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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my cat doesn’t need to be locked indoors for 2 weeks before I let him out?

68 replies

Latinorapida · 08/09/2021 15:50

6 year old cat. Been outside his whole life. We’ve moved into a new place and poor thing has been cooped up in a flat for 2 months because our new place wasn’t ready yet.

Everywhere online says to wait 2 weeks but he’s desperate to go outside.

Can I let him out?

Yes- let him out
No - wait the two weeks

OP posts:
Fabpinky · 08/09/2021 15:52

The same happened to my cat. He was desperate to get out and jumped out a 3rd floor window. He was fine but we never bothered to keep him in for the 2 weeks after that.

KihoBebiluPute · 08/09/2021 15:54

He needs to think of the new place as "home" before you let him out. Being cooped up in a flat before is irrelevant, the new place needs to feel and smell familiar before he goes exploring.

AntiSocialDistancer · 08/09/2021 15:58

The amount of local Lost Cat posts I see on social media are mainly from people who've moved house and who's cat has "slipped out" and doesnt know the area. Your cat's already used to staying indoors, another couple of weeks cant hurt

SpudleyLass · 08/09/2021 16:01

My mum reasoned this once with one of our cats, despite me telling her otherwise.

He went missing for a few weeks, for the sake of 7 extra days.

Thankfully, we found him safe and well. He had been trying to return to our previous home.

Dontstepinthecowpat · 08/09/2021 16:03

We moved three weeks ago and let the cat out yesterday, he was climbing the walls. He came home first thing for his breakfast. I was worried overnight and when I didn’t see him first thing I gave him a big hug.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 08/09/2021 16:05

It's so that he gets his bearings.

It COULD be fine, but it's high risk.

HeckyPeck · 08/09/2021 16:05

I wouldn't risk it OP.

A couple more weeks of being inside is much better than your cat possibly getting lost or even run over trying to get back home.

DoraChance · 08/09/2021 16:06

Definitely wait, he needs to think of your new place as home if he's going to come back safely.

Original poster
Latinorapida · 08/09/2021 16:10

@KihoBebiluPute

He needs to think of the new place as "home" before you let him out. Being cooped up in a flat before is irrelevant, the new place needs to feel and smell familiar before he goes exploring.
It’s not irrelevant because I’ve never seen him so depressed. He started pissing all over the flat, something he’s never done before because of how fed up he’d got. I mentioned it because if it weren’t for the fact that he’d been stuck in a flat for 2 months I would definitely stick to the 2 weeks but he’s keeps staring out with window and crying. And the weather is so so nice !
OP posts:
Original poster
Latinorapida · 08/09/2021 16:10

Ok, well I think the general consensus is don’t risk it. Thank you

OP posts:
Dogdaystrouble · 08/09/2021 16:12

I wouldn't risk it. We recently moved and prior to that she was in and out all day and night. She was climbing the walls being cooped up.
After just over 2 weeks we let her out in the morning before feeding her....called her in after a few mins for breakfast.
Then we let her out while we were sat in the garden with treats to call her back.
Then we let her out but left the door open for her (luckily it was nice and warm haha)

I'd wait a bit to be certain

Boood · 08/09/2021 16:13

Most important thing: make sure he’s hungry the first few times you let him out, and feed him as soon as you bring him in. Teach him to associate coming home with reward.

icedcoffees · 08/09/2021 16:13

Yes - keep him in. If he gets out he could end up lost and you may never see him again.

Ginevere · 08/09/2021 16:13

Take him out on a lead maybe?

feesh · 08/09/2021 16:15

Personally I never wait two weeks. I don’t see what difference an extra few days makes - once they’ve had a few breakfasts in the new place they know which side their bread is buttered!

Gensola · 08/09/2021 16:17

I always let mine out and he’s always come home!

bicarbonateofcherrysoda · 08/09/2021 16:17

You could try using a lead. Mine aren't keen but others are.

Tirediam · 08/09/2021 16:21

Keep him in, we kept our 2 in and they HATED it, peed everywhere...but now we have left them out they don't go far as they know where home is

blubberball · 08/09/2021 16:34

Cats protection told us to keep our adopted cat in for 4 weeks before letting him out. I think that we managed 2.5 weeks, and he was going a bit mental. He's much happier now that he can go and explore the garden. We're still not quite at the stage where he comes and goes as he pleases, because I still shut him in at night and if I'm going out. He still uses his litter tray indoors. Hope the 2 weeks passes quickly.

romdowa · 08/09/2021 16:36

Last time I didn't, dcat went straight back from where we had moved from. Some cats are just very territorial.

lljkk · 08/09/2021 16:36

My mother only kept them in for 3 days. Always worked fine when we moved house (shrug)

Bontanics · 08/09/2021 16:38

You know your own cat's behaviour. We moved recently and started letting her out the back after about a week but she's a very timid and shy thing and doesn't really explore very far. She'll run away from anyone and any other cat and she would run straight back in after just a few minutes. 2 months later she's still not exploring far but she knows where home is.

CatTuxedo · 08/09/2021 16:41

Yes. I think for people who don't get cays/ haven't lived with them their whole lives, it's a useful safety guideline. But sometimes you just "know" they've found their home with you, they're settled and not anxious about being there.

Coogee · 08/09/2021 16:47

We have had cats all our lives. We have taken them with us camping and haven’t lost one yet.

I imagine it might be a problem if you only move a short distance away.

mayblossominapril · 08/09/2021 16:51

We always let ours out once the removal men have gone. They always seem to want accompanying outside at first though, a good week has to pass before they will pop out alone!