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Original poster

Just moved house, do I really need to wait 2 weeks til I let the cats outside?

15 replies

schnapps · 16/04/2006 12:17

I moved house one week ago. I've got 2 cats. It would be lovely to have the windows and patio doors open in this lovely weather, and the cats would really appreciate the garden (had a poxy yard before). Do I really need to wait another week though?

OP posts:

twocatsonthebed · 16/04/2006 13:16

You have my sympathy, the two cats here have just had the snip and aren't allowed out until their stitches are taken out next week.

I think it all depends on how soppy and homeloving your cats are! Perhaps you can just let them out for a little bit, supervised.

Have you buttered their paws? I know this is an old wives tale, but someone explained it to me - once they've licked the butter off, they get to know the smell of their new house in the dust that sticks to the butter, and so it smells like home to them!

Original poster

schnapps · 16/04/2006 19:09

Thanks for the reply twocats. I've heard about the buttered paws but thought the reason was to do with encouraging the cat to groom, which they tend to do in their home. Anyway, I'd forgotten about that, so I'll give it a go

OP posts:

bubblerock · 16/04/2006 19:14

I lasted 24 hours with mine indoors then I let them go, they were fine. When we moved the first time it was near a busy road so I held them both by the road when a bus went by and they didn't go near it again!

charliecat · 16/04/2006 19:15

and make sure they are hungry before you let them out

littlerach · 16/04/2006 19:16

We lasted about 1 day.
But the cat staied in garden for the first couple of dyas anyway so wasn't as worried.

starlover · 16/04/2006 19:17

i'd stick to it tbh... a friend of mine moved and the kids let the cat out after a week and it never came back :(

Original poster

schnapps · 16/04/2006 22:52

Ok, I was almost ready to let them out then, but I suppose waiting one more week wont hurt. I've got one cat who is pretty much a home-boy. He never wanders far and never stays outside for long, so I'm sure he'd probably be fine. But my other cat often goes out for hours, sometimes overnight, so I'd probably be a bit worried about her wandering off and not finding her way back.

Thanks again for the replies

OP posts:

Original poster

schnapps · 16/04/2006 22:54

oh, and about the butter...
is it easy to get it on the cat's paws (can't imagine my cats letting me get close enough with it)? And doesn't it leave greasy marks all over the furniture?

OP posts:

NomDePlume · 16/04/2006 23:03

Luckily I have a pretty homely mummy's boy cat , so he never strays that far from home anyway. When we moved in here, I kept him in for a week and then allowed him into the garden in week 2. I used to stand by the back door and he'd venture out about 3 feet from the door, if I showed signs of going back in and closing the door he'd shoot straight back into the kitchen ! He's a big wuss though !

We're moving again in a few weeks (fingers crossed the solicitors get their bums into gear) and I'm hoping it'll be the same sort of situation.

twocatsonthebed · 17/04/2006 10:07

I had a very easy-going cat, so just buttered her paws with a piece of buttery paper - like she was the bottom of the cake tin!

And I did it in the vinyl-floored kitchen with the door shut - but she licked it all off pretty much straight away.

hope this helps!

Original poster

schnapps · 17/04/2006 19:13

Well, I buttered their paws last night and when I got up this morning it was such a beautiful day, I just couldn't wait any longer. I let the cats out! I was sure they'd stay in the garden (which is quite big), particularly the boy cat, but no, they were off out of the garden in no time. Half an hour or more later there was no sign of them and I was thinking 'starlover'll be saying: I told you so' but they eventually came back, and have been back out a few times, but coming to the house in between - phew!

OP posts:

NomDePlume · 17/04/2006 19:15

Good stuff

charliecat · 17/04/2006 19:16

thats brilliant :)

cece · 17/04/2006 19:38

In this house our cat got out after about 8 hours. Panic stuck as she merrily jumped the fence into the next garden! 10 mins she was back so we just let her come and go from then on!

Last time we moved the same cat was kept in for about 10 days!

TuttiFrutti · 17/04/2006 19:50

I would keep them in for 2 weeks if you can, so they really know it's their new home and not just a holiday cattery! We kept ours in for 2 weeks after our move, and they STILL got lost a few times after they were let out - exploring in neighbours' gardens and not knowing their way home. It took them about 2 months to really know their way about the area.

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