indoor cat becoming outdoor cat

[lurkingfromhome]

We currently live on a top floor apartment and have a very curious and intrepid indoor cat. It's a nice big apartment so plenty of space for him to run around, and we also have a balcony, so he spends a lot of time out there peering over the edge, playing in our plant pots and occasionally climbing onto the roof and going walkabout out there. So he's an indoor cat but with a little taste of what life outdoors might be like.

We're now moving house to a real house that will have front and back garden and is in a semi-rural location, with a river just a minute away, lots of trees, proper countryside, if you like. I'm happy that there won't be much traffic (there is a footpath between our house and the river, and there will be a few cars belonging to the houses beside ours but it's not like we'll be living on a proper road or anything) but I'm still a bit fearful about letting my boy out for the first time.

He will be just turned 2 by the time we move, so it's not like he's a kitten discovering the outside world gradually. Does this have unforeseen problems? He's fairly cocky so I like to think he could hold his own against other cats, but he has never seen one before!

Advice please! Am worried already but I know I have to be brave and let him explore ...

He might like outside and he might not - or only in small doses at first. I'd just let him take everything at his own pace - and also let him have a microchip cat flap, perhaps, so that he can dive back to a place of safety if something gets all too much for him.

Is he already chipped and neutered?

We moved house with our old cat. He was used to being outdoors but I was really worried the move to our new big house with a big garden and fields and woods at the back would excite him so much he would never come back.

So for 6 weeks I made him stay in the house.

He used to sit staring out longingly.

Then one weekend when we had a lot of spare time we opened the door. He spent the morning just sat on the doorstep. Then he ran off to the woods. And later that day he returned and was absolutely fine. He loved his garden. And his ashes are under his fav tree where in his latter years he would lay sunbathing.

I think I would take your time, get them established indoors first, perhaps bring then in at night? They will love it.

Absolutely true - getting them established indoors first is important.

He will be fine

Do keep him in for a little while, so he gets used to his new home, but let him go into the garden with you and start getting used to his new playground. Just don't let him be out alone, and unwatched, for the first 2-3 weeks.
Indoor cats take a while to become brave about going outside (even the cocky ones ) but quickly adjust. Encouraging him into the garden with you will make him feel more confident, then try to leave a door open so he can start to go in and out at will. Make sure he can always get back in with ease, as his first forays will be cautious explorations out ...and rapid scurries back in as he is startled by new things.

They usually learn to love outdoor time!

Ooh thank you for your kind words of encouragement and really good advice. He has been neutered but not chipped yet. We'll do that before we move and will make sure his boosters are all up to date.

I do think that moving to a new house will be traumatic enough for him, so we'll keep him indoors until he gets used to that and then take it from there. I am excited about letting him see the great outdoors but very worried about my gorgeous boy. Honestly, it's a good thing I don't actually have children as I'm anxious enough about a cat

Just a thought - I discovered yesterday that June is National Microchip Month 2013 so if you nip in smartish to the vet, you might get it done for a special rate.

Oh that's great, cozie! Will go and call them now. Thanks so much!