Like Gill says, if you are not moving far, keep them in as long as possible. Many years ago, me and my lot moved half a mile down the road. I went away for a couple of days several months later leaving them locked in a shed with family coming to feed and water them. But they let themselves out, and strolled across a four lane highway, across a few paddocks and into my old house. Fortunately my parents were living there, so rather than return them, they just let them take up residence until my return ... Cats are creatures of habit and know their familar territory very well indeed.
