I've had one who adjusted well to inside living and another cat who tried
clawing through drywall to get back outside. Because your guy wanders I'd
give it more time and get him a nice big cat tree and a window perch so he
can look outside. Keep playing with him to keep him busy and see how it goes
in a while.

W

Sorry , you're having problems. I just wanted to say that when you
move a cat to a new area , you need to keep your cat in for at least
two weeks before you let it out .A few days isn't enough, which is why
he might have gone missing trying to reach his old territory.

Perhaps the harnmess walks weren't long enough to keep him happy .
Maybe you could walk him twice a day for a longer time. Cat fencing a
yard so they can go out but not leave it , is enough to satisy some
cats.
There's advice here about interactive play which helps satisfy a
cat's hunting instinct
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ptthinkcat/?msg=11667.1

If your cat doesn't settle after a time and you are both unhappy ,
maybe you could think about asking the new owners of the farm if they
would have him, if they are cat lovers and would care for him as you
do. I know it would be upsetting and a loss for you but it is an
option to consider.
Alison

Be firm, Trudie.  Don't even walk the cats outside.  You are in for a
possibly long session of howling and carrying on, but it will pass.
Meanwhile, give both cats things to do in their new indoor home:  new
places to hide and sleep (an old cat game), toys, bird feeder outside the
window, whatever keeps them interested.  And don't give in!

Better a temporarily unhappy cat than a permanently dead one.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus Cats

Give him time -- he will adjust eventually, although it could take longer
than you think.  I have a (formerly) feral female I took in about a year ago
and she is only just now learning to like being indoors.  Also, as you've
just moved, he's got that change to deal with as well.  Playing with him
*too* much may be counter-productive -- it might over-stimulate him and make
him want to get out and hunt.  Teach him the joys of living indoors, where
he can lie on your lap and be petted endlessly, sleep on the bed, and other
calm indoor past-times...and be patient.  He'll come around -- L.

I certainly feel for ya (and your cat as well)!  My cats (2 female litter
mates) had the run of a hilltop home in the wine country of northern Calif.
They roamed all over the place, but always came indoors every evening.
After 5 yrs of country living, I had to move.  Unfortunately, it's difficult
to find affordable housing that will accept house pets.  I finally found an
apartment in a much larger neighboring city that would take pets (of course,
an outrageous deposit was also required)!  I hated the idea of having to
keep them indoors all the time.  I felt really sorry for them both, but
especially for the one who fears nothing and explores everything.

Like you, I have one very timid cat that initially had no interest
whatsoever in exploring outdoors.  But the other?  It took a great effort in
making sure she couldn't make her great escape.  After several months, I
decided to let her out but I stayed outside with her.  As I walked around
the building, she followed me like a shadow.  When we approached the stairs
to our apt., she zips by me up the stairs and was waiting for me at the
screen door.  For about a week or more, this became a daily routine.  Now I
leave the screen door open enough for her to slip in and out of.  It's been
2 years now with no mishaps;]  As a matter of fact, the other cat will
venture out onto the landing and down the stairs for a bit (the least little
noise though and she's back upstairs!)

I hope your experience goes as easily as mine.  I felt so rotten having to
keep them indoors, at least until they became familiar with the sights and
scents around them.  But it was worth every effort as now they spend more
time in than out!

Best of luck to all three of you!

Sincerely,

Vicki

 Hello everyone

 I have two cats, Burmese boys, and needless to say, they are completely
 beloved. I moved house recently, from a rural farm where they had complete
 blissful freedom, to an area which is not safe for them. Against my better
 judgement I let them out a few days after moving in, and one of them went
 missing. We finally got him back, four weeks and much heartache later. In
 the meantime we kept the other cat in - he is quite timid and nervous
 anyway, so he has adapted well to being in. But the other cat, who was
 always more adventurous, is going crazy at being kept inside. It has been
 three weeks now, and he isnt getting any better. Letting him out is out of
 the question - I've tried taking him out for walks on a harness, but it
 seemed to make him worse when he was back inside. The cats come from a
long
 line of 'indoor cats' and until they were 6 months they hadnt been out,
but
 then they spent a year roaming the farm, hunting, etc. Now I'm afraid that
 my cat will neve adjust, that he will always seem as unhappy as he is now.
 It isnt possible to make an outdoor run for them, and even if it was I
dont
 think that would make it any better for him, he hates being restricted in
 any way. We are trying to distract him by playing lots with him, but he
just
 wants to be out and nothing else seems to do. Has anyone else experienced
 this? What did you do, and how did it turn out? I'm very worried, so any
 advice or experience will be most welcome.

 --
 Trudie