When Can Kittens Go Outside On Their Own
It is also a good idea not to allow very young kittens out in the garden alone until you have had them neutered spayed for a female and castrated for a male.
When can kittens go outside on their own. It s best to let him out just before mealtime so you can use your recall to call your kitten indoors and reward with tasty food or playtime. Allowing your kitten to explore outside for the first time can be daunting so we asked a behaviourist a vet and another cat owner to share the practical ways that they helped their own kittens to stay secure while out and about. It s not safe for a kitten to venture outside until at least a week after their initial vaccinations. Start taking your cat out a little at a time.
You may be tempted to let your cat outside as soon as possible but generally it s best to allow at least 2 3 weeks and up to 4 6 weeks after you first take them home. Kittens can become sexually mature at a very young age sometimes as young as four to five months old. Keep your kitten safe inside until at least a week after finishing the first course of vaccinations at 13 to 14 weeks old depending on the vaccine. When to let your kitten go outside.
This gives them time to have all their vaccinations and they ll be almost fully grown. Go outside with your cat. That s when they re around 13 14 weeks old. By this age the kitten is already familiar with your home and will be able to track their way back after their adventure.
Make sure your kitten s access back into the house is easy for the first few trips. You can either do this with or without a cat harness. Most kittens are prepared to leave the house and to explore the outside world at six months old. If you re going to use a cat flap have a look at our cat flap tips.
While many cats live healthy happy lives as indoor pets there are also benefits to letting your kitten outdoors. You can start to slowly introduce your kitten to the outside once his recall is in place for short supervised sessions always keeping your kitten in sight. Adult cats will need at least two weeks to settle in so they have a chance to get used to their new surroundings. Once your kitten has spent time with you in the garden and seems confident you can leave them outside for 30 60 minutes.
Kittens need to be at least five months old before they go outside on their own. Choose a dry day and a quiet time and accompany your kitten outside allowing them to explore their new environment. At this early stage don t introduce the cat flap.