At what age do i start to let my cat outside?

Question

ok i got a kitten and it's getting to be about 9-10 weeks old, about how old should he be before i start letting him outside on his own, and do i go out there with him to supervise like how do i handle this

we have a vicious dog in our neighborhood, and mildly busy street, the dog isn't out much and is usually well mannered but has chased my older cat, so help me out

Answer 1

As one of thousands of happy indoor/outdoor cat owners, I'd say wait until the kitten has firstly had all it's shots. Then, get it microshipped, do tick and flea treatment, and get a collar with a tag and a break-away clasp.
For safety, I don't let mine out for a few months, for a few reasons. Firstly, the cat has to be bonded to the house properly, later if it's not, there's no going back in most cases, and that's not a chance worth taking.
Second chance is the kitten has to be at least 5 months old physically, so it can get OUT of trouble fast enough.
You have to teach your cat about safety outdoors, that cars and roads and dopgs are bad. That takes time.
Letting an animal outside like that if you've done all of that does not mean not loving one's animal, that's pathetic. We've just realised it's not a fluffy toy, and that there are ways of letting the animal into it's NATURAL habitat (since it was not created in a petri dish) safely, so everyon'e happy and everyone wins.
In your case there's a dog you want to watch out for - so here's what you do - don't let the cat out unsupervised for the first month that you let him out. If he strays into any other yard, put him inside and keep him in for a month. Every time.
This is how my cat does not leave our garden although she easily could. We live between a freeway and a busy road.

If you do the abovem there will be no problem - or you can invest into a Purrfect Cat Fence system, they're available around the globe.

Answer 2

I am so sick of reading the overly emotional comments stating that cats should be left indoors because of the following reasoning. Cats are NOT children....they are natural predators. Outdoor cats are very beneficial. For those of you who have never lived on a farm, they are great for keeping the rodent population under control. There is NOTHING wrong with using a cat for rodent control, which in turn cuts down the on the amount of snakes on the property. This does not mean that you cannot give attention to you outdoor cat. The process is easy. Once the cat has been accustomed to you home and family, as well as received all of the shots (12-14 weeks), then the cat can start going outside. It should be supervised so that you can tell it where to go and not to go. During this time, the cat should be let back inside the house because it is too young to take care of itself overnight. Once the cat is about 5 months old, it is agile enough to be left outside. I would recommend daily affection if possible, so that the cat does not lose interest in the your property. Good luck

Answer 3

Wait until she is between 6 and 8 months old, with vaccinations. Get her microchipped and get her a nice full collar with a break-away clasp. Also get her onto something for ticks and fleas. Teach her about outdoors bit by bit, first just a bit then longer and you will need to teach her that cars and roads are bad, and that other animals and people are bad. How you do this is to hold her, and walk around with her outside, and when you hear a car, breathe fast as if you are panicking, and when you see it, pretend to be really anxious, and dash inside with her. Whren the car has passed, slow your breathing, and let out a sigh as if to say "phew, that one missed us". Do that a few times with dogs, other cats, people and cars and youshould have no worries, I am training my kitten like that and he's learnt so well, he sees anyone or even hears a car and makes a mad dash for inside the house. He is 7 months old with a ferocious set of claws. I pity any other cat that takes him on, honestly. What the people who keep their cats indoors do not realise is that if you look after your cat and teach them about outdoors safely, they can live out their entire lifespan, and they often get confused between indoor/outdoor and feral. Feral only live a few years cause they have no immunity to FLV and stuff, whereas a cat who is up to date on all shot has. Don't even think twice about the indoor issue unless you live in an area where they steal cats, where there are cyote or jackal, and where there are eagles and stuff. Or if you are on busy roads or main roads. Honestly.

Answer 4

Your cat will live longer and be healthier if he's an indoor cat. If he's outside, he could get hit by a car, bitten by another animal, get stuck up in a tree, etc.

Don't let your cat out especially if there's a vicious dog in the neighborhood! And even though seems to me that cats are generally smarter about crossing streets than dogs, they can still be taken by surprise. It isn't worth potential tragedy.

Besides, if he's indoors, he'll be around you more often. When you go on vacation, you won't have to worry about him as much.

Answer 5

No serious or informed answers to the question. just a lot of over emotional statements paranoid about losing poor kitty! We have two eight month kittens replacing our last outdoor cat of sixteen years and hoped for some genuine advice on the optimum age for introducing them to the outdoors?

Answer 6

it may just be best if he's an indoor cat from what you said about your neighborhood. This may be the best thing because you know he will be safe. Then, when you have time you could bring him outside on a leash or into a fenced-in area. My neighbor does this with her cats and they have a dog kennel thats all fenced-in and has a house and some food and water that she lets her cats in because they are indoor cats. I just put my cats on the leash or keep them near me if they want to go out. I just keep a good eye on them.

Answer 7

The safest place for you cat is indoors...you do not necessarily have to let your cat out...if he has never been out he will not know any better. The many dangers of going outside include the following:
being hit by a car
being attacked by a wild animal or dog
getting tortured of poisoned by a person
getting poisoned by eating rat poison, snail bait, antifreeze, etc.
getting in cat fights resulting in infection, disease, or abscess
picking up parasites such as fleas, worms, ticks, ear mites

Also, make sure and get him neutered before he can get a female pregnant..usually 5-6 months of age.

You could let him out only under close supervision if you MUST let him out..otherwise I don't see why he would'nt be a perfectly happy indoor pet.

Answer 8

Why on earth would you want to let this cat outside? Where'd you get this kitten? From a shelter where you signed something stating it WOULDN'T go outside? And there's a "vicious dog" in your neighbourhood and yet you STILL want it to go outside?? Geezus!!!

Please keep this cat INSIDE where it belongs and please read this: http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=indoorsoroutdoors

PS: Unicornridger - what kind of advice are you giving people on here? How many cats will die because of your outlandish advice? Domestic cats didn't "come from outdoors" like you're implying. They're PETS. They're DOMESTIC. Please educate yourself because a lot of pets are going to die - because of YOU!

Answer 9

it really depends on how your kitten has grown. if it is about as big as an adult cat you let it out. Coz i have a personal experiecnce, my kitten accidentally got into our garden at home and my dad was giving the dogs a bath then, one of the dogs ran after my kitten and, and, and my little kitten died.
(waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh) don't let it happen to yours. please, don't let it happen

Answer 10

You don't let him out at all unless you want him hit by a car. Cats are pets..not wild animals that belong outside.