Do I Have to Watch My Kitten Outside?

If you want to allow your kitten access to the outdoor world, your supervision is essential to his safety until he's old enough and experienced enough to roam. Once he's out there on his own, he's susceptible to dangers and potential injuries that he wouldn't be exposed to if he stayed indoors.

  1. Supervision

    • Before allowing your kitten to explore the outdoor world, make sure that he has his first course of vaccines against infectious diseases,such as panleukopenia, feline leukemia, rabies and respiratory viruses. A week after the vaccines when your kitten is about 14 weeks old, he can go outside as long as you supervise him. Once he's 6 months old and neutered -- or spayed if your kitten is a female -- he can go outside unsupervised.

    Outdoor Introduction

    • Introduce your kitten to the outdoors on a dry day in a safe environment such as a fenced garden with no potential dangers such as lawn chemicals or sharp objects. Fix gaps in the garden fence and ensure that you're not growing plants that are potentially toxic to cats. Watch your kitten as he explores and investigates his surroundings; afterwards, take him back inside with you.

    Safety

    • A collar with an identification tag that has your phone number on it is essential when your kitten is old enough to go outside on his own. Microchipping your pet companion can offer extra security. If you live in an area with heavy evening traffic, consider allowing your cat outside only during the day. Keep the back door, or an easy-to-access window, open or install a cat flap so he can come and go.

    Considerations

    • In general, so many outdoors cats get killed by accident or disease that average longevity is only 2 years, while indoor cats can live to be between 15 and 18 years. When your cat is outside unsupervised, you have no control of what happens. To extend your cat's life, keeping him indoors is best. Provide toys and scratching posts for him, and regularly play with him. Alternatively, consider supervising your cat while he's on a leash outside or while he's using an enclosed outdoor pen or patio so he gets the best of both worlds.