Letting your cat out for the first time
Giving 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 changing environment outside the home, helping to keep them happy and healthy.
If you can’t let your cat outside, make sure you provide plenty of activities to keep them occupied. Feather and wand toys are great for cats as they let them channel their inner hunter.
However, if you can let your cat outside, there are 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 also reduce the risk of disease and straying.
Letting a kitten out for the first time
For kittens, we advise keeping them safe inside until they are fully vaccinated. Aim to have your kitten fully vaccinated and by four months.
Before you let your cat outside, make sure they are microchipped with your up-to-date details and registered on the Companion Animal Register so they can be identified if they get lost.
During these first few weeks, try to keep all doors and windows shut enough so your cat can’t escape.
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. Wait for a calm day before letting your cat out.
Choose a generally quiet day when there aren’t many people in the garden and house.
When you let them out for this first time, do so before they have eaten. This way they will be hungry and want to come home.
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.
You can try introducing your cat to the garden on a harness and lead - but be careful not to let them get caught up in the lead or run off wearing it. However, it is usually best to let them explore on their own terms, without a harness and lead.
Use a collar with a safety release mechanism on your cat – collars without this can be risky and cause injuries. You can also add an identification tag on the collar to let people know your cat is microchipped.
A collar can take a bit of getting used to for some cats so it’s worth putting it on them before you start letting them out. Treats will help with 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.
Moving house with a cat
You can follow the same steps as with a kitten 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.
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.
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.