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

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 help her use a 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. 

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. Most kitties don’t like the sudden change to their routine that going outside entails, and 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 safely take your kitty outdoors and make meowmories together. Follow these steps and help your cat have fun and stay safe outside:

Train your cat to use a cat 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.

To get started with backpack training, follow these safety tips. 

Train your cat to use a harness.

Taking your cat outside is a great way for you to get quality time together. Whether you take a stroll around the block, hike your favorite trail, or just need a way to ensure your cat stays in their backpack (all of our backpacks have leash clips), using a harness is a no brainer for cat safety. We've got a fun selection of the highest quality, most comfortable cat harnesses in every style, so you can find the best fit for your best furiend. Make sure to follow our harness training safety tips before your first adventure! 

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 breakaway collar.

NEVER ATTACH YOUR CAT'S LEASH TO THEIR COLLAR. IF YOU WANT TO WALK YOUR CAT, ALWAYS ATTACH THEIR LEASH TO THEIR HARNESS. 

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.

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. 

While many cat parents are satisfied with using an AirTag or Tile, we recommend taking safety precautions one step further with a Tractive device. This GPS tracking device uses LTE with a SIM card, so you can watch your kitty's every step, no matter how far they may venture. You can also monitor their activity and health! See our article about the key differences between Air tags, tiles, and GPS trackers, here.

We also designed a harness specifically designed to hold your tracking device on their back, instead of having it hang uncomfortably from a collar. Find "The Pathfinder" here.

After you’ve taken care of all these steps, you and your little buddy 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.