Rescue cat first time outside

[hotchips]

We've had an 8 year old rescue cat for 7 weeks. We let him out for the first time 2.5 hours ago. He was up the 6 foot high gate within 5 minutes. I saw him climbing across half a dozen back yards. Basking in the sun on a shed roof, and generally having a good time and then no sight of him for the last 2 hours.

When I've let cats out for the first time in the past they've been tentative and come back pretty quickly. Has anyone had any experience of a cat going out for so long on a first outing and coming back or has he done a legger?

My rescue cat disappeared for 4 hours the first time we let her out but she did come back eventually.

Yup.twice with two different rescue cats .
Cat number 1 was in the house for two days and frantically clawing at the curtains and windows.I had never seen anything like it and both myself and DH didn’t know what best to do so let her out before meal time and watched her rocket down the garden and disappear over the fence (we lived on an estate) .We both thought that would be the last we saw of her. we called for her at various times and looked around the estate with no luck and then she came strolling back as if nothing had happen and if she had been with us for years. We found out later that her previous owners did not have a cat flap and she entered the house through the top windows hence the clawing at the windows.
Similar thing happened a few years later with another acquired cat.We let her out after a few days in doors and she disappeared for most of the day but did eventually come back.
Very stressful though and the relief is enormous when they return.

Hearing your positive experiences is helping. I'm feeling very twitchy!

I've just spotted him half a dozen gardens away, hanging out with another cat. Perfectly disdainful cat stare when I called him. Feel better he's still in the vicinity.

And 6 hours later I found him walking down the street in front of our house and he let me pick him up and carry him home. 💆🏻‍♀️ I'd forgotten how stressful cat ownership could be.

It's uncool to respond when your mummy calls you if your with another cat.

Glad hes back.