Moved house with cat and he's afraid to return when let out

Papav3r

Hi guys,

Recently moved house with a cat. Read up and thought we did everything right, kept him in for over 3 weeks and let him get used to the new environment. Scattered his litter tray around the perimeter of the back garden the day before we let him out.

Let him come and go as he pleased out the back door. He never ventured past the back garden the first week or so. One night we let him out kind of later when it was turning dark and he went about 5 houses down the road and wouldn't come back until we went looking for him about 3 hours later.

This happened on two other occasions in the last 2 weeks. Another time going 2 back gardens away and shaking treats wouldn't even get him to move. When in the previous house he'd come running from what would seem miles away with the promise of a treat.

Anyone else have experiences like this? How can we get him used to going further than the garden and coming back? as previously he used to wander off for hours at a time.

Cheers

Ms Doubtfire1

There might be an unfriendly territorial cat in the neighborhood.I don't think there's anything negative in him staying in the garden -= on the contrary - he'll be much safer there.

kathleen37

I too was thinking he could be getting bullied by the residents. I think it's good that you're going out to get him - it will take him a while to get used to his new territory - and the new neighbours...

Papav3r

We're in a new development and haven't seen any other cats in the houses that are in but that could be a possibility.

He did use to hang out with loads of other cats in the last area we lived in.

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