Dogs must go for a walk every day to be happy, Cats too? The reality is that yes, or at least, they should. All animals have lived in the open air since their origins, so they have not lost the need to be. There are species that have been able to adapt very well to living in a home, but that does not mean that from time to time they want to be out of it.
Of course, on many occasions the ideal is not to let them leave, either because we live in a city or in a town with a high population density, but if this is not the case, At what age can a cat be let out?
At what age can a cat come out?
The answer is… it depends. Each one lets him / her leave at the age he / she considers appropriate. I can tell you that what I do is not leave him until he meets the minimum five months old. At that age, the furry has already learned which house he lives in, which is the first thing he should know before going out in search of adventure.
Besides, I think that also it is essential that you learn to wear a collar before opening the door. He will carry a plaque with a phone number on the necklace just in case, so in case of loss it will be much easier to locate his human family.
When can it be let out and when can it not?
The cat loves to be outside, but today we humans focus on cities and towns that are getting bigger and bigger. This means that the streets are filled with cars and all kinds of vehicles, which represent a danger to the animal. Although the situation arises that we would like our furry to come out, it is very important to take this into account.
Then, When to let it out When there are few dangers. If you live in a rural environment or in a secluded and quiet area of the town or city, for example. Another option is to take him for a walk with harness, which is certainly safer. If you don't know how, in this article We explain it to you.
Advantages of letting your cat go outside
If you are one of the people who thinks that letting a cat go outside is above the disadvantages (that it can run over, fights, get sick ...), then you will be interested to know some of the advantages that your feline will have if you let him enjoy of the open air.
Will not get fat
Cats that go outside and have more movement will have less tendency to gain weight compared to cats that barely move or that live on floors without access to the outdoors. Cats that go for a walk outside burn more calories than those that spend the day sleeping. They will also be more likely to have better health by avoiding diseases associated with obesity such as kidney problems, heart problems or diabetes.
Although it must also be borne in mind, that cats that live in homes without going outside have a longer life expectancy than those that go outside. Normally indoor cats can live between 15 and 20 years, on the other hand, cats that go outside usually live 5 years at most. This means that it is not known whether cats that go outside could get sick when they grow old, because they do not arrive.
Your cat will feel good
When a cat spends time outdoors it can be better for his mood and for his mental health. You will enjoy nature, you will be in other settings and you will enjoy life more ... Although doing so involves putting your life at risk. When a cat goes too outdoors unattended, the chances of having some kind of accident drastically increase.
It will behave as it is
Cats when they are in flats or in closed homes can be themselves but in a different way. This means that its instinctive cat behavior, such as hunting, suppresses it because they do not have the necessary stimuli to be able to behave that way. Cats are hunters by nature, so if he goes outside he can hunt and let his instinct go free.
The problem with all this is that, in addition to hunting, cats are also exposed to diseases that they can contract outside or from the animals they hunt. Also They will be exposed to those with bad intentions who kill the cats that they think are stray (or not), for fun.
The sandbox will not have so much dirt
Although it is true that it seems an advantage, in reality it is not. If your cat goes outside a lot and does his business outside the home, it is true that the litter box will not have unpleasant odors or at least not as often. But if your cat has a kidney problem, urine infection or some problem that can be detected through its needs, such as diarrhea ... you will NOT know.
Myths of the advantages of letting the cat go outside
There are also certain myths that occur when cats go outside, which it is better to stop believing because it really does them no good if the owners create these things. Some of these myths are:
Cats produce more vitamin D when they go out
It is not true that cats need to go outside to produce more vitamin D ... On the other hand, if they go out too much and get too much sun, what you may be more likely to have are burns and skin cancer.
It is good that I eat grass
Do you think it is good for him to eat grass because that way he purges himself or because it gives him nutrients? Badly done! Cats can eat grass when they go outside, but that is not good for them nor does it add anything special to their diet. In fact, if they eat grass, something can get stuck in their nose or throat that can cause breathing problems or even suffocation. It's also worth remembering that outdoor grass is often sprayed with pesticides, which can be toxic and deadly to a cat.
That your cat enjoys the outside is good, because that way he enjoys his life more ... but it is better that if you allow him to go outside, you always do it in a confined place. Namely, delimit the place where your cat can go for a walk and that way, you will also be delimiting the areas so that your cat is not in too much danger.
The best option for your cat to have a long and healthy life is for it to stay indoors and be happy in the areas of your home, also if you have outdoors ... but not to go outside. It is a cruel world for your cat and anything bad could happen to him. There are also people who are dedicated to hurting animals and you don't want your little feline to go through something like that, right? Although there are some advantages to letting him out, it is certainly not the best option if you want your cat to be well all the time.
Final Tips
If in the end you decide to give your cat permission to go out, I would like to give you a few tips so that both you and he can be much calmer:
- Teach your cat its name before letting him out to come to you every time you call him.
- It is highly recommended don't leave it out at night, since this is when there are more active cats, which could increase the risk of fights and, therefore, of contagion of diseases.
- Shell it or sterilize it to avoid unwanted litters and, also, to keep it closer (a neutered or spayed cat never goes far from home).
- You can put a GPS necklace to know at all times where it is.
- Put a antiparasitic treatment (Pipettes are the most advisable, since you only have to pour the liquid on the back of the neck once a month) to avoid fleas, ticks and other parasites.
Thus, your feline can fully enjoy the outdoors.