Introducing your cat to the exterior

It'southward likely that your cat volition want to get out and explore the garden and beyond. Our tips assistance ensure your cat can explore the outside safely when you allow them out for the first time and brand their way home again too.

It's all-time to make sure your cat is settled indoors and comfortable around you lot before starting to introduce your cat to the exterior or letting them outside for the first time.

Some cats volition immediately start wanting to go exterior regularly, but some less-confident cats, kittens, or cats who might non take been outside before may want to build up the corporeality of time they spend outside.

It'south important to allow your cat explore exterior in their own time. We wouldn't recommend using a harness, and you shouldn't selection your cat up and carry them exterior. Both of these situations could potentially cause your cat stress and may result in them associating this negative feeling with going or being outside.

How long to wait earlier letting your true cat outside

Developed cats

How long you lot leave it before letting your cat outside depends on the cat'southward personality and how rapidly they settle. You may be tempted to let your cat outside as soon as possible, just generally it's best to let at to the lowest degree 2-3 weeks and up to 4-6 weeks after yous starting time have them domicile. This will give them plenty of time to settle in their new environment.

Kittens

The timescale is slightly different for kittens. We would recommend letting your kitten out with supervised access to the outside once they're about iv months erstwhile, and accept been neutered, had all their vaccinations, and are fully settled into your home. Y'all should also make sure your kitten seems confident enough in the house beginning equally going outside can exist a little daunting to begin with.

If your new cat or kitten seems restless and is oftentimes sitting or waiting by the dorsum door, pacing, scratching, or pawing at the door expanse, contact Battersea or your local vet for further advice about the best time to start letting your true cat outside.

How to prepare your cat for the exterior

Earlier you lot permit your cat or kitten exterior:

  • Make sure your true cat can be identified. A Battersea cat will already exist microchipped, so if your true cat is scanned, the chip volition be linked to your contact details.
  • Fifty-fifty if your true cat has been microchipped, information technology can also exist a good thought for your true cat to clothing a quick release safety collar with an ID tag containing your details. This will mean you can be readily contacted by anyone if your cat becomes injured or goes missing, without your cat needing to be taken to a vet to be scanned. Call up to keep your cat's microchip details up to appointment.
  • Make sure your exterior space or garden is safe, true cat-friendly and inviting for your cat. Doing this can as well encourage them non to wander too far.
  • In preparation for letting your cat outside, you tin endeavour to teach them to come up to y'all when chosen, using treats. To do this, simply call your cat's name and shake a tub or package containing their favourite treats. When your true cat comes to you, give them a treat. Repeat this process several times in different locations around the house until your cat ever comes and finds you lot when y'all phone call their name. If your cat is initially reluctant to come when called, attempt doing this around feeding fourth dimension when they are expecting to become fed and may be more than eager to approach y'all for food. If your cat isn't very food motivated, yous could try rewarding them with something else such as their favourite cat toy, a mentum tickle or exact praise (e.g. "good girl/boy"). For more than information, have a look at our advice on basic cat preparation.

Letting your cat outside for the first time

The commencement fourth dimension you let your cat or kitten outside:

  • The first few times you permit your true cat exterior, information technology's a good idea to get with them. Go outside and exit the door to the house open so that your cat is able to join you just can as well quickly go back within if they want.
  • Take a food/toy advantage out with you lot and sit downward quietly. This way y'all can continue an middle on your true cat while letting them explore freely and call them back if yous feel like they've wandered also far. You should build up the length of fourth dimension your cat is exterior over a few sessions.
  • While you're outside you tin also continue to train your cat to come when called. Brand sure that you don't always take them dorsum inside direct away when they're chosen. Sometimes, merely reward them and permit them wander off again then that they don't associate coming back to you lot with having to go within, especially if they're dandy to stay out and explore!
  • When your cat seems comfortable and relaxed being exterior, yous tin start to let them come and become unaccompanied.
  • The best way to give your cat consistent and predictable access to the outdoors when they need information technology is to install a cat flap in a door or window. Take a expect at our advice on true cat flaps for farther information.