When Can Kittens Go Outside At Night

A cat left outside on a cold night is in danger of developing hypothermia especially if it s raining.

When can kittens go outside at night. Ideally cats should be six months of age before they are allowed outside unsupervised. 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. 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. If it s a large area and especially if you have dogs fence off or somehow enclose an area where they are free to explore without them dropping off a wall or getting snatched up in rover s jaws.

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. Start bringing the kittens outside when they re four weeks old. If you think this may be the. A reflective or fluorescent quick release collar may help get them seen particularly in the winter months when it gets dark earlier.

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. It s best to let him out just before mealtime so you can use your recall to call your kitten indoors and reward with tasty food or playtime. This will give them plenty of time to settle in their new environment. That s when they re around 13 14 weeks old.

However collars themselves are not without risk so ensure it fits properly on a regular basis. Four months old is the earliest kittens can be neutered. If your cat restlessly wanders around your house at night meowing or crying he may be suffering from an underlying medical problem that causes pain or discomfort. This gives them time to mature and also to be neutered.

It s not safe for a kitten to venture outside until at least a week after their initial vaccinations. This will ensure that your kitten does not pick up any small illness that ends up making it very sick. A cat who remains indoors has very little chance of getting hypothermia.