Since there are a lot of terrible things that can happen to your pet outside your home, it is best to train him to stay near your place. Houses with yards, in particular, are wonderful. Training a cat to stay in your yard is great in the beginning.  As he gets more comfortable with the idea of being outside, you can let him leave the yard.  If you’re planning on training a cat to be outdoors some of the time, do not be too eager to let him out. Kittens should NOT be allowed outside your house until they have had all their vaccinations or are at least three and a half months old. Additionally, they should only be allowed outside with supervision. You should accompany your kitten on his first ventures to the outside world. It’s also a good idea to keep his first experiences in your own yard. Follow your cat as he explores this new environment and learns to find the back door of your place. After he is neutered at about six months, you can begin to let him out by himself.

If you have an older cat, keep him inside your house for about a month before letting him out. This will make him familiar with your house. Once he is let out it will be easier for him to come back home. It is also wise to let him out on an empty stomach so that he will return to your house when he wants to eat.  We all know that a cat won’t miss out on a tasty meal!

No matter how old your cat is, it’s always best to have a cat flap so that he can enter your house anytime.  This way, your cat will have easy access to both of his worlds – inside and out!  Try not to worry too much about your little buddy as he makes the transition from indoors to outdoors.  I find there’s no real need to teach a cat how to stay close to home.  Cat’s are naturally curious animals, but they’re not stupid!  Chances are your kitten won’t go too far away from his home.

Good Luck!