When to let rehomed cat outside?

[hiccupgirl]

We got a lovely 1 yr old boy a week ago from the RSPCA. He's settling really well in the house after 4 months in the kennels and is getting on ok with our other 2 cats.

But he is desperate to go outside - he was an outdoor cat in his previous life. Our others go in and out using the cat flap so that's fine. But I don't know when to start letting our new one out. The RSPCA said 3-4 weeks but he'll be frantic by then. Last time we rehomed cats we kept them in for 2 weeks because they were climbing the walls. Last night he got out of the tiny bedroom window onto the sill and I had to drag him back in.

Should I give it another week for him to settle more or let him have a window open later to go in and out of? Really don't want to lose him but he's clearly not happy staying in all the time.

That's lovely you've given him a home. Hope you'll all be very happy!

We're always told to keep them in for 3 weeks in a new home, but I've never gone beyond 2 weeks. Its heartbreaking to see them desperate to explore the outside, but so nerve-racking for us. Is your garden closed in? Maybe wander out with him for the next week, but restrict this to a couple of times a day until you're happy he's become acclimatised.

I've always kept them in at least 2 weeks, when they're new or when moving house. I don't think I'd let him out yet.

Better for him to be frantic trying to get out than you being frantic if he gets out too soon and gets lost

He might not be happy but better to keep him safe. Give it more time.

Can I ask his you've stopped him so far? We have new cats coming this week and obviously initially they will be in one room but once they can access the whole house how can I stop them going out but still let existing cat use the flap?

So far he's been told no in a firm voice or clicked at if he's gone near the cat flap plus I've kept him shut away from it overnight or if we're out. He doesn't like a sharp voice or a click so he's stayed away from it. As the weather has been out, the other 2 are mostly outside anyway so it's worked ok so far.

I can program the cat flap to not let him out but to do that, I need to put his head in it so it can read his microchip - kind of defeats the object as it tells him it is a cat flap he can use.

I think I'll give it another week if possible - it's just heartbreaking when he so obviously wants to be out - especially when our other 1 yr old sits on the other side of the glass taunting him! They're very much tolerating each other rather than going to be best buddies. Our older boy isn't fussed at all but the new one.

Thanks everyone

Out = lovely!

Thanks. We have a microchip flap but I think it only keeps cats out rather than selects who can go out.

He must be kept in a minimum of three weeks. Better to practice tough love than have him run off.

The rescue near me advises 6-8 weeks to make sure that they don't get lost.

Wait until the UK Cat Killer is caught if you are in the UK?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/31/police-issue-description-of-croyden-cat-killer