Will My Cat Come Back If I Let Him Outside?

I get this question often enough that I thought it was worthwhile to put together a page.

Will My Cat Come Back If I Let Him Outside?

The answer is “Yes, most likely he will”. However, there are a few things you should know about letting your cat outside the house and I’m going to tell you what they are in this issue.

What You Need To Know About Letting Your Cat Outside

As far as I’m concerned, there is nothing like having a cat in the house for a couple of weeks and then having him go outside to discover everything in life is great. Cats have an amazing ability to adapt to just about any situation.

If your cat is not adapting well to being inside your home or if he has a fear of something in particular, then maybe it is time to find him a new home. But, if he adapts to being inside and even likes it, then I think it is safe to let him outside.

Here are a few things you should know about letting your cat outside:

Let Your Cat Outside In The Morning And Return Him To The House In The Evening

When you let your cat out in the morning, he will be eager to explore his surroundings and will likely be very active for the first hour or so. This is a good thing.

It is also a good thing that after a while he will start to get hungry and begin to wonder where his next meal is coming from. Therefore, it is a good idea to always return him to the house in the evening. By doing this, he will get his exercise, hunt for food, and spend the night in a warm, cozy environment. All of which will serve to make him a happy, healthy cat.

Also, by letting him outside in the morning and then returning him in the evening, you are giving him some control over his environment. You are letting him explore and discover things about his surroundings without having to think about them for too long. This is good for both of you.

Do Not Let Him Out When It Is Dark

This one is simple. When it gets dark, he will want to come inside. Do not let him out when it is dark. 

Let Him Hunt For Food

Letting your cat out to go hunting for food will do wonders for his self-esteem.

Cats are predators, and they need to practice their craft. What better way than by letting them hunt for mice and other pests? They will be less destructive inside the house, and they will feel better about themselves.

Final Words

As I said at the beginning of this article, cats like to go outside. In fact, they absolutely love it! They play in the yard all day long. They climb trees. They catch mice and go for walks. They are truly happy campers.