Keeping cats indoors after moving

[meanACE]

Hi Carbs.

The general consensus online seems to be to keep cats indoors for 2 weeks after moving. It's been 2 days and our cats are staring out the windows like I used to stare at my empty entjie box during lockdown.

Anyone here who has experience with this?
What is a safe amount of time before I can grant them freedom?

Kind Regards.

 

[goldfritter]

There is no reason to risk letting them out early. Two weeks of grumpy cats is a lot less painful than losing the cat forever.

 

[Fife]

I wouldn't let them out before a week...

Every time I've moved with my cat, I'd give it about 10 days minimum...

And then once I tried the butter on the paws thing (after about 10 days just to be safe)

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Keeping him in the house or in the yard? My grandfather has kept his cat in their house/yard for 3 years now.

 

[Nyt Ryda]

Keep them out of your neighbors yard permanently.

I hate people's cats shitting in my yard

 

[ZOMBY]

Awee i also dumped my cats fisrt literbox in 1 corner of my yard when i moved just one box reasoning if she gets lost she can smell her way home dont know if it helped butt my cat did not get lost hahah

 

[Marick]

2 weeks is safe.
When i moved house i put up an electric fence,then went out with my cat for a few minutes each day.
She was pretty chilled each time.
So I guess it depends on your cat,also you pretty much 2 type of cats.
A bush cat or a tree cat,the latter is normally more prone to exploring.
Good luck.

 

[Oj0]

My cats don't know what the outdoors is. No harm in keeping them indoors.

 

[R3aL1Ty]

My cats don't go outside, they stay indoors permanently

 

[Gabushna]

It purely depends on the animal, we have been keeping a new kitty indoors for the last 6 weeks, with supervised outdoors visits.

The issue with him is he has a tendency to run for the fence. When he does we take him back inside and try again tomorrow.


Sent from my SM-A920F using Tapatalk

 

[goldfritter]

My cats don't know what the outdoors is. No harm in keeping them indoors.

On Reddit and a bunch of other places it seems to be a controversial topic. Although I think opinions lean more commonly towards keeping a cat indoors permanently. Indoor cats apparently live longer, and are also less likely to wreak havoc upon the local wildlife (and your neighbour's property).

Not sure if this will help OP though because I can't imagine a cat that's used to being free to go outside will be very happy to be forced into an indoor-only lifestyle. But if I ever get cats I'll probably try keep them inside.

 

[AinsleyHarriott]

Indoor cats apparently live longer

This is most probably because they can't run in front of cars.

 

[Oj0]

My oldest one managed to get out once, she was shit scared of the grass

 

[oceaneering]

You can let them out already, 2 weeks is absurd!

 

[Gew]

We recently moved a very (as in transcontinental*) long way, and we have also moved one time before. We have an old cat (don't know his age, as we took him as a stray as grown age) and this old fellow has adjusted very well both times.

The first time we moved we actually bought a harness but he was really not happy about wearing it, in fact he managed to get himself out of it in a couple of minutes. He then started sneaking around freely, expanding his new territory step by step. He's very methodical, we have to give him credit for that. I guess you could say he's street smart!

However, what works for one cat might not work for another. I'm fairly convinced that this matter is extremely individual.