Timescales for recently rehomed cat to go outside!?

[LazyDoll]

Hi,

We rehomed our cat from a family friend just over 2 weeks ago.

He has settled in beautifully and I am wondering when would be the right time to allow him outside.

He is almost 4 years old. Very independent and confident. Well used to being outside in his previous home.

We live 7 miles from his old house. We live slightly further from a road than he didn’t previously but our road is busier although mostly with farm and local traffic.

He isn’t great using a litter tray. We want him to be an outside cat but I obviously don’t want to loose him or risk anything happening to him.

Any help or advice gratefully received thank you!

Sorry typos.

We live slightly further from a road than he DID previously.

He IS great using his litter tray.

The rescue where I volunteer recommends keeping a new cat indoors for 4-6 weeks minimum and until they seem completely settled and relaxed with the family. That's based on years of experience and thousands of cats homed.

Do you have a catflap?

Brilliant thanks.

Yes we fitted him a cat flap prior to him coming to live with us so we’re ready when the time is right.

We say three to four weeks, depending on how confident the cat is.

That’s really helpful thanks. Any tips on introduction? I’ve heard let him go out hungry so he'll return and we’re planning on walking him round the garden first.

We always did it on a day when we could stay outside with them.
.We first put them on Windows sills inside around the house so that they got the lay if the land.Trained them to come to us when a dreamies packet is rattled.

Hah! it's not just me! I was about to start a new thread for this one :-D
Our Tankie (been with us a week and a half) is still desperate to go out. Absolutely chilled, does little but sleep on the sofa all day, happy with the other cats (to the point where I think wtf? has he been drugged??) - they're sharing bowls and things, it's kind of...weird, considering he's only been here a week and a half.
BUT.
Come darkness, and he is literally smashing at the cat flap to go out. Has broken the plastic flap already and we've had to wire it shut with four eye-bolts and the door or a car-carrier on the front (outside, so he can't tear it off.... or he would). He's forced one of the eye bolts about half an inch out of the wood after two days. (There is no way this boy is going to be an indoor cat, you know?) He's yelling continually for hours overnight to be let out, going from the front door to the back door to the French windows and crying.

He's coming for lap cuddles, he's curling up on DS's bed and keeping DS company if he's upstairs reading, he is a delightful affectionate cat and I know it's far too early to let him out but this must be really miserable for him. Not to say the effect that it has on the other cats that they can't use the cat flap because he's smashed it all to bits....

What can I do?!

Oh wow he sounds more than keen to explore! This is our first cat so I’m afraid Im a bit of a novice and can’t offer you any answers. I hope someone else can. Our cat is very content being in so the opposite of yours!!

Oh he's a darling. I opened the back door earlier on to put some recycling out - fully expecting to have to dive on him - he looked at me, and I swear to God did the Roger Moore eyebrow. 'S raining, mum....
It's giving the other cats the pip though having to ask to go out though, they're not used to not just being able to bomb it out of the cat flap!

How many do you have in total?

Five :-) Two brothers, about 13, sleep a lot. Two other rescues who came together, age your guess is good as mine - she's pretty, needy, and loud, and possibly half Bengal: he's a massive tuxedo cat and very chilled.