This entry was posted on 2023-07-19 by Pet Heaven Store.

Kittens

Allowing a kitten to explore outside for the first time can be stressful for both kitten and owner!! Here’s how to successfully introduce a kitten to the outside world.

What are the benefits of letting my kitten outside?

Cats make wonderful house pets and as long as they have enough stimulation, they can live long and healthy lives without ever venturing outside.

But, having said that, there are many benefits to letting your kitten outdoors: it allows them to practice their natural instincts to hunt and explore, encourages exercise and mental stimulation and can reduce stress in your pet.

When can I allow my kitten to go outside? What do I need to keep in mind?

Kittens are usually vaccinated at 9 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. These vaccinations are vital to protect them against diseases that can be caught form other cats. The vaccinations need time to be fully effective, so wait till at least 2 weeks after the second vaccination before letting your kitten out. This should be in a secure garden and under the owner’s careful supervision. It is also highly recommended that any new kitten owner has their pet microchipped.

Keep in mind that kittens can get pregnant from as early as four months old so, if your pet is likely to come into contact with other cats, you should consider having your pet spayed.

What are the risks of allowing my kitten outside?

At any age, a cat faces a number of risks whenever they venture outdoors. Whether it’s other cats or animals, poisonous plants or the risks associated with busy roads, the outside world makes for a potentially hazardous environment.

But for many owners, seeing their pet explore the world outside for the first time is a very rewarding experience.

How can I prepare my kitten for their first visit outside?

Train your kitten to recognise its name before allowing them outside. You can do this by calling their name whenever you feed them or give them a treat – this helps develop a positive association with their name being called and means they’re more likely to respond when you’re outdoors.

When you’re ready to go outside, I’d suggest picking a quiet day around the house so your kitten is as calm as possible. Try leaving the door to the garden open for a little while before the morning feed to encourage your pet to explore in his or her own time. Stay close by and, after a few minutes, bring them back indoors and reward them with a treat. Repeating this over a few days will help build your kitten’s confidence.

How can I kitten-proof my garden?

Most cats cope pretty well with the garden environment, but make sure you carry out common sense checks around your garden for things like sharp edges, rusty nails, especially in areas that might be tempting for your kitten to squeeze into.

Kittens are very inquisitive and can fit through the tiniest of spaces, so make sure you keep an eye out for those areas you might not otherwise check. Also check for any holes in fences, items such as string that they could get caught up in, and any poisonous plants.

Also look for toxic items such as slug pellets, poisonous plants (such as daffodils and lilies), rodenticides and toads.

What about other cats?

Cats can sometimes squabble, so check your pet regularly for any signs that they may have been in a fight. Look out for things like bite wounds that can sometimes become infected or form abscesses if left untreated. And to avoid unwanted pregnancies, my advice is to have female kittens spayed at six months old.

Puppies

Taking your puppy outside for the first time can also be a stressful experience, but it’s a big part of any dog’s development as they get accustomed to other people, other dogs and the sights, smells and sounds of the wider world.

If you have a garden or outside space that’s safe, secure, clean (no faeces or junk lying around and there was no parvo or other transmissible diseases in your garden for the last year) and free from other dogs, then you can let your puppy out immediately.

When you can take your puppy outside for their first walk depends on their vaccination status. Vaccinations provide invaluable protection against several diseases that your puppy is likely to be exposed to, such as canine distemper virus and canine parvovirus. Having your puppy vaccinated will protect them against these potentially fatal diseases and stop them from passing disease on to other animals, so it is important to get your puppy vaccinated as soon as possible.

Puppies are usually vaccinated at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age. The vaccinations take time to take effect, so avoid taking them outside until at least 2 weeks after the second vaccination.

What’s the best way to introduce my pup to the outdoors?

Ideally, introduce them to the outdoors in an enclosed space or garden that’s been checked for potential hazards. Take it slowly, stay close by and make your visits short so your pup gradually gets used to it.

Letting your pup explore the garden helps with toilet training, learning about what they can and can’t play with and is good for their general development. Before taking your pup for their first walk, I’d suggest also getting your pup used to wearing their collar or harness by fixing it loosely while indoors.

How should I prepare my garden?

It’s important to make sure your garden is safe by removing any potential hazards. This includes things like rat or slug pellets, pine cones that they can choke on, and sharp edges, broken glass or exposed nails that could cause injury.

Also block any holes in fences that a puppy could escape from, cover up water features and ponds and secure dustbin lids too.

What should I do on my first walk?

Taking your pup for their first walk is a big moment for both dog and owner, so take things steady, remain relaxed and keep a careful eye on your pup at all times.

There’s a lot for your pup to take in, so I always suggest keeping the first walk short – around five to ten minutes. This will prevent your pup from getting overwhelmed or anxious. Let your puppy set the pace and stop whenever he or she wants to.

If your puppy becomes scared, try not to comfort them too much. By doing so, you might make them think that there’s a good reason to be worried and thereby reinforce their anxiety. Instead, remain calm and move on. If your puppy becomes distressed then I’d recommend returning home for the day.

What’s the best way of dealing with traffic?

Road safety is crucial. From the very first walk, teach your puppy to stop at the curb and wait for your instruction. Again, remain calm and allow your pup to get used to the sights and sounds of passing traffic.

What about other dogs?

If your puppy is confident enough, let them greet other dogs. But keep the meeting short and try to avoid any over-excitement. If your pup is very nervous, don’t approach other dogs to begin with and allow your pet to build more confidence.