After nearly 3 months of being confined to the new house, I decided to let the cats go out for the first time today. They're ex-ferals and used to being indoor-outdoor cats, normally with a cat flap. I have a flap for them, but haven't yet had it installed. I have french windows leading into the garden from the lounge. This afternoon I knew I'd be in the lounge for a while, sorting out the plan for the work to be done to the house - I like making lists! The cats were showing an interest in the garden on one of the rare dry days we've had. They hadn't been fed since the previous evening, so I had a mad brainwave
Why not open the doors into the garden and let them out for a few hours?
Which I did.
All except Fred were a bit wary, going to the door, looking out, then backing off. Fred just went through them immediately.
The others then played pusscat yo-yo as they went down the garden for a quick explore, then ran back to the house. This went on for a few hours.
When dusk drew in, I thought about ending this first session of freedom and called them in. They didn't all return at once, but soon everyone was home except Fred. I looked from the upstairs windows into nearby gardens and he was nowhere to be seen.
I rattled munchies, called him, but nothing. No Fred. I noticed that the elderly couple next door were home so I went to see them partly to warn them that the tribe were finally loose (he's a twitcher) and to ask them if they'd seen Fred. They know Fred from having seen him sitting on the window sill. While there, I saw an almost identical cat to Fred except that he didn't have a tail; I've seen him around before.
It's now several hours later, everyone but Fred is home. I'm keeping the french window curtains undrawn incase he puts his nose up at them. I've secretly spread poo from the litter tray around the periphery of the garden to give him the scent of home.
Does anyone have other suggestions? The others have been fed now. Fred must be starving and cold. He's been used to the warmth of a central heated house for three months (the old house was much colder, not having central heating) so I would imagine cold and hunger would drive him home.
Any suggestions for anything else I can do in these particular circumstances? I know all the usual ways of searching for a missing cat, having lost Pebbles a month before the move (I've come to the conclusion that he was killed somehow); but a cat having gone out of a new house for the first time....any special thing I can do to bring him home?
Sorry for the long post.