Urban to country kitty

[Positivelypatient]

Hi, first time poster here looking for advice or experiences of similar.

I will be moving soon with my cat (6 years old female) from an urban city environment to a farm in the countryside. Im moving to live with my partner so the cat knows him well from when he visits me (long distance relationship). Currently my cat has a pretty limited stomping ground around our terraced house, back garden (small) and neigbouring front/back gardens but she is quite confident and likes being outdoors.

Aside from the usual keeping them in for 2 weeks, is there anything else I can do to make the transition as smooth as possible? Obviously its going to be a big change - hopefully a welcome one for her as well as me! I do worry she might try to find her way home which will be 50+ miles away!

She's pretty bonded to me so I hope that wherever I am, she will want to be.
Picture just because....

My CPL moggy came from the city. We now live beyond rural and although I’d been told some cats don’t like the move - she’s a proper Cheshire Cat these days and is very happy.

came down this morning to see her smiling out over the fields of lambs to the sea.

she’s definitely happier now she’s not being harassed by uneutered toms!

I brought my cats from London to rural Ireland years ago, then on to live on the coast in another country. They loved it. So much freedom. I did restrict one of the more than the other, as he wasn't the brightest moggy in the world and I did worry about him😁. They've both crossed Rainbow Bridge now, but I'm due to move again, from rural to coast, with 2 country boys and my other cat who started her life living on the coast. Confused?🤪

I'd say to apply the same rules to your lovely cat, keeping her in for approx 3 weeks and see how she responds. Be prepared for her to possibly disappear on a rural adventure, once she's settled in.

Is she microchipped?

@StickyFingeredWeeNed @Want2beme thank you both for your experiences, that's reassuring. Yes she is chipped and I must remember to change her registered details too.

Oh yes I expect she'll be off stalking the mice in no time - they are quite a problem on the farm so she might actually earn her keep for a change.

I did the same with my cat, I was a bit nervous about her but she absolutely loves it, she doesnt roam as far as I thought she might although she does get out and about

One of the big plusses for me is the lack of fleas. We used to treat her regularly with all different brands but there was just a chronic flea problem in the area. Here i dont think shes had fleas once which is a wierd but good benefit

You probably already know this but just in case… the first few times you let her out, do it before feeding time. She won’t go so far if she is hungry and will likely come running in as soon as she hears her food dish.

I swear, my two can hear the sound of their food dishes from miles away. They always come flying back in!

I can see you are a concerned and genuine cat owner.
I don't and never will own a cat - too many prey 'items' in the countryside. The cat of a friend brought in bats, small rabbits and a grass snake God knows how many birds and mice/shrews.
Whatever you do please put a bell on it to save some of the countryside from its predations.
You see its not all about cats.
no malice intended.

Did you think she was a pretend cat owner? How does someone become a non genuine cat owner?

@jaffacakesareepic that sounds like an added bonus -though she's a grumpy little thing and doesnt like other cats much so fleas havent been much of a problem so far. Will probably need to up the worming though.

@DifficultBloodyWoman good tip thank you I will definately do this😀