How to help Toby adjust to the move?

We're buying a house in the country this summer, and it's going to be an adjustment for Toby.

Toby's about 5 years old, and he's and indoor/outdoor cat. He only goes potty outside.

We got him from the shelter when he was a little kitten, and this has been his only home since then.

The house we're moving to is on 20 acres, with a lot of wilflife. There is a very elderly couple who will continue to live on our land until they pass away, and they have two outdoor dogs (a big shepherd mix and a little spaniel) who run free all the time. I don't know how the dogs are around cats.

Do you have any suggestions to help Toby to adjust to his new environment, and stay safe from the dogs, wolves, coyotes and bears?

There isn't a cat door, and I really don't know where we'd put one. I'm thinking of taking a screen off of one of the first floor windows and leaving it open just enough for Toby to get in and out. Hopefully, he'll have the wits to stay near the window, so that if he sees the dogs coming he can dash inside really fast.

Toby will sincerely appreciate any help you can give us!

I'm sorry, but this is my honest opinion, but if you are concerned for his safety from dogs, wolves, coyotes and bears, then keep him indoors where he will be safe. I know he is an outdoor cat, but with time and patience they can learn to adjust to indoor living. I have done it in the past, when I was taking care of an older stray cat. One day he showed up in his cat shelter with a broken jaw. That was it for him, it took time and patience but he learned to live indoors.
There is another option. Slowly introduce him to a harness and leash and then this way you can bring him outside under supervision without any worries. As they say, "Better safe than sorry."

I agree with Lorraine 100%. In that type of environment there is no way I would let him out on his own. He may have always been indoor/outdoor but not under these conditions and he won't know how to handle it. Harness and leash with supervision would be the only way I would ever let him outside. I'm sure he will drive you crazy for awhile wanting out but he will adjust. I have gone through this with several of mine and eventually everyone got used to the idea. It takes time and patience but it will happen. If it's at all possible could you build him an outdoor enclosure that would be safe from predetors?
Those would be the only conditions I would allow him to go outside. I'm afraid that he would come up missing really soon if you didn't keep him in. It's happened to many because of dogs, coyotes, and other wild animals.

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Originally posted by stacwase

Do you have any suggestions to help Toby to adjust to his new environment, and stay safe from the dogs, wolves, coyotes and bears?
Toby will sincerely appreciate any help you can give us!

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The only possible help I can offer is to keep Toby inside. Otherwise, he is going to be fresh dinner for a dog, wolf, bear or coyote. Are you serious? Or am I missing something and biting the bait?

edit: I am back - I really hope this is a joke - otherwise what I said may sound very rude but I just can't understand letting a cat run free where the above animals are known to be. How could he possibly know to run back to a window?? I dunno:confused:

Maybe I will build a large covered pen outside the window - so he can still go outside but nothing can get to him. Perhaps I can build it in such a way as to include a tree for him to climb. I really can't see forcing him to stay indoors all day when he loves the outdoors so much. He generally does stay quite close to the house.

And no - this thread wasn't a joke! I will allow my children and stepgrandchildren to play outside. (believe it or not, people on farms do allow their children outdoors) I'm not going to keep them locked in all day and I will not do it to Toby either.

He's an individual, not a possession, and I will do everything I can to help him to SAFELY maintain as much independence as he can. I'm not going to lock him inside the house like a bird in a cage.

I was asking you for creative options to keep him safe and help him maintain more freedom in his new environment.

An enclosed outside pen is a great idea, and most definitely the best solution! I think though I also have to agree with the others about making sure he does not have outside access freedom, ie the ability to run around on his own and risk something harmful happening to him. Please consider supervision only outside access to insure he does not run off, or leash training. It sounds difficult but it can be done. Cats just require a lot more patience and commitment than dogs when it comes to leash training. No one was trying to offend you, but you have to understand that when you mention there are coyotes, bears, and other wildlife in your area, as cat lovers, we will be very concerned for his safety. And the only way to guarantee safety is to keep him indoors. I understand that you think it might be cruel after his lifestyle, but an outside enclosure is a viable and sensible alternative, so is strict access to the outdoors such as leash training or supervision when he is out there. Supervision is still pretty risky as cats can run and climb faster than we can catch them! Please consider what we are saying. There is no harm meant, just honest concern.

ok, ok I did NOT mean to sound rude - just the thought of knowing wolves, coyotes and bears were known to be there and keeping a window open and I thought maybe it was a joke to start an inside/outside war ;)

The enclosure sounds good, or keeping him on a harness when you can take him for outings? Maybe after awhile, if you know he is going to stay close the to house (hopefully) he can have freedom during parts of the day only? How about limiting his freedom to supervised sessions like maybe weekends only when more people are around to keep watch? Scheduled outings sort of?? I would really worry about the total freedon to come and go. Even kids get limits for safety.

My kitties are declawed and indoor only so I am really not much good for ideas, sorry:)

The neighbor is out bottle-feeding his calves all the time, with his cat circling his legs. I think I can hear her purring all the way from the road!

She hangs out with the chickens, and sits atop the fence, but it's obvious she doesn't stray far from the house. She is very leary and keeps her eyes open. She doesn't let anybody except her owner and the farm animals near her.

I don't know if Toby would automatically sense the need for increased vigilance, or if he would have to learn the lesson "the hard way" by being chased by something. That is what I want to avoid. Perhaps the enclosure could be temporary, until he sees a coyote or wolf. I think once he sees one he'll know to be careful. There are LOTS of trees out there (in the yard) and the coyotes would have to come a long way across an open field to our yard - if he had his eyes open he would see them before they were a danger.

It sure would be nice if he could hang out with the chickens and the pig and (if/when we get one) the milk cow, during the daytime while we're outside.

That Cats has probably been there , since she was a Kitten , and knows waht to look out for! But I have to agree with the other Pet Talkers , that at least for the first while , he has to be kept inside! The thing , too is , that he might miss his old house , and try , to go home!

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Originally posted by catmandu
That Cats has probably been there , since she was a Kitten , and knows waht to look out for! But I have to agree with the other Pet Talkers , that at least for the first while , he has to be kept inside! The thing , too is , that he might miss his old house , and try , to go home!

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Yes - I was wondering about that!! I have heard of animals doing that before.

Do you have any idea how long it usually takes them to adjust, and how I will be able to tell when he's over the danger of trying to walk home?

Our new place is only about 7 miles from the house we live in now. I think he might be able to find his way back, and I don't want that to happen.

The enclosure is probably the best way to go - I'll put it right outside the window and open the window when he wants to go outside. But eventually I'd like to remove the enclosure, once he's got his bearings etc.

I suspect you will have a *feel* for the way Toby adjusts to his new home when you are with him and see that he stays (or not) very close to the house and marks HIS territory under supervision. I can understand that desire to have the happy farm cat. The neighbor cat you talk about sounds like something out of a James Herriot story!! :D I sorta wish for that as well... but I am not sure it is possible unless the kitty is born and raised there and I think I would still want kitty in sight and locked in the house at night or when I was not home.
I really think your *gut* will help you know what is right and best for Toby - good that you are thinking ahead!!

When we first moved to this house 8 years ago, we had RB Calvin. (Calvin died of congestive heart failure January 26, 1999 and our daughter brought Toby home for DH the next day).

Calvin was an indoor/outdoor cat as well. He did his duty outside and spent most of his time indoors, just like Toby.

The move scared the holy crap out of the poor little guy. The drive up for KS was frightening for him. Thank goodness we thought ahead and got him some sedatives, but he still hated it. He was terrified to go outside, and would just sit in the doorway and howl. He was so on edge, I just can't describe it!

He did OK after a few weeks, but I think he sensed how far from home we were. He probably had no clue how to get back. It will be different for Toby. He will probably know he's close to home.

Neither Calvin or Toby ever went far from the edges of our yard. They mostly stayed right in the garden. It took Calvin a long time just to venture past the front stoop.

I'm hoping Toby won't want to go outside for a few weeks, then maybe he'll do like Calvin and very slowly and cautiously explore his new surroundings, always ready to sprint back inside in a heartbeat.

Maybe some sedatives wouldn't be a bad idea for Toby either?