How long to keep cats indoors after house move?
Discussion
As said 2 weeks is a general guide. Few tips
1. Put some of the used litter around the garden a couple days before so his scent is already in it when he goes out.
2 If he likes being carried, carry him out in the garden and walk around with him first time.
3 Let him out in the morning on an empty tummy but make sure he is aware that there will be some good food when he gets back. I usually let them out and before they've got far open a tin of tuna to let them know and just give them a small mouthful whilst still outside.
4. Leave back door open or be working in the garden for the day so you're around and they can hear you. Chances are first day won't go too far, it'll be the followong days they wander further but by then they've found their bearings.
You will get some cats that'll be ready to go out earlier and some later. Our Maine coon had been with us one day. We went out for the evening came home to find her sitting outside the back door!! We eventually realised she'd got out of a small top window! We were lucky she didn't scarper really.
1. Put some of the used litter around the garden a couple days before so his scent is already in it when he goes out.
2 If he likes being carried, carry him out in the garden and walk around with him first time.
3 Let him out in the morning on an empty tummy but make sure he is aware that there will be some good food when he gets back. I usually let them out and before they've got far open a tin of tuna to let them know and just give them a small mouthful whilst still outside.
4. Leave back door open or be working in the garden for the day so you're around and they can hear you. Chances are first day won't go too far, it'll be the followong days they wander further but by then they've found their bearings.
You will get some cats that'll be ready to go out earlier and some later. Our Maine coon had been with us one day. We went out for the evening came home to find her sitting outside the back door!! We eventually realised she'd got out of a small top window! We were lucky she didn't scarper really.
Would this be the same as bringing home a rescue cat? If so I let them out into the garden when they want to go, but follow them out and keep tabs on them. They don't go far and come back after a few minutes because I'm the only familiar thing in a new landscape. (And I have food; a rattled box of biscuits can work wonders)
I was just about to post the same question as we are moving soon and we are worried that our cats (who are both 6 years old) have never known anywhere else and currently have a lot of freedom to come and go as they please. One stays in for most of the day by choice and then spends the night out hunting and the other stays out most of the time apart from evenings when he comes and sits with us.
We've been told to keep them in for 4 weeks or 2 weeks and a friend has also mentioned the butter on paws trick as she, knowing our cats, thinks we will find it impossible to stop them from running out the house as soon as the door is opened. We're really worried about losing them as they are part of the family but we don't want them shredding the furniture or the carpets because of frustration particularly as it's a rented property.
If they get out straight away are they likely to hang around or go further afield looking for familiar landmarks?
We've been told to keep them in for 4 weeks or 2 weeks and a friend has also mentioned the butter on paws trick as she, knowing our cats, thinks we will find it impossible to stop them from running out the house as soon as the door is opened. We're really worried about losing them as they are part of the family but we don't want them shredding the furniture or the carpets because of frustration particularly as it's a rented property.
If they get out straight away are they likely to hang around or go further afield looking for familiar landmarks?
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