When Can My Kitten Go Outside Alone

It s not safe for a kitten to venture outside until at least a week after their initial vaccinations.

When can my kitten go outside alone. The blue cross advises that your kitten should not be allowed outside until at least a week after finishing the first course of vaccinations. This gives them time to mature and also to be neutered. The key again is making sure the indoor environment is just as interesting as outside and being vigilant about preventing escape attempts. 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.

Work on recall before letting your kitten outside. 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. Cats should never be left alone outdoors on a leash or a rope extension. A cat who remains indoors has very little chance of getting hypothermia.

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. By this age the kitten is already familiar with your home and will be able to track their way back after their adventure. Vaccinations should be done once a year. It s unlikely you ll take ownership of your cat much before then anyway since a kitten should be with its mother until it s at least eight weeks old ideally 12 13 weeks.

Most kittens are prepared to leave the house and to explore the outside world at six months old. Start bringing the kittens outside when they re four weeks old. Hypothermia occurs when a cat s body temperature drops too low and severe cases of it can lead to a coma or death if the cat is not treated immediately by a veterinarian. Ideally cats should be six months of age before they are allowed outside unsupervised.

We recommend a sturdy harness or walking jacket as opposed to a collar. Many cats have successfully gone from outdoor only or indoor outdoor to indoor only. If you have adopted an adult cat you probably will have been advised to keep it in for 2 3 weeks to settle into its new home. There is too much danger of their becoming tangled up with the possibility of choking.

Four months old is the earliest kittens can be neutered. A cat left outside on a cold night is in danger of developing hypothermia especially if it s raining.