Microchipping
Your kitten and the great outdoors
Your kitten shouldn't be allowed outside the home until
she's completed her first course of vaccinations. And even
then, you should wait a further 2 weeks, to make certain the
vaccine has had time to take effect. A good age to let her
experience the outside world is 14-16 weeks, but please don't
let her out unaccompanied until she's really confident; a good
guide is whether she's big enough to use the cat flap. While
she's little, you should stay with her when she plays, and make
sure she doesn't wander off. Of course, when she's older,
she'll go her own way.
Some people prefer to keep their cats indoors, which is
fine, as long as they have enough exercise around the house.
There's no reason why 'indoor cats' can't live a happy, healthy
life without ever venturing past the front door. If you're the
indoor type, your vet will be able to advise you how to keep
your cat in the best possible shape through
food and indoor activity games.
How can you 'kitten proof' the outside
world?
Letting your kitten play outside for the first time can be
daunting. Don't worry though, a few simple steps will help keep
her safe and sound.
-
Tell your neighbours you have a new kitten.
-
Encourage her to keep away from busy roads and come home
to sleep at night.
-
Remove all
poisonous plants from your garden. These include lily
of the valley, laburnum and foxglove.
-
Make sure all hazardous chemicals in your shed or garage
are safely locked away.
-
Don't use slug pellets, or, if you do, make sure they
are special 'pet friendly' ones.
Microchipping - a small thing that can make a big
difference
You'll probably want your kitten to wear a collar with your
name and contact details attached to it, but it's also worth
considering having a microchip fitted.
A microchip is a tiny device, about the size of a grain of
rice, that's injected under the skin. It carries a unique
number which is entered on a central database, so that if your
kitten ever goes missing, she can be re-united with you more
easily.