Leaving kittens roaming outdoors can be quite worrying for some people. However, there are ways to keep kittens safe and healthy when playing outdoors. Allow your cat to roam outdoors once he is 6 months old, and limit playtime. However, make sure the kitten has been vaccinated and neutered. In addition, make sure there are no dangerous objects in the yard. Remember, most vets think that kittens should be left indoors. Therefore, make the environment in your home more pleasant for kittens. You can provide a toy kitten, a place to climb, and a place to hide in the house.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Training the Kitten to Come Out
Step 1. Make a barrier in the yard before letting the cat roam
To keep the cat from escaping, install a special barrier around the yard so the cat can't climb over the fence. You can buy these barriers online or at your nearest pet store.
Delimiting the yard with a special barrier is especially important if you live in an area that is quite dangerous for kittens, such as a highway or highway
Additional safety information:
Remember, most veterinarians think that pet cats should be left indoors. Cats that frequently roam outdoors are more susceptible to disease, parasites, and injury. In addition, cats that like to roam outdoors generally live shorter lives than domestic cats. Cats with plucked nails should also not be allowed to roam because they cannot defend themselves when fighting with stray cats.
Step 2. Introduce the kitten to the outdoors before feeding time
If your cat doesn't have a set feeding schedule, you can set it aside a few hours before training it to go outside. Alternatively, let the cat roam outside the house before her scheduled meal. Hungry kittens will respond when you offer them a bowl of food and call them home.
Prepare a bowl of food before letting the cat roam outside. By doing this, you don't have to prepare food while the cat roams outside. Remember, kittens should always be supervised when roaming outside
Step 3. Determine a training time that does not stress the kitten
Make sure the training area is free of distractions that could stress the kitten, such as a barking dog or children playing. Also, check the weather forecast so your cat doesn't get rained on while training.
- When a kitten is frightened, it will associate the outdoors with fear. Cats may also run away and get lost when frightened.
- Cats use their sense of smell to track their way home. Therefore, do not let the cat out after the rain because the rain will deodorize your house and make it difficult for the cat to find its way home.
Step 4. Open the door and let the cat roam by itself
When you're ready to train the kitten to get out of the house, open the door that leads to the yard and head out. Keep the door open, and let the kitten follow you into the yard on its own. Remember, cats are very cautious animals when it comes to trying new things, so it may take a while to get out into the yard.
- Keep the door open so the cat can enter the house if it is frightened. Do not carry and or force him to come out. If the cat runs into the bushes to hide, you don't have to worry. Keep your distance and allow the cat to adapt to its surroundings.
- If the cat doesn't want to get out or runs straight back into the house, leave it indoors. If he wants to be a house cat, keep the cat active and happy by providing him with toys, a place to scratch, and a place to climb.
Step 5. Call the cat and feed it after 10 minutes
When you're just starting out with cat training, make sure your cat doesn't hang around for too long. After 10 minutes, give the cat a bowl of food and call him back into the house. If the cat doesn't come right up to you, shake the bowl and call the cat back to get his attention.
- Prepare a bowl of cat food before starting the training session so you don't have to go into the house and let the cat roam alone. Also, prepare your cat's favorite treats just in case the cat's food bowl doesn't get his attention.
- It's best to train your cat to approach you before letting it roam outside. Offer your cat her favorite treat, say “Come here,” and give her a treat when she approaches you. Continue to train your cat until it comes straight to you when commanded.
Step 6. Remain calm if the cat doesn't come home right away
If your cat doesn't come home right away when you call, don't chase, yell, or call too much. Call the cat in a soft voice to tell him to come home.
Foods with strong odors, such as sardines or tuna, are good options. Place the food near the door, leave the door open, then wait for your cat to approach
Step 7. Increase the duration of cat play periodically
Train your cat daily, and increase the duration of your cat training sessions outside of the house at regular intervals. Once your kitten is more confident about going outside, you can let it play outside for extended periods of time without needing supervision.
When the cat is used to roaming outdoors, the cat should still be indoors at night or when the weather is hot, cold, or rainy. Motor vehicles and predators can harm cats at night. In addition, bad weather can also make cats sick
Method 2 of 3: Keeping Kittens Healthy
Step 1. Let the cat roam outside the house after it has been vaccinated
Before letting him out of the house, wait for at least a week until the cat vaccination process is complete. Cats that often roam in the open are more susceptible to disease. Therefore, vaccination is very important. Consult a veterinarian to vaccinate your cat. In addition, also ask about vaccines that can protect cats who often roam outside the house.
- Generally, the kitten vaccination process will be completed after he is 5-6 months old.
- Remember, some important vaccines may not be mandatory for cats. For example, even though it's not a mandatory vaccine, your vet will advise you to give your cat a vaccine that can protect against the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) if your cat is often allowed to roam outdoors.
Step 2. Neutralize the cat before letting it roam outside
If the cat has not been neutered, schedule a visit to the vet. When kept as pets, kittens are generally neutered when they are 6 months old. However, if properly cared for, adult cats can still be neutered.
Castrating kittens can lower the risk of cancer and other dangerous diseases. Plus, you don't have to worry about your female cat getting pregnant and giving birth to lots of kittens. Neutering a cat can also prevent it from fighting with other cats
Step 3. Give the cat flea and flea deterrent
While most flea repellants are sold in oral form, topical flea medications are the most popular flea deterrent for cats. Apply flea medication between the cat's shoulder blades once a month. Follow the instructions for use listed on the drug packaging; The dose that needs to be given will vary depending on the cat's weight.
- Consult with your veterinarian to find out which treatment is suitable for your cat. Give your cat flea medication as recommended by your veterinarian.
- While there are many over-the-counter cat flea medications, medications prescribed by a veterinarian are generally more effective. Therefore, ask your veterinarian for recommendations to find out the right product and dosage for your cat.
Step 4. Keep your cat away from chemicals, poisonous plants, and other dangerous objects
Check the condition of the yard to make sure there are no objects that could injure or harm the cat. Store hazardous chemicals on shelves in the garage. Know the plants in your yard, and make sure they are safe for cats.
Some plants that are toxic to cats are amaryllis, azaleas, taro, lilies, hyancinthus, and oleander. Visit https://www.cats.org.uk/dangerous-plants for a complete list of plants that are toxic to cats
Tip:
Spread orange peel, eggshell, or gravel around objects that are harmful to cats, such as lilies. This is done so that the cat is not poisoned or injured. You can also train your cat to stay away from danger by clapping your hands, shaking a jar of coins, or spraying water when your cat approaches danger.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Cats From Getting Lost
Step 1. Make sure the cat has adapted to your home before letting it roam outside
Generally, cats need a few weeks to adapt to their new environment. However, how long it will take your cat to adapt will depend on your cat breed. Observe his behavior, and make sure the cat looks confident, interacts with you and your family, and already knows where to eat, where to go, and toys.
Tip:
As disgusting as it sounds, you can spread the litter your cat has used to defecate around your yard. This is done so that the cat can know the boundaries of its territory. In addition, other cats will also realize that your yard is your cat's territory.
Step 2. Make sure the cat is wearing a collar that contains your contact information
Just in case, make sure the cat always carries a badge with him when he roams outside. Place a necklace containing your name, cat's name, phone number, and home address on the cat's neck.
Cats can enter tight spaces, so make sure the collar is securely attached. The necklace should not be too loose so that it does not fall off. However, you should be able to fit 2 fingers between the collar and the cat's neck
Step 3. Install the microchip on the cat
A pet-only microchip is a device the size of a grain of rice that can reveal its owner's contact information when scanned. Installing a microchip is fairly inexpensive, so call the vet and have the cat microchipped just in case it gets lost.
Once the microchip is on your cat's neck or back, you'll need to update it frequently. If you recently moved house or changed phone numbers, call or visit the microchip company website to update your contact information
Step 4. Consider putting on a leash or letting the cat roam in an enclosed area
To keep the cat from getting lost, don't let it roam unattended. Take the cat for a walk while wearing a leash, keep the cat in the yard, or let him roam on the covered patio.
Putting them on a leash or letting them roam in an enclosed area is a good option if you live in an environment that is quite dangerous for cats, such as busy roads, predatory birds, or large dogs that roam a lot
Tips
- Once your cat is used to roaming outdoors, you can install a cat door on your back door so she can enter and leave as she pleases. These cat doors generally have sensors that can detect cat collars, so other animals cannot enter your home.
- Remember, most veterinarians recommend keeping pets indoors. Consider keeping the cat indoors, unless it exhibits uncorrectable destructive behavior.
- Alternatively, entertain the cat by providing lots of toys, scratching spots, hiding places, perches, and climbing places.
Warning
- Don't let your cat roam outside unattended if you live in an area where cats are dangerous, such as busy roads or predators.
- Do not allow cats under 6 months to roam outside the house. Even without considering vaccinations or neutering, cats under 6 months of age are too fragile to roam outdoors on their own.
