Will My Cat Come Back If I Let Him Outside

In this article you’re going to learn if your cat would come back if you let him outside

You’ll discover if you should actually let your cat out

What would actually happen if you do let your cat outside

I’ll also talk about how you could possibly train your cat to go outside and come back

In short

If your cat is meowing to go outside and you have no idea what to do

Or maybe you’re thinking about letting your cat explore the outside world then you’re going to love this article!

Sound good?

Let’s get started….

DISCLOSURE: http://catloverhere.com/ is reader supported so if you buy any products featured on this site I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.

It is normal for our cats to wander around and see the outside “world” as much as we do.

They also want to know nature and be part of it.

After all they are very curious

I’m sure you must have seen your furbaby see something new and then act all curious

It’s cute right

But what about being curious outside

Is it safe for your cat

Your cat is crying and meowing constantly that it wants to go out.

Will you able to open the door and let him outside?

But at the same time you’re thinking 

“Will my cat come back if I let him outside?” 

It’s normal to think like this 

You surely want the best for your fur-baby, and you want to pull them away in any possible danger.

But of course, you also love for your cat to enjoy life to the fullest.

Is it fair to keep your cat indoors and not allow them to explore the outside world?

Let’s look at the possibilities of letting your cat outside  

If I Let My Cat Outside, Will It Come Back?

This depends on your cat

But I would not just let your little baby go out expecting him to come back

Especially if your cat is a kitten

A kitten needs to stay indoors

They are still young and won’t survive outdoors especially from predators such as an fox

On the other side, a full grown cat are clever and would know the way back to the house

But you don’t want to take that risk

Just recently, a family friends cat ran out and has not come back

It’s been over a month

The scary part is they have no idea where their cat has gone

Let’s look at what could happen if your indoor cat goes outside

What Happens If I Let My Indoor Cat Outside?

The answer is that it depends on how you teach or train your cat.

Apart from that, consider the place you reside in—whether you’re home has large outdoor areas or currently in a small apartment or condominium.

Before you introduce your cat to the outside world, you have to make sure he feels settled inside your house.

It will make him think that your place is his safe ground so he feels safe and secure 

Now, if you live in a place with a large yard, you can comfortably wander around with your cat and introduce to him every corner of your property.

This can be done supervised so you have your cat in sight 

That’s if you have a large yard so your cat can explore and run around

On the other hand, it could be more challenging to live in a condominium or apartment in a building structure.

Bringing him to the park could be dangerous if you keep him unleashed.

It is easy to get lost when your cat is not familiar with every nook and cranny of the building where you live.

What Should I Do to Let My Cat Go Outside While Feeling Secured?

First, you have to wait for the right time.

It is best to introduce outdoor for a kitten when he turns four weeks old, neutered, and with complete vaccination.

You need to make sure that your home is also the place where he feels safe and comfortable.

That will help your kitten to feel secure wandering outside, knowing he can just go back to his original home.

When I mean outside – that means in your garden and let your little kitty explore under supervision 

For an adult cat, you have to wait for at least four to six weeks after you first take him home.

He can settle with your home first, and once he is doing fine and relaxed, you can now allow him to wander around in your yard or bring him to the nearest park.

If you see your cat or kitten restless, well, that is a clear indication that you have to wait for another length of time to introduce him to the outdoors.

Don’t let your cat just go out and wander without your supervision

More about this later on as every cat parent have different opinions on this matter

Second, prepare your cat’s identification tag.

In this tag, you need to include your cat’s name, your name, address, and contact number in case of emergencies or if your fur-baby goes missing.

You can also have your cat micro chipped so that when good-hearted people search for the cat’s owner, they can quickly bring him to the vet and scan the chip, which leads to your contact details.

It’s about making sure your cat is safe

Third, create a cat-friendly space for your cat outside.

You surely don’t want to let your cat in your yard if you have many dogs or other unfamiliar creatures wandering around.

You can separate your dog first when you are planning to take your cats outside.

Introducing your dog and cat as friends is a good idea.

However, if it is your cat’s first time going outside, you need to make him feel secure first.

That will prevent him from panicking and running in different directions and wander too far from you.

Fourth, you might want to put a leash on your cat.

Although we recommend putting a leash on your cat when going outdoors, you have to train him first.

Once you finish training, you can wander around and go to places.  

I believe Bengal cats are very good with leashes

Me personally, I’ve never trained my cat on a leash and it’s very rare to see a cat on a leash!

But it can be done!

If your cat is an indoor cat and you’re thinking letting him out

You must be thinking

Can your cat that’s been indoors since you got him survive the outside

Can An Indoor Cat Survive Outside?

The answer is not definite.

Honestly, indoor cats are supposed to live indoors only.

Once you place him in unfamiliar and noisy surroundings, your cat may panic and go far away.

It can be very dangerous letting an indoor go out into unknown territory

You just don’t know what’s out there

There could be Foxes that can attack your cat

Or your cat could get into fights with other cats

Busy roads where cars are always driving by – It can be dangerous

If you aren’t sure about the environment outside, you can always do an alternative.

Get your cat a catio, sunny window, and a place to get that fresh air he wants to feel outdoors.

You could get a catio from Amazon

Something like this

Trixie Pet Products Natura Wooden Cattery

You can check it over on Amazon by clicking here 

Your indoor cat should stay indoors as it’s just more safe

Yes, some cat parents let their cat outdoors and that’s their decision

If you want to do that then what you can do is train your cat to come back

How Do You Train a Cat to Go Outside and Come Back?

Naturally, cats are territorial creatures.

So, once your cat goes outside, they can quickly return to their original home.

The only problem will be if you are living in an apartment or condominium inside a building.

Leaving your cat unattended is a dangerous scenario.

But we understand that there could be some circumstances where your cat might get lost, and you want him to return safely.

If that is the case, you can train your cat on a leash at first whenever you are going outdoors.

Yes, putting them on a leash can be uncomfortable, but you don’t want them to run and get hit by a car or attacked by predators.

Always take food and toys with you whenever you are walking with your cats.

Just take your cat outdoors for a short period and carry him and return to your home.

Upon returning, you can take off the leash and give your cat a special treat.

This action will give him any indication that it is good to come back home.

He will eventually associate going back indoors with something positive—that is, he’ll get a treat when he returns.

Cats are also very good at finding their territory which is your house

Think about it, if you ever see stray cats and they come to your house

Before they come, they are wondering the streets but they know which house to go to because they’re going to get food

Cats are very clever animals!

Will my cat come back if i let him outside?

Well, that’s it.

When we are talking about instincts, cats are smart creatures.

They know how to handle a situation.

But it is essential to keep an eye on them.

If you have indoor cats, it is best to keep it that way.

You don’t know what is bound to happen when you let your cat outdoors for an extended period.

There are so many dangerous stuff out there

When they’re indoors you have piece of mind because your furbaby is there right in front of you

Safe and secure

If you are on the opinion that your cat should go outside and explore the world then that is entirely up to you

You can train your cat to go outside and find their way home

But do remember, it is a risk letting your cat outside to explore without supervision 

Cats are very clever and will know the way back home

Related article

New kitten wants to go outside

How to keep a stray cat warm outside in winter