Letting my cat out after moving - advice please!

[strangeloop]

We moved here three weeks ago. We have two cats, one is used to coming in and out as she pleases through a cat flap. We also have an indoor cat (a ragdoll kitten). It's a residential area and there's hardly any traffic but I just can't bring myself to let her go. She's always been cautious and not gone far but she will investigate neighbours gardens.

I'm just so nervous about letting her go!

I rescued an indoor cat and he was VERY timid. The rescue centre were keen for him to live somewhere with a garden because they felt he would be happy to go outside once given the opportunity. He does potter about the patio will won't go any further at the moment.

My plan is to try him on a cat lead around the garden a few times and see how he gets on. He also is more brave if I am outside - so I sit on a wee stool and have a coffee with the kitchen door open. At the moment he prefers me to be there and if I go back inside he is right at my heels.

Isn’t the latest advice to keep them in for at least a month?

I'm not clear exactly which cat you're worried about letting out?

If the kitten, then how old and is he/she neutered?

In general the recommendation is to keep indoors for about a month in a new home and then gradually start introducing them to the garden. In this weather (very high winds here at least) you should probably wait a bit until it's nicer again though.

Oh, a month! I'd read two weeks on the internet. I'll definitely stick to that then.

Sorry Viccat, I mentioned the other cat for no relevant reason, other than his dislike of being ignored . He does go in the (fenced) garden, but only under my watchful eye.

The cat I'm concerned about, who used the cat flap in our old house, is 18 months old, neutered and chipped.

I'm worried she'll get lost. I suppose what I'm asking is, how good are they at finding their way back to their new home in a new environment?