Adjusting indoor cats to going outside..

[Brat]

Any handy tips?

We are moving to a different area this week, we have the hard task of introducing my two cats to my boyfriends cat (All neutered males) and also I would like my two to go outside. We have a house in a rural village and beyond our back garden is open countryside.. so finally I can (hopefully) let them out without worrying they will either be stolen or killed.

My Boyfriend successfully re-adjusted his cat earlier this year after spending 18 months as a house cat. Mu now loves it outside, and I think mine will too (Baby especially, he is DESPERATE to get outside!)

So, we need tips.. How to get them to come back, being my biggest query. They don't know the area, or the house.

Is putting your own pee in the garden a proven thing or will I look stupid peeing in my garden lol!?

[feorag]

I would say that you would need to keep them in for a few days until you are sure that they know this is where they live, bearing in mind that they've been in a few different 'homes' over the last few months.

Then, if you really want to take the plunge, make sure that the first time you let them out that they are very hungry and so hopefully won't wander far and will be listening for you calling them for their food.

Other than that I can't think of any other good advice, just to wish you good luck!

[freekygeeky]

i woudl adivse keepign them in for 2 weeks ish..
then let them out with you in the garden (make sure they are hungry).
Also i ave been advised with my lot (and stuck by it) not to let them out in the wind or rain for the first few weeks, as they wont hear you calling etc..

also with mine when i called them and they came in to the sound of me calling them in i woudl give them somethign REALY tasty something they loved..

so they knew that comming back to the sound of my voice was a good thing.

[Shell195]

I would say keep them in for 2 weeks(we advise this when rehoming our sanctuary cats). This will give them time to adjust to a new home and a new cat.
Make sure they are all ID chipped then let them wander out before they have had any food then call them back in after a few minutes and feed them. Keep doing this daily for a bit longer each time until you are happy that they return to you when called.
Good luck with the move

[erewegoagain]

Id say keep them in for at least a week if you can, maybe two, and then short supervised sessions outside with you to introduce them. If you start peeing in your garden they might never come back!

[erewegoagain]

Bloody hell, you two got there before me in the time it took me to type my response!

[Shell195]

Originally Posted by erewegoagain

Bloody hell, you two got there before me in the time it took me to type my response!

And I thought I was a slow typist

[noo noo]

We used compost in a extra litter tray then put it in the borders when used. They were soon toileting outside.

Cats are not stupid just leave the door open they will love it.

[feorag]

Originally Posted by noo noo

Cats are not stupid just leave the door open they will love it.

The OP is asking advice because her 2 cats are now adults and they've been housecats up to now, so have no experience of going outside.

It's not really going to be quite as simple as just leaving the door open - that's when you're dealing with kittens who tend to stick close to home at first and gradually begin experiencing the great outdoors and venturing further afield.

[soupdragon10]

I moved from London to Cornwall and had exactly the same issue. Keeping them in to start with is a good idea. I also trained mine to recognise a sound to associate with food (I used to rattle the dry food box) when I was putting their meat down, so when they started to go out all I did was stand at the back door and rattle the box. If it wasn't feeding time I just gave them a small treat when they came back.
Still works with mine, although I don't often need to get them all in at once - but it does show how long they remember things.