6 Things To Do Before Taking Your Cat Outside for the Purrfect Adventure

Taking your cat outside can be an adventure all by itself—whether you’re boarding a plane, going for a drive, or just heading around the block. For one thing, most kitties don’t like the sudden change to their routine that going outside entails. For another, there are plenty of dangers out there: fleas, dogs, and the possibility of getting lost. But never fear! With a little planning and a little preparation, you can take your kitty outdoors for a safe and lovely time.

Get your little tiger a shiny new collar

Cats are notorious for wandering off, so making sure your kitty has a collar and ID tag is a must. Put her name and your phone number on it. Then, if she gets lost, anyone can call you to come pick her up. Make sure you get your kitty a safe collar with a low risk of choking, like this special breakaway collar. 

Microchip away

While a collar and license are essential, there’s always a chance they’ll slip off. There’s also the possibility that, for whatever reason, your kitty won’t be wearing them when she gets lost. Microchipping adds another layer of protection. A microchip is always in place, which means any animal shelter that finds your kitty can scan the microchip to find out exactly who your fur baby belongs to.

Consider a GPS tracker

While a microchip and license can help other people return your kitty, a GPS tracker can help you keep tabs on your cat so you don’t have to rely on other people. 

The most popular GPS tracking devices are Apple’s AirTag, which works with iOS devices, and Tile, which works with both Android and iOS devices. Both products do essentially the same thing: either one can be attached to a device, object, or in this case, pet, and you can then view that item’s or pet’s location from your connected device.

Because AirTag offers directions to the tracker, it tends to make the process of finding what you’ve lost faster and easier. Tile also requires you to download an app, while AirTag doesn’t. To that end, most iOS users prefer AirTag, but Tile is the obvious choice for Android users.

Treat your kitty for fleas and ticks

Whether you’re wilderness camping or living it up at a hotel, you never know what your cat might be exposed to. Anytime you take your fur baby outside, it’s a smart move to give them flea and/or tick treatment. Your veterinarian should be able to recommend a good flea or tick treatment if you’re unsure of which one to use.

Give your cat his very own comfort backpack

Like most of us, your fur baby needs a safe retreat for when the world gets too overwhelming. A cat backpack can be a great place for him to hide when he gets tired or scared, or when he just doesn’t want to deal with it all. Bringing along a cat backpack—that your kitty is already comfortable with—is a good way to keep him happy when you finally venture outdoors with your little fur baby in tow.

Practice makes purrfect

Cats are creatures of habit, which means that if you simply spring an outdoor adventure on them without any warning, they’re probably going to hate it. And you can bet that if your kitty is in a foul mood, things will not be fun for you at all. 

To prepare your kitty for the great outdoors, slowly get her used to using a harness and backpack before going outside. Your cat should be comfortable wearing the harness and hanging out in the backpack indoors before you test them outdoors. Trust us, it’s better for everyone. (Need help harness training your cat? Check out these tips.)

After you’ve taken care of all these steps, you and your little tiger are ready for outdoor adventures aplenty! Just remember to take it slow and give your fur baby all the love and care she needs for a purrfect time.