Cat refusing to go out

[MagpiePi]

I moved house in November and my cat, who was very much an outdoor cat at the old house, is still refusing to go out.

I kept him in for a few weeks as advised, and then went into the back garden a few times with him. He’s very nervous and got spooked, once by another cat and once by something banging in the wind when he misjudged his dash inside and went head on into the glass door. I carry him out occasionally but he is clearly terrified - shaking and running straight back in if I put him down.

I haven’t had his cat flap fitted yet (was waiting for the quarantine period to finish first) and am wondering if I do whether he will feel a bit more confident to go out as he’ll have a bit more autonomy. It is going to have to go through a cavity wall, which is not something I feel able to do myself, so not a cheap job!

Why is he in quarantine

I think OP means a settling in period in the new home, not that he’s infectious!

OP, can you hang on until the weather’s better if he’s happy to be inside for now? We don’t have a cat flap at all (we have a utility between kitchen and back door so it would need either two or the middle door constantly open) and with our boy and our previous girl cat got them used to going in and out by having the back door open and coming in and out to the garden with us. With our girl it was July so a very quick process, and with our boy May so a bit more sporadic weather-wise.

Both cats quickly clicked to go to the door to go out, hop up at the kitchen window to come in. Might that be worth a shot and see how he goes? I wouldn’t like a cat having unlimited outdoor access (eg overnight) so this works perfectly for us, although I know that’s different for everyone.

I tried walking my cat today, thinking she’d love being outside. She was terrified and wanted to run back home!

I think I’ll stick to putting her in the cat buggy from now on

Our little cat (2kg) is terrified by anything. She used to go out but not now. A neighbour's cat came in once or twice when we were in but ran out when we appeared. So I think something has happened so she uses a litter tray all the time now.

Our cat will come in to use the litter tray and go straight back out. He was a stray kitten and definitely prefers his home comforts now he has them!

My parents cat was a very out door boy until they moved. He spent 6 moths as an indoor cat, while they lived with my sister. He now goes out again but is only out for five minutes before coming back in. It’s a new estate and I wonder if the territory’s are not overly clear.

I did mean the period when you keep them in to get them used to a new indoor home before letting them outside. It was quicker to write 'quarantine'!

@Judystilldreamsofhorses and @Toddlerteaplease

It doesn't help that the weather is so grim at the moment! If it were a bit warmer I would leave the back door open, and also be in and out to the back garden more myself which would give him a chance to make his own mind about going in and out. I'm not particularly worried about him being out overnight.

When I was a child we had a cat who survived without a cat flap and without a litter tray, despite both my parent working full time, so I know it is possible. He used to sit on the kitchen window sill when he wanted to come in.

I think I will persevere with taking him outside for very short periods to see if I can get him used to the idea that it is not actually a scary place. I just wonder if he is going a bit stir crazy after his previous life.