Moving with outdoor cats?

[CheeseMonster]

We'll be moving next month and we have an outdoor cat. He was born and grew up at this location, so I don't know how he'll handle a sudden change. It will only be a few miles away, but I'm concerned he will try to find his way back to familiar territory and get lost or chased off by strays.

Do you have any experience with this sort of transition? Any tips to encourage him setting up base in the new yard ASAP?

[Anonymous]

I heard that you should prevent them from seeing the route from old house to new when you make that move. Something about their ability to remember the route.
I really don’t know if that’s true or not. But just putting it out there for consideration if it is true.

[Flower7]

You should definitely take him. I’m sure he’d rather adjust to a new location than to lose his source of food. Once you start feeding him at the new place, he’ll stay there. Just like regular strays would.

[Guy13]

He will be fine although he will have to fight his way into the new neighborhood. YOu should be prepared for this reality.

[Wise4myage]

You might want to keep him indoors for a little while.

[msc545]

This isn't going to go well at all. No cat should ever be let outdoors because it isn't safe for them and it often results in their deaf. Moving to another location and deciding that he'll just figure it out is going to only amplify his chances for not living. If you love your cat at all, keep him inside where he belongs. If this is too much trouble for you, please look into rehoming him with people that would actually care about him.

[CheeseMonster]

He has always been an outdoor cat and doesn't like being shut inside. He ended up staying at the old house and the people who moved in after us take care of him and their kid loves him. So it worked out in a way..