When you have a cat it can be difficult to make sure that they are safe in the outside world. There are a few things you can keep into consideration when you have a cat and are worried about the visit it has outside.
Know when to let your cat outside: You should let your cat go outside once you make sure that they have settled in your house. It will depend on their personality. A good idea is to let your adult cat sit at home and let them out after 2-3 or even 4-6 weeks after. However, for the kittens, the situation can be slightly different. It is important to make sure that the kitten grows up to 4 months before letting them outside. The cat should be safe whenever they go out, the first few times you can ensure that you let them out easily in the beginning by sitting with them on the balcony.
Make the cat identifiable: Whenever you are planning to let your cat get out, it is important to make sure that they are identifiable. Microchip your cat and make sure that it is linked to the contact details. These details should be updated. This can come in very handy in case of an emergency.
Getting a vaccine: If your cat is going to go outdoors, make sure you inform your vet about it and take any required injections that you might need. Outdoor cats do require additional vaccines apart from the ones required regularly.
Keeping water and food: If your cat does like going outside quite a lot, it is important to make sure that the water is kept outside is easily available. Place enough cat food You can also add more calories during winters. Giving them good nutrition and enough water is very important for your cat.
Watching out for toxins: Having your cat going outdoors can mean that it will encounter things that can be harmful to you. These could be in the form of trash cans, pesticides, and other animals as well. The outside space should be more inviting and space for a cat. Keep cat health and wellness products handy.
Training them to come home: An important aspect that you must look into is that when you let your cat go outside, it is also important to make sure that you are training them for several things. One of these is, making sure your cat comes home on time. You can develop this practice by teaching it how to come back on your command. This can be done using treats. You need to get Cat litter boxes and supplies available to your cat inside and outside.
Time dangers: When you are letting your cat go outside, you need to keep time into consideration apart from the weather. This is because during night time your cat might wander off on roads, cars might flashlight on them unexpectedly. This could result in fatal incidents as well. It is a good idea to be around your cat especially in the beginning so that you and the cat both become familiar with the surroundings.
These are some of the aspects you can take into consideration when you are beginning to take your cat to the outside. It would be a good idea to add a shelter on the outside. Along with this, you can also add a cat door that they can flip out whenever they are ready.