When Can Kittens Go Outside At Night
You may be tempted to let your cat outside as soon as possible but generally it s best to allow at least 2 3 weeks and up to 4 6 weeks after you first take them home.
When can kittens go outside at night. It s unlikely you ll take ownership of your cat much before then anyway since a kitten should be with its mother until it s at least eight weeks old ideally 12 13 weeks. Ideally cats should be six months of age before they are allowed outside unsupervised. It s not safe for a kitten to venture outside until at least a week after their initial vaccinations. This gives them time to mature and also to be neutered.
You ll need to play surrogate mom if mama cat is young not used to barn life or absent for some reason. A cat who remains indoors has very little chance of getting hypothermia. He wants to feel warm and safe in a protected place. You can gradually start introducing your cat to the great outdoors at about six months of age once they have been neutered spayed and had all of their injections.
This will give them plenty of time to settle in their new environment. You might entice your kitten to settle down in his own space if you place a hot water. That s when they re around 13 14 weeks old. A cat left outside on a cold night is in danger of developing hypothermia especially if it s raining.
Remember your kitten s needs are simple. It is highly recommended that your kitten is vaccinated with the essential vaccines at least 3 4 weeks before going outside for the first time. A reflective or fluorescent quick release collar may help get them seen particularly in the winter months when it gets dark earlier. However collars themselves are not without risk so ensure it fits properly on a regular basis.
If you don t want your kitten to sleep in bed with you it s best to start out by showing your kitten where he will be sleeping and gently urge him to make a habit of sleeping in this same spot at night. This will ensure that your kitten does not pick up any small illness that ends up making it very sick. Therefore we recommend keeping your cat indoors at night to protect them from the hazards of the roads. You can start to slowly introduce your kitten to the outside once his recall is in place for short supervised sessions always keeping your kitten in sight.
Hypothermia occurs when a cat s body temperature drops too low and severe cases of it can lead to a coma or death if the cat is not treated immediately by a veterinarian.