How long until I let our rescue cat outside?

[hallucinatingmaybe]

We adopted a lovely rescue cat two weeks ago. As far as we know she is about a year old and was abandoned, along with a single kitten, when her original owners moved house (a neighbour noticed and brought her in to the rescue centre). She was already pregnant with a second litter so has clearly had outside access in the past - she spends a lot of time looking longingly out of the window and meows at the door a couple of times a day so we'd like to install a cat flap for her now that her final vaccines are complete. We've had one half-hearted escape attempt when my daughter accidentally left the front door open, but to be fair to the cat she came back in of her own accord after some frantic coaxing. However I'm worried that, given her unsettled past (she was with a foster carer while she weaned her last litter and recovered from being neutered) she might not realise she's stuck with us for good 😅

How long would you give it before letting her out?

About 3-4 weeks is often enough, but you have to be sure that she has settled and keep an eye on her during the first several outings. It also depends on your locality - size of garden, proximity to busy roads, whether there are any aggressive cats in the neighbourhood, other potential preditors, etc.

Basically you need to get to know her, wait till she feels comfortable with you and her new environment, and she trusts you. And keep a close eye on her.

Cats Protection told me a minimum of 4 weeks, during which time they can get used to their feed routine. I let mine out for the first time whilst I was in the garden and didn't give them a huge feed at breakfast. I think I did it a bit too well as they're normally back in by 2pm every day!

Generally around 3 weeks is recommend, and should be fine as she's clearly well settled.

We let our kitten out after 6 weeks with us. He loves the outside and it was pitiful to hear him meowing when we let our other (older) cats out. Also, butter their paws before their first (supervised) taste of the outside.

Something else that I was told, scatter some of the used litter from your cat's tray around the garden .

Ideally I'd do 3-4 weeks but if they're settled and stir crazy after 2, I might do it a bit early. If you can, leave the door open and their litter tray near the door so they have that smell to guide them back.

My own cat was with us for weeks before she went out, as I got her as a pregnant foster cat and she didn't go out until her kittens were rehomed at 9 weeks. She never had any problem finding her way back after that long!

Try and make it last as long as you can!
Also don't let the kitten out with a full stomach - deliberately plan it so you take any food up well in advance.
Before you let them out, make a big thing of shaking dry food or waving a wet pouch about in front of them for a few days so they know what it is - if they decide to go rogue on an outside adventure it's easier to get them back if they're hungry.

We did three weeks, but it was easier because it was the summer holidays and I was in and out with her, plus we could leave the back door open. We don’t have a cat flap as there’s a utility between the kitchen and back door, so she hops up at the window when she wants in, and is always in overnight/when we’re at work.