How to let your kitten outside

I think cats make wonderful house pets and as long as they have enough stimulation, they can live long and healthy lives without ever venturing outside.

But, having said that, there are many benefits to letting your kitten outdoors: it allows them to practice their natural instincts to hunt and explore, encourages exercise and mental stimulation and can reduce stress in your pet.

Kittens always need two sets of vaccinations at about 9 and 12 weeks old. These vaccinations are vital to protect them against diseases that can be caught from other cats and your kitten must have them before going outside.

The vaccinations need time to be fully effective, so I recommend that kittens can go outside from four months old. However, this should be in a secure garden and under the owner’s careful supervision.

It is also now law that any new kitten owner has their pet microchipped. Most cats can be microchipped from the age of 10-12 weeks. and must be chipped by 20 weeks. 

Keep in mind that kittens can get pregnant from only four months old so, if your pet is likely to come into contact with other cats, you should consider having your pet spayed.

At any age, a cat faces a number of risks whenever they venture outdoors. Whether it’s other cats or animals, poisonous plants or the risks associated with busy roads, the outside world makes for a potentially hazardous environment.

But for many owners, seeing their pet explore the world outside for the first time is a very rewarding experience.

My first recommendation is to train your kitten to recognise its name before allowing them outside. You can do this by calling their name whenever you feed them or give them a treat – this helps develop a positive association with their name being called and means they’re more likely to respond when you’re outdoors.

When you’re ready to go outside, I’d suggest picking a quiet day around the house so your kitten is as calm as possible. Try leaving the door to the garden open for a little while before the morning feed to encourage your pet to explore in his or her own time. Stay close by and, after a few minutes, bring them back indoors and reward them with a treat. Repeating this over a few days will help build your kitten’s confidence.

Most cats cope pretty well with the garden environment but make sure you carry out common sense checks around your garden for things like sharp edges, rusty nails, especially in areas that might be tempting for your kitten to squeeze into.

Kittens are very inquisitive and can fit through the tiniest of spaces, so make sure you keep an eye out for those areas you might not otherwise check. Also check for any holes in fences, items such as string that they could get caught up in, and any poisonous plants.