Should I let my Maine Coon outside?

Before allowing outdoor access, assess local traffic, other animals, escape routes and your cat's readiness. Speak with your vet about preventive care, identification and any health considerations. A new cat should first be settled in its home, and you should follow the rescue or breeder's advice about the transition. Outdoor access does not need to be an all-or-nothing choice: some households can provide a secure enclosure or carefully managed garden area. However, an ordinary fence is not automatically cat-proof, particularly when nearby furniture or trees create climbing routes.

If you decide against free roaming, provide a worthwhile indoor environment rather than simply removing access. Revisit the plan when you move house or your cat's needs change. What suited a previous property may not suit the risks and layout of a new one. Check the garden from ground level and from likely climbing points; a gate that contains a person does not demonstrate that it contains a cat.