Letting Your Cat Outside: How To Safely Give Them Time Outdoors

Forbes

5 hours ago

Welcome to Pet Peeves, a monthly series that aims to provide pet care solutions and expert advice for challenging scenarios that involve your beloved animal companions.
If you have a cat, chances are you've noticed their propensity for trying to escape out of any open door or window possible—and perhaps you've considered giving them a little taste of the outdoors to satisfy their natural instincts to explore. While it might be tempting to give your cats free rein to the outdoors, letting your cat outside without supervision exposes them to a host of risk factors: predators, the potential of being hit by a vehicle, getting into fights with other cats and many other dangerous situations that can lead to serious injuries, disease or death.
Letting your cat outside safely may require being patient with harness training until they're ... More comfortable wearing one. Illustration: Forbes / Image: Getty
'​​There's a lot of evidence that [cats] live longer, healthier lives when they aren't given unrestricted access to the outdoors,' says Annie Valuska, principal scientist on Purina's pet behavior team. 'That said, if we're not going to give them unrestricted outdoor access, the burden becomes ours to make up for what they're missing by not getting to go out.'
There are plenty of ways, however, to safely give your cat experiences outside. 'I think being outdoors can be an amazing source of enrichment,' says Jennifer Van de Kieft, owner of Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. 'Most of what I see in my practice are behavior issues, and so much of it is related to just boredom. Boredom is stressful.' Allowing your cat outside so they can smell and see novel things—under supervision—can be a huge benefit to their overall well-being. I chatted with Valuska and Van de Kieft, as well as relied on my own expertise (as someone who has lived with cats for nearly four decades) to provide some insights into how you can indulge in your cat's natural desire to adventure outdoors while also minimizing risk.
If you've thought about using a harness to allow your kitty to explore, look for one that's easy to put on your cat but difficult for them to get out of, like this Kitty Holster cat harness . When it comes to actually getting the harness on your cat's body, don't expect to simply place it on your cat and be ready to go within minutes, as you would with a dog. You'll need to be prepared to take things slow in order to successfully get them used to the idea of wearing one. Valuska notes that it may be easier to harness train a kitten than an adult cat, but either way: 'It's going to be really important to go at that cat's pace. You might have to start just by showing them the harness.'
Van de Kieft echoes that it's all about breaking things down into baby steps and creating positive associations along the way. This means giving them treats when you show them the harness, or using any kind of positive reinforcement that they prefer; that could include brushing them, petting them or giving them playtime if they're not a treat-motivated cat. After reinforcing your cat's every interaction with the harness, you might want to just touch your cat with the harness, doing this on several different occasions and again pairing that with something positive.
Once you're ready to try actually putting the harness on, do so for short intervals at a time, providing treats or other reinforcements along the way. Some cats will comfortably wear a harness in a couple days and others may need a few weeks or a month-plus to get there.
The safest place for using a harness on your cat is within your own backyard or outdoor space, and you'll of course want to make sure any plants or flowers within reach are nontoxic to cats as well. While this still leaves them vulnerable to aerial predators, or even animals like coyotes that can make their way into your yard, if you're supervising them at all times that is much less likely to happen.
Public spaces like parks come with additional risk, but if that's your only option, you'll just want to be vigilant. 'What I worry about if you're taking the cat into a park … is dogs that are not being properly supervised,' says Valuska. 'If you're going to do that, I think it's possible to still do it safely. You just have to be aware of the risks, and scanning at all times and really keeping that in mind—so that you're ready to act and get the cat up and with you away from a dog or any other terrestrial animal.'
Bringing a carrier along with you if you're taking your cat beyond the confines of your home can also be valuable for added safety. Van de Kieft likes to use a carrier for several reasons: 'Maybe there's a big dog who's a little bit out of control. Getting your cat in a carrier and kind of having them in a safe space is so much better than your cat freaking out and maybe Houdini-ing out of the harness," she says. 'I really feel strongly about taking some kind of carrier with you that your cat's familiar with.' (I've had the EliteField carrier pictured below for years, and it's not only comfortable to carry but it has also held up very well after frequent use.)
She recommends that instead of walking your cat out the door while wearing a harness, like you would a dog, that you instead place them in the carrier and then head off, taking them out of the carrier when you've reached your destination. This also allows them to have access to a safe space if, for instance, you're bringing them to a park and there's too much stimulation for their liking; they can always just retreat back to the carrier.
Before giving your cat any access to the outdoors, even if it's just a private catio, you'll want to make sure they're up to date on their vaccines as well as on flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. (Most veterinarians will likely encourage you to keep them on these preventatives even if they're an indoor-only cat, as mosquitos, fleas and ticks can make their way inside your home too.) If you've adopted your pet from a shelter or rescue, your kitty will probably already be microchipped, but if they aren't, it's imperative to go ahead and get that done as well. If your cat ever gets lost, their finder can easily bring them to any local veterinarian or shelter to scan them for a microchip and ensure a safe return home. The Case For A Catio
Truly committed cat guardians may want to consider installing a catio (that is, an enclosure for their cats) if they have adequate outdoor space to do so. 'I think the absolute safest option for cats to have outdoor access is some sort of fully enclosed catio,' says Valuska. 'That is going to keep them safe from any potential predators, and they're going to be close to you so you can supervise them at all times.'
While one option is to hire a local business to build a custom catio, depending on how handy you are, you may want to craft one yourself; a variety of DIY catio plans are available across the internet. 'In an ideal catio, you would have vertical space, you would have hiding spots, comfortable resting spots, maybe scratching options,' says Van de Kieft. There are also plenty of premade options , from window perches if you're not working with a ton of space to larger, walk-in setups you can purchase from sites like Chewy. Is A Cat Stroller Right For You?
Another option for giving your cat a taste of the outdoors without requiring them to walk around on the ground is a cat stroller. I use a stroller to take my cats to vet appointments, and it's a handy way to not only transport them longer distances by foot but also to let them view and smell the world around them while being enclosed in a safe space. While some of my cats have absolutely loved their stroller rides, others have been a little more hesitant or nervous. Van de Kieft corroborates this, noting that going outside isn't necessarily for every cat. As enthusiastic as some cat guardians may be to provide this experience to their pet, 'I think you really have to evaluate whether or not your cat's personality is a match for it,' she says.
The Tavo Pets Maeve + Roscoe 3-In-1 Pet Stroller is a high-end option I love that doubles as a carrier and car seat. If you aren't yet sure if a stroller is for you and you don't want to invest too much in one, Pet Gear strollers are also quality products with a lower price tag.
Whether you're taking them outside on a harness or in a stroller, be attuned to your cat's body language throughout the process to ensure that every step of the way is a positive experience for them. For instance, if they exhibit fearful-type behavior like dilated eyes, a stiff body with their tail tucked or hiding, don't force them to do anything further. On the other hand, if your cat seems excited, with their tail up and a loose body, you can feel comfortable continuing. Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted home team covers a wide range of pet products, from litter boxes to the best cat food , as well as pet care topics, like how to make traveling with pets less stressful and guidance for keeping your dog comfortable on rainy days . Our tips and recommended products are expert- and editor-backed, to help our readers make the smartest decisions for their pets. Emmy Favilla , the author of this story and our monthly 'Pet Peeves' column, is a 20-year media veteran who has spent the last eight years professionally testing and reviewing products, including a variety of pet care items, from dog food delivery services to dog beds to toys. She has worked in a volunteer capacity with both cat and dog rescues and at New York City-based animal shelters for the greater part of the last 15 years, and has cared for dogs, cats and rabbits for most of her life.
, the author of this story and our monthly 'Pet Peeves' column, is a 20-year media veteran who has spent the last eight years professionally testing and reviewing products, including a variety of pet care items, from to to toys. She has worked in a volunteer capacity with both cat and dog rescues and at New York City-based animal shelters for the greater part of the last 15 years, and has cared for dogs, cats and rabbits for most of her life. This piece was edited by TKTKT.
We consulted Annie Valuska , PhD, principal scientist on Purina's pet behavior team with over 20 years of animal behavior experience. Valuska is also an animal shelter volunteer and board member at Friends of the Animal Shelter. She regularly shares animal behavior tips and guidance for pet guardians via TikTok and Instagram .
, PhD, principal scientist on Purina's pet behavior team with over 20 years of animal behavior experience. Valuska is also an animal shelter volunteer and board member at Friends of the Animal Shelter. She regularly shares animal behavior tips and guidance for pet guardians via and . We also chatted with Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC, owner of Cat Advocate , a feline behavior consulting company. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition and provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues.
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