Can I let my cat outside again when I move?

Question

Ok, one of my cats is about 7 years old. We let him outside at my old house whenever he wanted to go out but this was with no busy roads nearby. I've had to move into an apartment so I've had to keep him inside the past few years. Now I am going to be moving into another house soon but this one will be on a road with some light traffic but back yard is fenced in. He really wants to go outside again, and now that I will have my own yard again I'd love to let him out but I'm afraid he might try to cross the road and get hit. So my question is, what do I do? Is it possible for me to train him to stay in my backyard only? He really misses going outside, he cries and scratches at our front door all the time.

Answer 1

Keep him inside at least two weeks although a month or so is preferable. The take him out twice a day with a harness on and get him used to the back yard. After a week or so of this GO OUT WITH HIM and call him in when you go back inside, and reward him with treats for coming when you call.
I did this with my older cat who normally spent hours outside daily. He hated the new house at first and wasn't enthusiastic about the harness, he cried at the door a lot, but he got used to it with persistence. Now he usually only goes out at night- he's so elder. My younger cat was an indoor one, and in the new town I let her go out to the yard only. Put up a bird feeder for him to watch- even when he's not out he'll be entertained.
When you move, spend at least 20 minutes every morning and evening playing with the cat, talking and chasing and giving treats- they'll adjust better. The vet was definitely right, it made a huge difference. My new vet feels that an indoor-outdoor cat is the healthiest, but cautions that we have a huge feral (wild, and disease-carrying) cat population near me so I vaccinate for everything.
My newest cat was a shelter cat and doesn't come when called so I don't let her out- I can't trust that she will return.
(By the way, the vet also told me, when you move, fill a few jugs with water from the old house- they are very sensitive to the smell of water and a different chlorine ratio may put him off his normal intake.)

Answer 2

if you supervise him, you can always put him on a kitty harness, the things that go around the chest and front legs instead of the neck. my aunt lives in a suburban area and is afraid to let her cat out but she has a harness leash (instead of a collar leash so the cat can't hang herself) and her cat loves to lay out on the deck in the harness for an hour or two at a time. this way she can also have the cat outside with her when she is out in the yard in the summer.

it is probably not a good idea to let him roam, though. he will get past a fence and there could be any number of very dangerous things out there - raccoons, cars, mean people. try and see if letting him in the backyard on a harness leash makes him happier.

Answer 3

I know you want what's best for you kitty, but steel your heart. At least for now. Guard against tragedy. I like the idea of the harness. And the supervised romps in the backyard. I would just advise that you get him a collar with his name, your phone number and your address on a tag. If you can't fit all three, then his name and your phone number should suffice. It should also allow for two of your fingers to fit underneath it without causing him discomfort. I would say keep that thing on him all the time because he could try to get out when somebody opens the front door. Imagine how you would feel if something bad happened. Collar and tag, supervision and lots of talking to him and love.

Answer 4

you can do what I did when I lived in the city .... I hired somebody to build a "cat section" next to my house... (between my house and the side fence) they used 2x 4's and chicken wire.. there was a kitchen window I propped open so the kitties could go in and out on their own.. I shut the window at night.. there was a gate on one end so if I needed to go in there I could - I put down astro turf and put play logs and stuff in there for them...
you can do the same under a raised deck too.. with basement window for access...

the cars are not the only risk to him going out.. there might be neighbours who will poison cats or catch them and remove from the area...

Answer 5

I have trained all of my cats in various ways. including to come and let me know when they want out. letting them out unattended brings on a whole set of issues. traffic and fleas, and poison, and mean people, and loose dogs and animal control. so be prepared foe these things. My beloved Coconut and I go for walks 1 to 3 times a day, depending if i am working or not. I trained him just like a dog. it is the highlight of his life. he also loves to go outside, but when i moved from country house to city apartment is was hard for sure. but now i just go out with him.

Answer 6

The rule of thumb is that you're supposed to wait 2 months to let your cats out after a move so they get used to your new place and know that it is where they are supposed to return. I would keep an eye on him at first.

Answer 7

cats are smart, i don't think that he would try to cross the road, if their was traffic on it. i suggest you let him in the back yard, because it is fenced, and watch him closley for a few mineuts. then if he goes to the front yard just make sure he stays away from the road. my only worry is that he would get lost, because you are in a new area.

Answer 8

I'd be careful though. I moved once and took my cat with me...and he went missing..so we went back to our old house and he was sitting on the deck. He had walked like 10 miles to get back to his original home. Some cats will do it and some won't...so be cautious! Good Luck!

Answer 9

Cats have their own minds. Just let him run free, and
be prepared for anythings. You can't train them to
stay put like a dog. I don't know if Electronic Fencing
works for cats. My friends with dogs really likes them.

Answer 10

ok..get some info with ur vet or at petco or petsmart involving cat training. Good Luck!