How can I help my cats get used to a new house and neighborhood?

looks like they are going to be inside cats now. Its too dangerous letting them out unless you stay with them every second and even then something bad could happen. As for the inside of the new house, they will get used to it and bringing their old poo box and toys, etc will help with the adjustment. it’s probably going to be fun

Buttering their paws?

I strongly urge that you make your cats indoor only cats. Their life expectancy is going to dramatically drop if you let them outside.

If you decide to let them take their chances and go outside, you’ll need to keep them in for several weeks to allow them to adjust to their new surrounds and begin to think of them as home. Otherwise, they will most likely become irretrievably lost.

I would make them inside cats as well. You could however get them a leash. and take them for a walk.

I’ve always kept my cat strictly indoors, but he never stops trying to get out. I tried a leash with no luck. So now, when the weather is mild, I sit on my front porch with him on my lap. He’s learned that if tries to jump off he gets pulled back, so most of the time he sits there quite happily, sniffing the air and snapping his eyes toward anything that moves. I also let him sit on the window sill inside, both the window open and closed, which seems to satisfy him.

also in that setting there is bound to be Ferrel cats already there who have fought turf wars for the area so any new cats coming in are going to be trashed by these tough guys.

I vote for making them indoor cats as well but maybe you can make sure that there are plants (be careful to make sure they are not allergic to them) in the house and also make some comfy seating/sleeping/playing areas near windows that have a lot of action. My cats used to love sitting near the windows that were close to trees so they could watch the birds. I’d be wary about window screens though – I always worry my kitties will try to jump through them.

I am facing the same issue… moving from a neighborhood where we’ve always allowed the cats to roam, to a townhouse. The cat that is coming with me doesn’t go out often, but she might miss it if it is restricted.

As others have suggested, I plan on keeping her indoors, and will purchase a harness – although I highly doubt that she will tolerate it. As many collars as we tried when she was a kitten, she always found a way out of them.

We plan on getting a new kitten, too; and I intend to train that one on the harness. The older cat has an ID chip, and I’ll get one for the kitten, too – just in case it sneaks out.

Buy or build an outdoor cat cage

A friend of mine covered his entire back yard like an aviary for his cats.

If there is alot of traffic, I think they would be safer inside. Keep them absolutely inside for 2 weeks. with lots of love. and laptime. and toys.

I kept a deaf cat for awhile who had never been outside and gave her supervised playtime. Boy, did she mellow. She became loving. But I never left her out of my sight.

buttering seems too strange and off the point.

I was always told to keep them in doors, in your house for the first month. Then start with 15 minute intervals for the next two weeks and a little longer with each passing week. Soon you will see who is ready for an open door policy

I would also not let them roam around outside in such an unsafe environment, it’s a risk i’m not willing to take. Having said that, i think it’s very difficult making a cat (happily) used to living indoors when they’ve grown up being able to roam the neighbourhood at their leisure. But i would do that because i wouldn’t bare having to lose my kitties. Perhaps you could keep them inside the house for the first few weeks, and then slowly let them outside, but only under your supervision and never let them try to jump over the fence or leave your property.