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Garden and outdoors

Learn how to make your garden safe and cat friendly, keep your cat secure outdoors and avoid common hazards.

Garden and outdoors

Learn how to make your garden safe and cat friendly, keep your cat secure outdoors and avoid common hazards.

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Should I let my cat go outside?

If you’ve chosen to let your cat or kitten go outside, letting them out might initially feel daunting. Some owners worry their cat might not come back in. The good news is that cats are brilliantly adaptable and, with some preparation, your cat will be enjoying their new environment in no time. 

Before you release your cat into the garden, make sure they are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped (now a legal requirement for cats in England). Vaccinating and neutering them will protect them from illnesses and having them microchipped will reduce the risk of them getting lost. 

Neutering, vaccinations and microchipping
A ginger cat walking outdoors on grass

Is my cat an indoor cat or outdoor cat?

Most cats love having space outside to explore and should have the freedom to do so. However, some cats will prefer to stay indoors and others will need to remain indoor cats because of health conditions. This could include conditions like feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Indoor cats can live happily and healthily too. 

Indoor cats

When should I let my cat outside?

If you've recently adopted your cat or kitten, or have moved to a new home, it's important not to let your cat out until they have adjusted to their new surroundings. This gives them a chance to spread their scent and find their own way home, and can take three to four weeks. 

If you’re letting a kitten out for the first time, we’d recommend not letting them out until at least a week after they’ve completed their primary vaccinations, at around 14 weeks old.  

When you do decide to let your cat out for the first time, try to time it just before a meal. That way, they’re more likely to return to eat. 

You’ll also need to have a think about how your cat can gain access outside in the long term. A cat flap can be a great addition and allows them the freedom to roam as they please. Even if a cat hasn’t previously used one, it’s easy to train your cat to use a cat flap.

Training a cat to use a cat flap
A calico cat walking along a garden path. A colourful climbing frame can be seen in the background

How can I create a cat-friendly garden?

  • Provide an inviting, safe and private toilet area. Newly-dug soil or gravel is perfect. You could even add some cat litter to encourage them to toilet in their new space. Make sure it is dug over regularly, so it remains hygienic
  • Add fencing. Cats can climb most fences, but a two-metre high, close-boarded fence, together with a hedge running parallel to it, will encourage them to stay within the garden
  • Add cat-friendly plants. Cat-safe plants to grow include catnip, cat thyme, nasturtiums, calendula, lavatera, cosmos, gerbera
  •  A patch of longer grass provides a soft bed and nibbling it can help your cat cough up hairballs. Plants without thorns are ideal for creating shady spots for naps, and logs make great natural scratching posts
  • Hiding places. Cats might feel threatened in an open space, so make sure your garden has plenty of places to hide
  • Try scattering dry food in the safe areas of your garden to encourage them to search it out.
11 tips for creating a cat-friendly garden

How can I keep my cat safe outside in the garden?

Even if you’re keeping your cat in the garden and surrounding areas, you’ll still need to be aware of potential dangers. Busy roads, especially at rush hour, can be a hazard for cats and it may be a good idea to keep your cat in at night and during busier times on the roads. 

Sheds and outbuildings can be tricky places for cats, especially if they like to snuggle up and hide in them. Often these can contain chemicals and poisons that can harm your cat, so you’ll need to keep them locked away safely and securely. 

Keeping cats safe outside

How can I keep my cat safe from poisonous plants?

Cats are usually careful about what they eat and will stay away from anything that might be poisonous. However, young and curious cats might be inclined to eat something they shouldn’t or even eat pollen or plant matter when grooming themselves. 

If you want to create a cat-friendly garden, be aware of plants that are dangerous to cats. Common blooms like poppies and lilies can be harmful, as can many others. 

Dangerous plants

How can I deter my cat from hunting wildlife?

Hunting is an instinct for cats, releasing endorphins when they stalk their pray, so you won’t be able to stop your cat from hunting altogether. However, there are a few ways you can direct your cat into more playtime and fewer ‘gifts’ landing on your patio. 

Cats don’t hunt because they are hungry and some cats are more likely to hunt than others. If you have a bold, confident cat that loves roaming around outdoors, for example, they might be more likely to hunt than a quieter cat that loves to settle indoors.  

If you want to deter your cat from hunting, try the following: 

  • have regular play sessions with your cat to mimic hunting behaviour, helping to satisfy their desire to hunt. Fishing rod toys are great for mimicking prey so your cat can catch and ‘kill’ the toy. Regularly swap out their toys to keep play interesting
  • use interactive methods of giving food. Puzzle feeders are great for cats with endless energy
  • keep your cat indoors if a fledgling is in the garden, until its parents lead it away
  • keep your cat inside at night when small mammals are most active, particularly during dawn and dusk
  • make sure your cat is neutered
  • keep bird tables and feeders high up and away from platforms your cat could leap from, and position nest boxes where cats cannot reach them
  • hang bird feeders from tall, thin shepherds' hooks as cats can’t climb them
  • place cut-up plastic bottles around bird table posts to deter cats from climbing them
  • avoid feeding wildlife on the ground
  • plant prickly plants near bird feeders to keep cats away
  • encourage your cat to stay in the confines of the garden by making it appealing enough. Provide them with a good toileting area as well as feline-friendly plants. Create a cat-friendly garden
Cats and play

What can I do if my cat goes missing?

Cats are inclined to wander and if they’re enjoying the outside, you might be worried if they don’t come home. Before you panic that your cat has gone missing, there are a few things you can try. 

  • Check small spaces around your home and garden. Cupboards, garden sheds, even underneath the bed. Cats love small spaces to cosy into!
  • Call your cat’s name early in the morning or at night, when it is likely to be quieter and your cat is more likely to be active (cats are more active at dawn and dusk)
  • Entice them with treats. Try shaking a box of your cat’s favourite treats or leave out one of their favourite toys in case the scent persuades them to come home. 

If there is still no sign of your cat, take a look at our top tips on what to do if you think your cat is missing. 

Lost a cat

Free guide

Download our free guide packed full of all the information you need about keeping your cat safe.

Keeping your cat safe guide
brown tabby cat sitting on grey sofa
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Indoor cats

If you’re considering an indoor or house cat, you might be wondering how best to keep them happy. Our guide has all you need to know about indoor cats.

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Dangerous plants

Wondering which plants are poisonous to cats? Or those that are safe? Find out more about toxic and safe plants and flowers in our guide.

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Brown tabby cat sitting on garden bench in the sunshine
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Create a cat-friendly garden

Want to know how to make your garden more cat friendly? Here are some top tips and ideas for the best cat-friendly plants, flowers, trees and herbs for a UK garden.

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Find a Cat
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