How to let your cat outside for the first time

Allowing your cat the freedom to come and go as they please means they can express their natural behaviours. They will benefit from a stimulating and ever-changing environment outside the home, helping to keep them happy and healthy!

If you are unable to allow your cat outdoors, make sure you provide plenty of activities to keep them occupied. We recommend the following stages of play: ‘stalk, chase, catch and kill’. Feathers and wand toys are great for this as they’ll be able to channel their inner hunter.

However, if you are able to allow your cat to access the great outdoors, here are some things you can do to help them adjust to the outside world – and make sure they return home safely.

For any cat, it’s best to have them neutered, especially if you know they’ll be going outside. This will not only prevent unwanted litters for female cats, it will reduce the risk of disease and straying.

How to let a kitten out for the first time

For kittens, we advise keeping them safe inside until they are fully vaccinated and by the time they reach four months old.

What about for adult cats?

For adult cats, it’s best to keep them indoors for the first two to three weeks in their new home, so they can adjust to their new environment and routine. This is only a guide and every cat is different. Some cats may need to have outdoor access earlier than 2 weeks and others could take longer to settle.

What are the steps?

• During these first few weeks, be cautious about open doors and windows. If you have an escape artist and your cat manages to get out, there’s a chance they may not return home.
• Try to feed your cat around the same time each day so they expect to come to you for food at those times.
• While you’re preparing their dinner, you could make a sound for them to know it’s time for food. For example, you can call out ‘dinner’, whistle, or rattle a tin with some dry food in it.
• This way, by the time you’re ready to let your cat out for the first time, they’ll be keen to return home for their meal when you make that familiar sound.
• Plan ahead and check the weather. If it’s likely to be a miserable day with rain and wind, it’s best to wait for a calm day before deciding to let your cat out.
• Choose a generally quiet day when there aren’t many comings and goings in the garden and house. If you’re throwing a house party or BBQ, it could be quite scary for your cat to be around so many people.
• For particularly nervous cats, why not keep them company in the garden? You can also leave the back door open for them so they know they can retreat inside if things get too much for them.
• As tempting as it may be to use a harness and lead when taking your cat out, this is something we would suggest to avoid. Cats will naturally run away to a safe place when they’re worried by something, so keeping them restrained on a lead can cause anxiety. The lead may also become caught and tangled if they do manage to run away.
• Before you let your cat outside, make sure they are microchipped with your updated details on so they can be identified should they get lost.
• Place a collar on your cat that has a safety release mechanism – collars without a safety release can be risky and cause injuries. It’s also worth attaching an identification tag to the collar so people know your cat is microchipped.

It can take a bit of getting used to for some cats so it’s worth trying their collar on while still indoors. Treats will help when it comes to this! They’ll soon learn a collar is a good thing and associate it with something they like. After a few trips outside, your cat will start to feel more confident in their surroundings – and you’ll feel more comfortable about letting them out. Happy exploring!

How to let your cat outside after moving?

You can follow the same steps as above when it comes to letting your cat out after moving home. You may find they settle quicker than expected and that’s because they’re used to you and their scent will already be on furniture from the previous home.

Another thing you can do is avoid washing their bedding and blankets right before you move. Having a familiar scent on these items will help your cat to feel safe and settled in the new home. Learn how to make the transition easier and keep your cat calm during a move.