When can puppies and kittens go outside?

We all can't wait to see our new puppy or kitten frolicking around outdoors. But it's important to make sure your pet is ready first. In this guide, we’ll look at when the right time is to introduce your pet to the outdoors.

When can puppies go outside?

Puppies can go into the big wide world 2 weeks after their second set of vaccinations. This is typically around 12 weeks of age.

But they can go into your garden as soon as you get them, just make sure it's secure and free from hazards such as:

• Unvaccinated animals
• Fox poo
• Toxic plants like daffodils and tulips

Don't risk letting your puppy go out into the world before they're fully vaccinated. If you do, you risk your dog getting diseases like parvovirus and distemper:

Parvovirus (Parvo)

Parvovirus attacks the lining of the gut and can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting. It also attacks the infection-fighting cells in the bone marrow. This weakens their immune system making it difficult for the dog to recover.

Dogs can get parvovirus while they're out exploring. It's often spread through an infected dog's poo 3-4 days after they've contracted the virus. Then, it can hang around in the environment for years.

Parvo is particularly dangerous to puppies under 6 months because their immune systems haven't developed yet. In some cases, it's fatal. That's why it's so important to get your puppy's vaccinations booked in, and limiting them to the garden until they're fully vaccinated.

Distemper

This causes serious risk to dogs that haven't been vaccinated because there's no cure.

It's a virus that targets different organs around the dog's body such as the brain, the immune system, the gut, heart and lungs.

It's a bit like measles in humans and although it's extremely rare, it's very important to get your dog vaccinated against it because the only protection is prevention.

Your dog could catch distemper through interactions with another infected dog. It can also be spread through the air and bodily fluid (such as saliva or urine).

Preparing your puppy for the outdoors

You've prepped the garden for your pup, but heading out in the garden might feel a bit daunting.

First, try taking them out on a lead so they can get used to the area. If they're happy then you could try letting them off.

Try to supervise your puppy's play while they're outside, that way if they do get into trouble you're on hand to help.

It's a good idea to bring in some light training here, perhaps some recall or lead walking training. Make sure to practice this in the house first though where there are minimal distractions. Dogs Trust has some great training tips to get you started.

After your puppy's first lot of vaccinations, they can go into the world - but they can't walk on the ground themselves.

But it's still important to get them used to the sights, sounds and smells of the world. So you can carry them in a sling or in your arms. You can even get a puppy pram, so your puppy can see the world at (almost) their own level.

The main rule here is not to let other dogs come close or interact so your puppy doesn't get any infections.

Then, 2 weeks after their second vaccination, they're ready to explore on foot (within reason).

At this point, it's best to keep them on lead until your recall is sorted. You don't want to risk your puppy running off and getting into trouble.

Longlines (essentially a very long lead) give them a bit more freedom, but these should only be used with a harness so you don't damage your puppy's throat.

When can kittens go outside?

Kittens should stay indoors for a week after they've had their second vaccination. This is usually when they're around 13-14 weeks old.

At around 4-6 months, you can get them neutered. Vets usually advise to wait until this is sorted before letting them out.

Your cat doesn't legally have to have a collar and up-to-date ID tag like a dog. In fact, Cats Protection doesn't recommend collars for cats as they often come off or get lost.

They recommend getting a microchip and keeping it up to date. In England, this is a legal requirement.

Because it's implanted into your cat's skin, it can't come off or get lost. Plus it won't get caught on anything.

If you really want to put a collar on your cat, look for quick release or snap collars. They release when they're caught so it reduces the chances of your cat getting injured.

Cats Protection doesn't recommend elasticated collars. If your cat gets stuck in one of these, they might get stuck and try to claw themselves out - causing more distress and potentially more injury.

When can my adopted older cat go outside?

If you're getting an older cat, it's worth keeping them in for 3-4 weeks to give them a chance to get settled.

If you want to keep them in at night, establishing a feeding routine might help. They should associate a certain time with dinner and start to come in by themselves.

I'm moving house - when should I let my cat outside?

If you've just moved house, Cats Protection advises keeping your cat indoors for 3-4 weeks so they have time to adjust.

When you let your cat out for the first time, let them out before a meal. They're more likely to come back when they want to eat.

Preparing your kitten for the outdoors

Your pet's vaccinations are sorted and your kitten is microchipped, so they might be ready to head out! Before you do, it's worth doing a quick check of your garden. Try to remove:

• Toxic plants including Lilies, Oleander, Sago Palm, Daffodils, Tulips and Azaleas. Cats Protection has the full list of plants that are toxic to cats.
• Lock all chemicals away in your shed, and make sure your shed is locked and secure so your kitten can't get in.
• Cover any ponds, pipes or gaps between buildings where your kitten could get stuck.

Once you've done this, you need to think about whether you want your cat to have a routine, or just come and go as they please.

If you want them to have a routine, you could time their dinner with them coming in at night. For example, feed them at 6pm and then keep them in overnight (you might need to adjust this over winter).

For some cats, this might seem like a long time to be kept in, so make sure you provide lots of toys and scratching posts for them to play with.

This is useful if you live in a busy area. Cats are more active at night, so they're more likely to get hit by a car or get into a fight with another cat at night time. Night time is also when cats do more hunting, so it's helpful for wildlife if you use this approach.

Either way, it's a good idea to have a cat flap installed, but this is even more important if your cat's allowed in and out as they please. Some have a microchip reader that only lets your cat in - so you won't have the neighbour's tabby popping in for a snack.

If you want to limit your kitten's exposure at first, you could create a sort of kitten play pen by fencing off part of your garden. You could sit with your kitten and play here for short bursts, then bring them in.

Does my puppy or kitten need microchipping before going outside?

Yes, it's a legal requirement for puppies and kittens to have microchips before they go outside. This is quite a recent development for kittens that came into effect on 10 June 2024 in England.

Your puppy must be microchipped by the time they're 8 weeks old. You're also legally required to keep your details up to date on your pet's microchip. If you don't, you could get a £500 fine.

If you're adopting, rehoming or buying a dog or a cat, you should ask for the microchipping certificate before you take them home.

How pet insurance can help protect your puppy or kitten

It might be worrying letting your animal outside for the first time, but pet insurance can provide some reassurance.

It covers the cost of your vet bills if your puppy hurts their paw and needs treatment, for example. Or if your cat gets a cut or graze when they're out and about. Illnesses are usually covered too.

Because you're insuring a youngster, you should pay less for your pet insurance. That's because it's less likely that your pet has pre-existing conditions yet, or any history of injuries. So it's all the more reason to get them covered straight away.

There are a few different types of pet insurance to choose from:

• Lifetime pet insurance: This covers your pet for life and it's the most comprehensive. Illnesses and conditions are covered every year of your pet's life, as long as you renew. It's the gold standard of pet insurance policies!
• Maximum benefit: You get a pot of money for each condition your pet develops. But once that pot of money is used up, you have to pay for further treatment yourself.
• Time-limited: This covers illnesses and accidents for a set time - usually 12 months from when the condition first starts.
• Accident-only: You're only covered for accidents. You're not covered for any illnesses.

It's a faff running quotes on lots of different sites, so why not give us a whirl? We compare up to 26* trusted pet insurers in just a couple of minutes. You can find the best protection for your pet starting from £5.19** per month.

*¹Correct as of June 2025
**Prices based on Confused.com data taken between June 2024 - August 2024. Costs shown are based on the average monthly price paid for one pet with no pre-existing conditions. "Accident Only" covers across cats and dogs of all ages, breeds and in all locations. Correct as of October 2024.

Does pet insurance cover microchipping and vaccinations?

Your pet insurance doesn't cover vaccinations or microchipping as they're considered routine care by insurers. But some vets offer plans to reduce the cost of these procedures.