It is best not to leave your kitten outside alone until it is 6 months old and it is essential that it is neutered (from 4 months of age) before allowing it unsupervised access. If you have adopted an adult cat you probably will have been advised to keep it in for 2-3 weeks to settle into its new home.
Some people believe that letting cats go outside gives them a better quality of life. But most experts agree that staying indoors is the healthier choice for cats. If you want to give your cat the best of both worlds, you can try leash-training your kitty with a specially designed cat harness to help keep them safe.
Let them explore in their own time and don't panic if they hop over a fence, or go further than you feel comfortable, most cats come back after a few minutes, at which point you can give them a tasty treat to encourage their return.
On average, many veterinary professionals agree that when the temperature hits the freezing mark of 32 degrees, its too cold for a domesticated, indoor cat. Most, however, suggest that even 45 degrees is too cold for a cat to be outside, and recommend keeping them in.
We'd strongly advise that anything below 7 degrees Celsius is too cold for a cat to go outside. If your cat is hairless, has a particularly short coat or is old, young or sick, this temperature will be much too low for them, and we'd highly recommend that you keep them indoors, and warm.
How cold is too cold? Below 13° - If your home is this cold, it may increase your blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease. 14-15° - If your home is this cold, you may be diminishing your resistance to respiratory diseases. 18° - This is the recommended night time bedroom temperature.
Their first instinct is to find a place to hide. If they have ever escaped before they will run the same direction and go the same place they did before (even if it was years ago). Cats will usually stay within a 3-4 house radius from where they went out as long as they can find a place to hide within that area.
Of stray animals entering shelters in USA and Australia, reported reclaim percentages for cats are typically 2–4% compared to reclaim percentages for dogs which usually range from 26–40%, but can be as high as 90% [6,7,8]. Cats are 13 times more likely to return to owners by means other than a visit to a shelter [9].
And for most of the time, cats that go outside of their homes tend to be just around the corner — literally. On average, it turned out that the cats spent a vast majority (79%) of their time outdoors while being just 50 meters or less away from home, with the maximum average distance being around 352 meters.
Cats can be kept indoors or go outdoors in a purpose built enclosure which allows them to explore the outdoors without the risk of roaming.
Stress. Stress is another common reason why cats run away. Cats are creatures of habit – they don't like changes in the household or to their routine.
Some cat owners fear that keeping their cat confined to the inside will decrease their quality of life, but most vets claim that indoor cats are just as happy as outdoor cats. Although your cat may beg to be let outside, they're most likely more than happy to be kept safe in the confines of your home.
Cats do often 'go walkabout' for days or even weeks at a time. They are incredibly good at looking after themselves and are more than capable of hunting, scavenging or otherwise getting hold of food. They frequently find shelter under buildings, in sheds, under cars or even in well meaning people's homes.
There are many reasons why cats run away from home, including fear, searching for a mate, looking for somewhere quiet to give birth, or simple curiosity. “It's unlikely that many cats actually 'run away' in the sense of purposefully leaving their current home,” says Head Veterinarian of Cooper Pet Care, Patrik Holmboe.
Cats can smell over a mile depending on wind conditions. Then make the scent strip and “Cat Chum” (Described below) trails back in the most direct and safe way to your house and/or traps.
Cats live in the moment and don't see time in the same way we do. They don't have a concept of the past or future, so won't be thinking of you when you're away, wondering what you're up to or where you've gone. They'll only remember you when you show up again and they recognise your familiar smell or sounds.
Curiosity: Plain-old curiosity is reason enough for a cat to try and explore what lies outside of the front door. Naturally, cats will want to know where you're off to when they see you step outside, increasing the chance that they'll follow suit.
When an indoor-only cat escapes outdoors, it is “displaced” into unfamiliar territory. Usually they will look for the first place that will offer concealment and protection. Their instinctive response is to hide in silence because that is their primary protection from predators.
Check everything; inside dustbins, water butts, compost bins, outside storage boxes and under hedges. While you're searching, take time to stop and listen for the sound of scratching or faint meows. If you still cannot find them, ask your immediate neighbours to check their garages, sheds, and greenhouses.
4Low indoor temperatures and insulation. Cold air inflames lungs and inhibits circulation, increasing the risk of respiratory conditions, such as asthma attacks or symptoms, worsening of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and infection.
For example, the ideal temperature of a living room should be around 20 to 22 degrees. This is a room for relaxing in, and where you sit for long periods of time, meaning it should be on the warmer side. Meanwhile, the best temperature for a bathroom or child's bedroom should be warmer too at 22 to 24 degrees.
Lowest temperature you should allow in your home
Octopus Energy say the temperature in your home should never fall below 15C (59F), in order to avoid mould building up which can cause major damage to your property and health.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.