How soon can I let my cat out when I've moved house?

Answer 1

hi i have just moved house i kept mine in for 2 weeks. i suppose the longer the better. you cound buy at cat harness and walk them in the garden. xx

Answer 2

I moved a couple of years ago. Jet was so frightened of the fuss that he hid in the bedroom for the first day, the second, he had to venture out for the loo and food but he wouldn't go outside for three or four days and even when he did, it wasn't far from the doorstep. However, I did buy a harness and retractable lead (which he hated by the way) so that he could explore the garden and get used to the new smells sights and sounds without being able to get out. I think it was a couple of weeks before I felt confident that he wouldn't stray back to the old house.

Answer 3

That's a very good...and wise...question Teresa.

Let me state up front that I believe in raising our cats to stay indoors, safe from diseases other cats might carry, as well as the dangers from automobiles, dogs, coyotes, and other hazards that can lead to an early demise like poison plants for example.

Letting your cat out too soon after moving to a new house could be dangerous for one reason...to your cat, the home it knows as it's own is the house you just moved FROM, and which it's instincts will compel it to return TO.

I've had cats all my life and think I know them pretty well. It would be my opinion that (if you insist on allowing your cat to be an "outdoor" cat) you should leave your cat inside, without it going out, for about five days minimum (the more time the better).

During these five days, your cat will re-adjust and re-orient, and reprogram itself into realizing that this is where YOU (it's owner and master) lives and it will sense that this is where it now belongs too (and where it's meals have been coming from).

Then, the first time you let it outside, go with it just a short way from the doorway (back yard for example) and sit down with your cat so it can start to explore little by little it's new surroundings. It will then "reprogram" its instincts into recognizing the smells, sounds (and "global positioning") of it's new home.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I have moved house many times with my cat and found the best way is a soon as you have got your furniture in and in some sort of order and settled normaly about 24 to 36 hours, first take your cat round the inside of the house then still carrying them walk round the garden then take them indoors, then later on walk round the garden with them again letting them roam free do this morning and night with your cat for a couple of days they will soon get their bearings mine usually within 2 days but I always keep an eye out for them for the first couple of weeks anyway

Answer 5

Moving can be stress full. I try to prepare a spot in the new home for the cat with his toys, his favourite blanket from home and of course water, food, litter tray not too far. Then I let the cat out of the box, if I dare say, and I let him explore in his own time as he sees fit.
As much as possible I check beforehand that he can't get into trouble and is safe, and attach an identification to his collar with our new home address, if there is access to the great outdoors.

Answer 6

When I first moved to my new house we made our cat stay in the house for a couple weeks. He didn't enjoy being indoors (lol). When we let him out at first he didn't go very far.

Make sure he understand the new house your in is your house from now on. I say keep him in there for 2-3 weeks. Or however long you think it will take.

Shalom
Felicia

Answer 7

You know,I have read a LOT of these cat questions, and my response to MORON OWNERS who keep their cats outside is this. MAYBE you should try crossing a street and having some dumbass DELIBERATELY run YOU over, or MAYBE someone should put YOU in a cage with a lion so it can tear YOU apart with it's teeth and claws, OR MAYBE someone should deprive YOU of water and when YOUR thirsty the only thing you can find to drink is Antifreeze, OR MAYBE just because there are A-holes out there that like to deliberately TORTURE and KILL cats, MAYBE someone should tie YOU up by your (back) feet, light YOU on fire, then Slit your gut wide open. Don't be IRRESPONSIBLE MORONS!! If you have a cat, it's part of your family, and treat it as such. Give it a home INSIDE, away from harm and diseases and get it fixed. There is absolutely NO REASON a cat HAS to be put outside.

Answer 8

We recently got a cat from the RSPCA who recommended 4 to 6 weeks indoors but he just wanted to go out after about 3 weeks. We started by carrying him into the garden and walking him round for about 10 minutes at a time.Then taking him back in doors. When we finally plucked up the courage to let him go alone he just wandered round a bit, when he returned we gave him loads of praise and cuddles. I found that leaving the door open whilst he was out helped loads, as he just came back in if he felt nervous. A routine definatley helps, Bruno goes out after he's eaten.

Answer 9

Never, if you live on a busy street.
Cats like to play in the street, people like to speed and not look out for cats playing. They get hit by a car and die. This happened to my cat. Then someone brought my dead kitty to me. (Don't know how they knew where the cat lived) I still can't get over it. This was the saddest day of my life. Keep your cat inside unless you go out and watch her/him. Cats are no different than children, would you let your child go outside by their self? unless you live out in the country or where there is no traffic at all don't let the cat out if you love it.
Sorry I didn't mean to get off track answering.
If your cat is already an outside cat, you can let it out as soon as you feel the cat feels comfortable in its new home.

Answer 10

You should keep them indoors for 2 weeks when you move house, I lost one of my cats that way before although she turned up by my car in a parking lot a few weeks later!

Answer 11

Wait about a month and then go out into the garden with it.It won't go far first time but will build up courage.

If you let it out before then it will not think of your new house as it's territory and will try and get to your old 1.