When Can Farm Kittens Go Outside?

Cats make effective, natural pest control for farms. If you give Tabby and her litter mates a job to do on the farm, there are some workplace safety issues you need to address first. Kittens should be old enough to have basic survival skills before embarking on their outdoor work.

  1. Time to Go Out

    • Tabby and her siblings should be 3 or 4 months old before you begin introducing them to their outdoor space. If they can't stay in your house until they're ready to go out, keep them in a small, enclosed space in a barn or shed. This will help them get used to their safe place and shelter while keeping them safe from potential dangers on the farm, such as large animal hooves and equipment.

    Covering the Basics

    • Though they're hunters who enjoy hunting, killing and sometimes eating the rodents that can damage your farm equipment, farm kittens and cats need safe shelter. Predators, such as coyotes and owls, are active at night; without a safe haven, Tabby could become the hunted instead of the hunter. They'll also require a warm place in winter months to protect them from the cold and harsh weather. Cats are natural hunters who sometimes eat their catch, but they can't live on mice alone. When they make the transition to outside, Tabby and her littermates should get their normal servings of age-appropriate food and must constant access to clean, fresh water. Feeding your farm kittens in the barn or shed in the evening will help establish their safe place. Supplemental feeding won't interfere with Tabby's job; a good mouser will hunt whether she's hungry or not because her instinct drives her to chase moving prey.

    Parasite Protection

    • Part of the reason for having farm kittens is the pest-eradication service they provide. But when Tabby eats a mouse, she's vulnerable to parasite infestation, including roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms. Talk to the vet about the best option for addressing potential parasites; Tabby may take a preventive once a month or she could be wormed twice a year. If you have mosquitoes in your neck of the woods -- or farm -- consider heartworm prevention. This is a very serious parasite for a cat, as the worms take up residence in her heart and lungs. Outdoor cats should be vaccinated for the core cat diseases, panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus, as well as rabies.

    Other Precautions

    • Farms have many potential dangers for curious kittens. Take care to ensure your farm equipment doesn't leak toxic substances, such as battery acid. Antifreeze is especially deadly to cats, who find the sweet taste appealing. Fertilizers, rat poison or other chemicals can also be dangerous, so make sure they're out of Tabby's grasp. Unless you want to be overrun with barn kitties, Tabby and all her friends should be spayed and neutered. And of course, if she's spending time outside, she should keep all her claws.