what is the best age to start to let your cat or kitten outside for the first time alone.?

Question

just wondering i have a kitten and i want her to be indoors and outdoors cat but i wansnt sure when a good age was to start to let her out alone. im nervous ill let her out to early and she wont bealbe to defend herself fully.

Answer 1

12-14 weeks... at MINIMUM, and I'd be keeping the door cracked so the cat could escape back into the house quickly.

Otherwise you are looking at around 6 months.. the age a cat can adeptly climb a tree, and get itself back down again, if need be...

Get the cat its Parvo/leukemia/rabies and other shots BEFORE you let it roam outside..

Answer 2

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 3

My cat was born outside and I brought him home almost 2 years ago when he was barely 5 weeks (he would have died otherwise because of where he was and how his mother was). I let him out with me watching after a few days (it was cold outside and I knew he wouldn't go too far from warmth and food). He has been in a couple of fights, but he's still here and still healthy (we even moved when he was about 6 months old, and had no problems with the transition). Whatever you do, keep the shots updated and don't get her declawed if she's going to be outside at all. Getting her fixed would also be a good idea (not only will that help prevent lots of babies, it will also keep males off when she's in heat and prevent fights that way). Cats have lived for centuries outside and if they can't defend themselves, they have an amazing ability to climb (number one reason not to declaw). Another thing to consider is to start bathing your kitten while she's still young so she gets used to it. That way you can keep her clean and give her flea baths. My cat gets a bath once a week in the summer, a little less often in the winter. Good luck.

Answer 4

I think that really depends on the neighborhood you live in. I would start taking her outside now... and just be with her while she wanders around. Make sure you are in an enclosed area where she cannot get out of. We adopted a kitten that we found in a dumpster and we already had two outdoor cats. We just started letting him out with the two older cats and he would always come back. If the kitten knows where she can get food and is happy where she lives, then she will always come back.

Answer 5

Unfortunately no cat can totally defend itself outdoors. Cars, dogs, people can be a danger and diseases can be picked up on the ground. I hope you think about keeping your cat indoors as he will be safe. If you do let her out wait until she is at least 6 months old.

Answer 6

Do not let your cat outdoors. They live longer, healthier lives when kept indoors, only.

Outside they can contract rabies, worms,cat herpes, distemper, cat fever, fleas, and can be attacked by predators of all sizes and types. In addition to that, too many cats get pregnant or run over by a car.

If you love your cat, get her spayed, wormed, get her shots and keep her indoors. We have 11 cats and the only time any one of them goes outdoors is in a carrier, going for a vet visit.

I had one cat live to be 22 years old and I have a 20 year old cat that is still active, though just a tiny bit senile.

Answer 7

In MY opinion.......never! The dangers to outdoor cats are astronomical. Do you know that outdoor cats live many fewer years than indoor ones? Some of the outdoor dangers???? CARS, DOGS, ANTIFREEZE UNDER CARS, OTHER POISONS, FAN BELTS (if the cat gets scared/cold, and climbs up under the hood). Way too many to expose an animal that you love to. What possible reason could you have for putting her in that kind of danger? Think long and hard before you do this.....your cat's life depends on it! Good luck..................................

Answer 8

There are animals outside that specialize in killing other animals for food. Do you really want your cat to just be part of the food chain. It is no match for any wild animal.
Do you have gobs of money you don't know what to do with to pay for vet bills?
Have you fully trained your pet about how cars can kill it?

If you let your cat live outside, you had better answer yes to all the above first.

Answer 9

i wouldnt let her out start putting a leash n harness on her so she gets used to it then go out with her she will be much safer theres way too manythings that could happen to her out alone i would never let my kitten out alone but i love taking her out on a leash its so cute u just have to start them early like get a harness n let her walk around by erself in the house a litte every now n then then ut a leash on her n walk around with her then start taking her outside but if its as cold where u r as it is here i would wait to take her out till spring so she doesnt get sick anyway thats what i did with my kitty n shes about 7 months now and so good on a leash and i will never have to worry what happened to her if she doesnt come hom eif she got hit or stolen or something horrible like that n we can hang out outside together its a dangerous place out there for a little kitty

Answer 10

Cats do not have to go outside to be happy. I have had 5 cats over the years and they have all been happy inside. When I let one out under supervision, she just wants back in! I play with them and give them toys to exercise with and it works just fine.