Introducing a cat to a new house.

FiftyPents

I moved house last week with my cat after 7 years of living in the same property. She's taken quite well to the new place, and i'm just wondering what the general opinion is on how long before I start introducing her to the garden. 
My vet told me 6 weeks before she can go outside, but I can start introducing her slowly by letting her sit outside with me at lunch.
Cats protection said 3 weeks;
A lot of other charities and advices places said between 2-3.
I guess I take the vets advice but what worked for you? We're in the 2nd week now, can I start letting her have a sniff around outside with me?

Brambling

When I last moved I had a 5 month old kitten who had never been out as well as  4 year old who had.  I  gave them three weeks and let them out together and watched them go in opposite directions both over fences, so kept them in another week (just for my peace of mind).  When I next let them out i put two bowls of tuna down outside first to slow them down so they could get their bearings

You know your cat best and she should come back to you, maybe don't change the litter tray before letting her out, (remove lumps)  but if she does get lost put it outside and she should be able to smell her way home 

nickwilson132

I think you should follow the vet's advice. Anyway, you should also listen to your cat, too. 

I've been moving in with a grown cat and it's quickly settled into a new estate.

I think the cat tray and feeding play a big role here, I used to put the tray a week after the move and the cat would slowly start going out on its own and would have to be pushed out sometimes.

Marmaduke123

I think six weeks indoors is an awfully long time for an adult cat who is used to going outside. Personally I would let her out before her regular mealtime, with you. She might be nervous and run straight back in, or feel very confident and disappear over the fence! 

Our current cat was a rescue. We kept him in for the recommended two weeks, and then let him out - he disappeared for several hours much to our alarm, but then came back. Presumably your cat comes if you call her, which ours didn't  at that time.

It is a bit nerve wracking!