Moving home with 2 moggies - advice needed please

Margaret_Skinner

We'll soon be moving home with my 2 cats - both are used to going outside - how soon do I wait to let them get used to the new house without letting them out? I seem to see differing amounts of time on websites and even from the vet - anything from 1 week to 4 weeks.

Also will they adapt to going back to using litter easily after being used to going to the toilet outside?

And has anyone tried taking a cat out on a lead when they've moved - like round a new garden to let them get used to a new place but being in control of where they're going so that they don't run off & get lost - or would that just cause mass confusion for the poor souls??

I'm also concerned about the fact that we might be getting a new house in the same area - how often do cats generally try to get back to their old home - do their old scents carry far or does that just depend on how far they were used to exploring themselves generally?

Any advice gladly welcomed.

Margaret

sooty&sweep

Hi

We've just got three new cats and we kept them in for three weeks.

However with our previous cat we moved twice very quickly and on both occasions he was very distressed about being kept in so we allowed him into the garden under supervision and he was fine but saying that he was an older cat and very settled with us and also totally new area.

I'd suggest it depends on the cats and when you think its right to let them out.

Margaret_Skinner

I think you're right there. When we got the cats they had been used to living in a flat and I don't think got out. Our porch door, front door & back door were all mainly glass & I could see the long-haired cat was just desperate to get out there whereas the short-haired cat wasn't so bothered. I managed to keep him in for 10 days but he was going stir crazy by that time so I chanced it. He was fine for a couple of days then disappeared one night and didn't return until 10 a.m. the next morning - I was devastated! It was a dreadful night weather wise of course - pouring rain all night but he seemed fine once he returned apart from being drenched!

After a good clean though he was none the worse for his experience and didn't repeat it so maybe it was just too soon?

There's a really busy road not far from the back garden of the house I want to move to (just at the stage of putting in an offer) and I'd never forgive myself if he got up there (there's a fence in the small back garden but if he got over that there's just open grassland then it's not far to the road - no other fence or anything to cross) - do you think they shy away from busy traffic naturally?

Margaret

Tigsteroonie

Margaret_Clark wrote: »

Also will they adapt to going back to using litter easily after being used to going to the toilet outside?

We gave up the litter tray 3 years ago, after the posh puddietat died and we were left with moggies happy to poop outside. Last autumn we homed a stray that, for various medical reasons, has to stay indoors, so we reintroduced a litter tray - supposedly just for him. Nope. At least one, and I suspect two, of the moggies are also using his tray, even though they have catflap access to the outside world!

The stray will be introduced to the outside world slowly over the summer. But when we got the moggies, they went outdoors within 2 days of arriving - they were so determined! Luckily both knew their names and would come when called.

Margaret_Skinner

Seems to be a kind of hit or a miss affair from what I can see! Which I suppose makes sense - they all have their own personalities and behave differently.

I'll just have to go with the flow I think - if the garden's fenced off at the back we should be safe enough letting them out after maybe a week with someone posted in a strategic position in case they decide to be daring! And a good supply of cat biscuits rattling in the background!!

Margaret

sooty&sweep

Are your moggies male or female ?

I think tom cats tend to wander further whereas females tend to stay closer to home.
Our previous cat was a tom and he'd regularly disappear all night.
Cats generally don't like busy roads and so won't go searching for them.
We're currently still keeping our three in at night and putting litter trays down but I think theres going to come a point soon when we stop.

Is_You

I have moved six times, sometimes with four cats! The first time I did it someone told me to put butter on the paws of the cats when they are in their new environment. This makes them clean themselves and they then will always find their way home! It does sound crazy I know.

I have done it everytime and usually kept the cats in no more than 2 days. I had one cat who had her paws buttered the day we moved in and she went out that night, returning in the morning. It has never failed me anyway, so maybe worth a try.

Margaret_Skinner

Is_You wrote: »

I have moved six times, sometimes with four cats! The first time I did it someone told me to put butter on the paws of the cats when they are in their new environment. This makes them clean themselves and they then will always find their way home! It does sound crazy I know.

I have done it everytime and usually kept the cats in no more than 2 days. I had one cat who had her paws buttered the day we moved in and she went out that night, returning in the morning. It has never failed me anyway, so maybe worth a try.

It sounds like good advice but I'm still trying to find the link between cleaning themselves and finding their way home!! Sometimes it's not worth stressing why something works though - as long as it does ........

Is_You

I am not sure where the link is, but I was told as soon as you see them cleaning themselves they will always return and as said, it has never failed with mine.

Margaret_Skinner

sooty&sweep wrote: »

Are your moggies male or female ?

I think tom cats tend to wander further whereas females tend to stay closer to home.
Our previous cat was a tom and he'd regularly disappear all night.
Cats generally don't like busy roads and so won't go searching for them.
We're currently still keeping our three in at night and putting litter trays down but I think theres going to come a point soon when we stop.

They're both male (brothers) but one is much more adventurous than the other.

When we first got them we used litter trays to start with & once a certain time passed, set the cat flap so that they could get in & out & showed them how to use it (:rolleyes: ) then gradually they started to go outside.

The long-haired one was much keener to get out than the short-haired one and used outside for the toilet in quite a short time whereas the short-haired one took months before he would 'let go' and even then he crapped on the grass rather than in the ground (he pees in the ground though?? )!! I suspect that's got more to do with a territory war between the 2 of them though rather than anything else ........

Margaret_Skinner

Is_You wrote: »

I am not sure where the link is, but I was told as soon as you see them cleaning themselves they will always return and as said, it has never failed with mine.

That's really intriguing actually - must find out more. Thanks for the tip - anything's worth a try!