1.  Have them spayed/neutered if they aren't already.
2.  I urge you to rethink the idea of letting them outdoors in any other
venue besides "supervised" -- with you close by.  They could get lost, they
will encounter other cats, likely not vaccinated or neutered and full of
diseases (we call these "booger kitties" in my neck of the woods). If you
want your cats to contract fatal diseases such as feline leukemia, by all
means, let them have at it.  But I don't think you do.  And in fact, I
suspect you think this might not be the best thing for them or you wouldn't
have asked.
3.  I know it seems cruel when they seem to want to be outdoors.  They just
shouldn't be "free range" outdoors.  I let my cat outside in the back only
when we have the back door open and then he usually just sits on the stoop
and inhales deeply (whatever it is they love to smell, there seems to be
more of it outdoors).

Good luck in your new home!

HLS

Hello from the UK, M. Useful link:
http://www.fabcats.org/keepingyourcatsafe.html

Nothing can come near to the stimulation cats receive from the outdoors. In
fact, you'd have to engage in predatory play about 30 times a day to come
near it indoors. If you are concerned about contact with other cats and
general safety, consider catsafe fencing. See the discussion thread under
Rescue "I want to start a shelter". But you must talk to your neighbours
first. You will also want to install a catflap from your house to the garden
so that your pussies can come and go as they please.

I don't think your cats will freak-out at all, but agree you should supervise
initially. Harnesses plus lead can be problematic, however, as a cat's
instinct when frightened is to jump if possible. Agree with Houston Legal Sec
absolutely re neutering and vaccination if not already done, and would add
microchipping. You might also want to consider a collar with an identity tag,
though there can be dangers with this. FAB conducted a survey a few years ago
- it doesn't appear to be downloadable at the moment, but you can email them -
information@fabcats.org.

Be prepared for hunting trophies if you do allow your cats out.

Don't be surprised if your litter-box-trained kitties continue
to come indoors to their litter boxes, at least for a while.
Cats are creatures of habit.

And this is the best think that will happen in theirs lives.

Don't tru away litter. You will still need it.

rhltec...@gmail.com wrote:

Yes, it worked a treat with my cat.  He goes outside into the fenced
back garden that he doesn't want to or try to escape from (he's 16 and
lived in a flat until he was 13).  He still comes in to use his litter
box though, old habits die hard, although I can put it outside on a
nice day. I don't have a cat flap so I can't actually put the litter
box outside all the time anyway, and I prefer not to have a cat flap,
this way I can always know if he's in or out. He loves going into the
garden during the summer, but it basically still an indoor cat in the
winter.  I don't let him out of the front door on to the road, as I
don't trust him or the traffic.  He has changed since we moved to the
house, his confidence has grown and he seems to be a much happier cat
for his frolics outside.