a cat, the owner can be traced quickly without having to read the chip.
5. Make the garden cat-friendly and inviting
Unfortunately, the outdoor environment cannot be controlled, but you can of course ensure that your garden is safe for cats. Therefore, close all holes and other places where it is attractive for a cat to crawl into and clean up toxic cleaning products, weed killers and garden tools. When you also provide your garden with nice and inviting places for your cat (for example a scratching post, an object on which it can climb and has a good vantage point, a comfortable and sunny spot where it can sleep and some suitable and safe plants for cats which he can sniff) this may even encourage the cat not to venture far from home.
Some places where cats will enjoy:-
1. Whisker's Wonderland
2. Purr-fect Park
3. Feline Haven Gardens
4. Meow-topia Retreat
5. Kitty Paradise Hideaway
6. Catnip Corner Park
7. Whisker Woods Sanctuary
8. Purr-adise Gardens
9. Furry Friends Playland
10. Kitty Korners Retreat
How to buy pet food online?
| Store Name | Shop Here |
|---|---|
| PetMountain | Shop Here |
| Only Natural Pet | Shop Here |
| Allivet | Shop Here |
| PetFlow | Shop Here |
| PetCareRx | Shop Here |
| BudgetPetCare | Shop Here |
| Sierra Pet Meds | Shop Here |
Questions that are mostly asked and have answer in our article:-
1. At what age is it recommended to let kittens go outside for the first time?
2. What precautions should be taken before allowing a cat to explore the outdoors?
3. How long should a cat be kept indoors after moving to a new location?
4. Why is it important to have a cat microchipped?
5. Why should a cat be vaccinated before going outside?
6. Why is it advisable to spay or neuter a cat before letting them outside?
7. What safety measures can be taken to make a garden cat-friendly?
8. What should be done before letting a cat outside for the first time?
9. Can a cat harness be used for outdoor adventures?
10. Should cats be allowed outside during the night?
11. How can owners support insecure or nervous cats during outdoor exploration?
12. Is it important to gradually increase the time a cat spends outside?
13. Should a cat have easy access to enter and exit the house while outside?
0 Comments