How long do I need to keep him in

[mrslaughan]

So I picked up our cat, after 3 months in quarantine. I have always only kept cats in a few days after a move, but some one said they thought it needed to be a couple of weeks. Given how much this adventure has costed it, I don't want him to do a bunk...... He is desperate to get outside(however my guess is, having grown up in sunnier climes he will put one paw outside, feel the temp and hibernate back inside.), but need to get it right!
MTIA

Usually a couple of weeks at least. Best to get him used to his new surroundings if you can first. having said that, my last cat was out within 2 days as he did everything he could to escape. Since he had a strong attachment to us he was fine. We did watch him closely though and shout him back in every 5 mins to check he wasn't going too far to start with.

Mine have recently moved from the other side of the world, I kept them in for about a month. You're probably right about the hibernating, mine were outdoor cats who hunted baby snakes and roamed the jungle/ beach for days at a time, now they snooze happily on cushions or as close to the radiator as they can get, they won't use their cat flap and seem happy to venture out for 5 mins on weekends!

Since getting my own cat I think it very much depends on the individual animal and the size of the house.

I was advised by the rescue people to keep my cat in for six weeks but he and I would have gone loopy if I'd stuck to that. Then again, my house is tiny so not many places for kitty to go and it was July.

I cleared all the windowsills in the house (read that they orientate themselves by looking out of every window)

After a few days I took him out into the back garden in a harness to get used to the smells etc and then I let him go out with a collar on on day 9.

I should add that it was the middle of July and everytime someone went near a door tigger would let out the most heartbreaking yowls and keep it going for at least 30 mins after. Both our sanity couldn't take anymore :)

He was gone for two hours on his first outing and just as I thought I'd lost home he came wandering around the corner with a nonchalant look on his face :)