Moved house - 15 year old cat desperate to go outside

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We moved house on Monday, with our two 15 year old cats. We had planned to keep the cats in for three weeks (partly because we are away for 4 days in the third week). The issue is that one of the cats is utterly desperate to go outside. He hasn’t had to use a litter tray since he was 6 months old. I think his upset at the litter tray situation isn’t helped by the fact that our other cat has chronic diarrhoea (vets are trying to sort that).

The cat who wants to go out is a total homebody, so I really think it is because we wants to do his business outside. His brother, on the other hand, is a fickle and wanders (and he is on medication).

I guess my questions are, should we make my very upset cat stay in for three weeks? He escaped yesterday, my husband caught him, and he then followed him round the house miaowing at him for 4 hours. I think if we did let him out, I would still aim to keep his wandering brother in.

Any thoughts? All the advice says keep him in!

When we moved a few years ago we got a lead and harness for our cats so we could walk them round the garden. One wasn't keen and refused to move but the other one was just happy to get outside.

I feel for you, the yowling to go out is sheer torture!

Did you move a fair distance away from your old house? If so and you've had 15 years of bonding then I would let him out.

Disagree sorry I wouldn’t let him go out unless on a harness. Its a right pain but make sure you have a litter box each (paint trays can be handy)

At 15 hes a senior and his bearings will be off. Please give him time

How many litter trays have you provided? Ideally 3 trays for 2 cats.

I moved to my current house when my old lady cat was 14+ and she scaled an 8ft wall (in a completely enclosed courtyard at the front) to get out after 4 days which was momentarily terrifying as it was backed by a road, but she was fine and used the flap at the back as if she'd lived here forever after that. My usual aim with an outdoor savvy cat is 2 weeks.

We managed about a week of keeping our cat inside when we moved and then decided to let him outside. I know all cats are different but it was fine with our cat and he didn't go very far to start with.

I let my 14 year old cat out a few days after I moved in, I kept an eye on her whilst she explored the garden so she'd associate it with me, and she was fine.

Just keep upstairs windows closed if you do want to keep them in. Our were sufficient cross they jumped down from there to the ground (and were fine…we only found out how they were getting out when we saw on hurtle past the sitting room window).

Haha, yes, similar to my experience, I heard a crash and went out to the yard to see a fallen over chair and a cat's arse disappearing over the wall.

I once moved 5 doors down the road without telling my then cat. I was just curious to see if he’d work it out. He did - at the end of the first Day he was at the door of the new house demanding to be let in.

I confess to letting all of mine out on day 1 last time I moved. They don’t like being shut in. But none of them are roamers, so it probably depends on your cats.

Thanks all. I was reading that cats miaowing lots is because they are disoriented, but given how much they want to go out I’m not sure. Cat just went to the toilet by the front door too 🤔😩 I am going to order a harness and see how that goes!!!

I've just been in a similar situation, 14 year old cat, has moved house with me a couple of times before. I let her out after the first few days - I went out with her to check she was ok and knew to come back. She doesn't go far anyway, usually just into the garden and to sit at the gate/on the path. She was fine - like you, I can only imagine the complaints if I was trying to keep her in!

I agree with the harness, I put it on my cat when I moved and then clipped on an extendable dog lead. I carried her out to the garden and sat down and then let her roam on the lead, I did this every day for three weeks, she was fine after that and now uses a cat flap as well with no problems.