My 4 yr old cat lost her twin last May when she was hit by a car. I posted about it (possibly under a different name) for advice.
We moved home last month - a bigger property with a larger garden and quieter surrounding areas. We kept her in for as long as possible and a fortnight ago, opened the back door for her to sniff around.
She has had a wander, and even built up to a few hours. I suspect she was either hiding amongst a giant wood pile we have, or she was exploring the little woodland area backing onto our garden.
I had to really call and call her for her to return, but return she did, looking scared and a bit ruffled. She hasn't ventured out since then - nearly a fortnight of staying inside. She isn't an inside cat at all by nature so I'm a bit worried.
She sleeps downstairs but the last few days, she's been crying from about 4am for the door to upstairs be opened. She woken the whole house with her crying and scratching at the door. I can't let her up to us as she isn't a curl up and cuddle cat - she's a 'tear around corners and under beds, sprint up and down stairs, tussling with shadows type cat and she wakes us all up. Closing the door on her means she'll merely claw at it until we relent.
How can I make her settle?!