Most cat parents are protective and often question themselves whether or not it is fair to let their cat out of the home. We agree it can be scary and stressful when allowing a fur baby to explore outdoors with so many risks for the first time; however, when sufficient precautions are taken, we can say your cat will be just fine after that.
The first few times, you should accompany your cat during its outdoor expedition to keep it out of harm’s way. For instance, you can’t rule out accidents or your furball being attacked by a neighborhood cat or street animal, so you must consider being prepared with pet insurance for cats. Pet insurance covers your munchkin’s medical care during accidents, injuries, and emergencies.
Consider purchasing a policy so getting your furball required medical help during distressing health scenarios need not be financially taxing. Meanwhile, learn a few tips on letting your furball out for the first time safely.
1.Consider your cat’s age
Cats and young kittens must be ready before their owners can take them outside for the first time. Essentially you should wait for at least two weeks (or more, depending on your cat’s temperament) after adopting an adult cat, so it settles comfortably at home. In contrast, you must not allow baby cats to venture out unless they are over five months of age, fully vaccinated, and spayed/neutered.
Consult your vet to understand the health risks of a kitty roaming outside and for timely suggestions on avoiding unfavorable situations.
2.Practice calling your cat’s name
You should do this right from the days of kittenhood to help it get used to your calling and come to you when called by name. You can offer a few treats as a reward to reinforce the behavior. It can take enormous time, effort, and patience before your furball learns to respond to the recall cue. However, you should be giving up on this task because this step is vital to ensure your cat’s safety in vulnerable situations. Take the help of a cat behavioral trainer if you cannot do this on your own.
3.Establish a routine
Say, for example, you can leave your feline pet outside to stroll around the house for a brief period before lunch or dinner. Once your kitty is done exploring the place, you can call it in to have meals. Repeat this task for a few days so your cat registers the indoor-outdoor routine in its mind and returns inside at your first call.
If you are too scared about unsupervised outdoor visits, perhaps you can use a cat harness and leash and go out with your cat.
4.Provide access points
Provide multiple access points in your home so your fur ball can conveniently go out and return when it wants to. For instance, you can consider having open access points or cat flaps so your cat can cultivate the habit of going out with little hassle.
Follow these tips, so your feline’s first adventure is enjoyable and safe and motivates them to go out regularly. With this, you can stay confident that the odds of your cat not returning home are less. However, it always helps to be prepared with a medical financial backup in terms of pet insurance because a cat can get into a lot of trouble when solitarily roaming outdoors. Consider purchasing pet insurance for cats to support your munchkin with timely health care should anything unexpected or devastating happens during outdoor pursuits.
