It’s natural for us cat owners to feel protective over our little bundles of fluff when it comes to allowing them out into the big wide world for the first time. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it will hopefully make us aware of all the hazardous things that are bound to stimulate our kitten’s natural curiosity and motivate us to make the garden as safe as possible.
Here are some tips to help alleviate your concerns:
Access to the garden should be allowed under supervision for short periods initially (supervised access outside is recommended until neutering (at 5-6 months old usually but can be done earlier).
It’s a good idea to time the first few outings for just before a meal time – your cat is more likely to want to come back if he’s hungry!
Make sure your kitten is microchipped for identification or has a safely fitted quick-release collar with a tag showing a contact telephone number just in case.
Once neutered, if the environment is appropriate, a cat flap can be fitted for free access during the day. Microchip cat flaps are very useful as they can be programmed to operate by a cat’s exclusive microchip number.
Lock the cat flap at night in built-up areas or environments with a high cat population.
Then take a deep breath and let him take his first steps outside!