When Can Kittens Go Outside Unsupervised

By this age the kitten is already familiar with your home and will be able to track their way back after their adventure.

When can kittens go outside unsupervised. Letting your kitten out for the first time there are a few things to bear in mind before your cat s ready to explore the world outside your home on its own. The key again is making sure the indoor environment is just as interesting as outside and being vigilant about preventing escape attempts. My cat s always been allowed outside so he can t be indoor only. 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.

Don t let your kitten go outside unless it s at least 6 months old. Continue to accompany your kitten until it is used to your garden and can find its way back to the house without difficulty. A cat that s older can and should go out into the garden before then but you ll need to keep a close eye on them. Ideally cats should be six months of age before they are allowed outside unsupervised.

Kittens will not complete their vaccinations and waiting period until at least 13 weeks old so this would be the youngest that you could start supervised access. Cats who go outside under supervision and are kept on leash or in a fenced patio can enjoy the outdoors while suffering minimal risk. Many cats have successfully gone from outdoor only or indoor outdoor to indoor only. Even without taking vaccinations or neutering into consideration a kitten less than 6 months old is too fragile to venture outside on its own.

As the kitten grows older the time outdoors can be increased until the kitten becomes independent and has learnt his recall down to a tee. Most kittens are prepared to leave the house and to explore the outside world at six months old. There are many ways your kitten could catch an infection or disease outside so making sure it s properly vaccinated is absolutely vital. It is best not to leave your kitten outside alone until it is 6 months old and it is essential that it is neutered from 4 months of age before allowing it unsupervised access.

There are three things we strongly recommend doing before you let your kitten out. 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. Avoid leaving your cat outside unsupervised if you live near potential hazards including busy roads and predatory wildlife.