Moving - is the two week rule absolute?

[pastaofplenty]

Hi there

Our two cats will be moving into their new home (I'm already here) in a few weeks time.

They are coming from France so there is no way they can "find their way back home" (if they can it will be a bloody miracle!)

Anyway I am trying to do everything possible to settle them into their new home - and have read tips on here and elsewhere.

I have read that cats should stay in for at least two weeks - has anyone any good experiences of letting them out earlier?

I ask for several reasons:

1. They are very much outdoor/country cats and are used to coming and going as they please.
   

1. Their new home is much smaller (two bed GF flat) than our home in France - so less space to explore and get to know
   

1. They are very vocal when we have kept them in at home (fireworks etc..) and I can't imagine two weeks of that
   

1. The new flat is in a very quiet area, with small park next door and garden. There is little traffic and I've not seen other cats around.
   

Is it worth taking the risk? I was thinking of playing it by ear and perhaps letting them out after five to six days (or when they have both gone totally stir crazy - whichever comes first!)

I would not let them out at night (if possible) but in the daytime until they are totally at home.

Any thoughts please? They are micro chipped, have collars and are sterilised and normally come home regularly for food and treats - they don't wander far at home but do have access to outside automatically.

Thanks

[BeautifulBatman]

I have moved my two English cats 4 times in 7 years. And I've never kept them in for more than two days..... for me, as long as they've used their litter tray and eaten some food, they're good to go. I let them out hungry, go outside with them, leave the entrance/exit to the home open so they can run back indoors. It's always worked for me. They're also very outdoorsy and wouldn't be happy being in for too long. Certainly not two weeks! Good luck :)

[Lonecatwithkitten]

First thing you need to register them with the UK microchip database so if they do get lost they will be returned to you. If you look at the Pet Log website there are forms to do this.
I always keep my cats in for a month. There is a lot of variation, I just think if I let them out sooner and they got lost I would never forgive myself.

[Kerberos]

We wanted to keep them in but they escaped. Didn't have any problems and we moved very close to where we used to live. I'd say go with your gut feel.

[thecatneuterer]

We say three weeks, not two. Yes you may get away with letting them out sooner, but then again they may go missing. For two (or even three) weeks of annoyance I wouldn't risk it.

[pastaofplenty]

Thanks everyone - I guess at the end of the day it's how they feel and settle. Thanks for the tip about registering their chips - will do this as soon as they arrive. Wish me luck!

[Maryann1975]

My cat went to stay with my sibling when we went away this summer. Went one weekend overnight, as we were camping, then the next weekend went for the week. I agreed cat could go out on day three of the week as long as it was in the morning and before she was fed. My db had no problems and she came in each day for him as she wanted her breakfast.
We moved house several times with our last cats and they never stayed in for more than about five days. I normally started out with good intentions of two weeks, then became increasingly frustrated with their escape attempts and let them out to explore.

[YeOldeTrout]

my mom never kept them in for more than 3 days. Worked for her.