My deaf, neutered, de-clawed cat (Beethoven) is moving to a new home. He has always been an outside cat used to the country. Typically he shows up in the AM to eat, and again in the evening.

What can I do to ensure Beethoven knows his new home when he goes out for the first time?

I know it sounds odd, but cats get a sense of where they are based on where the sun is coming from and what time in the day it is where.....

In order for a cat to get aclimated to it's new sourroundings, you would be best off to keep the cat inside for a day or two (and make sure it's sunny outside). If you decide that you do want to let it out (based on the neighborhood and whether it's safe from traffic, etc.) take it outside with you on the porch and get it used to its surroundings with you there. It may or may not roam far and be ready to come back inside. Continue to do this for a few days - then let him roam a bit further. Keep something on the porch that he will recognize the smell of - a toy, a piece of your clothing with your scent, etc.....

I would try to encourage him to come in from time to time to make sure he is used to where he is living.

You never know, moving to a new home may make him want to stay inside for a while anywhere as there will be plenty to investigate inside for a while.

Good luck!!

Beethoven sounds like a white cat - is he?

I agree with Lydia to keep him inside for a
couple of days, at least.

They have pretty good homing devices and
catch on very quickly!

But as Lydia states, do go outside with him
to be sure that the settling is taking place
in a normal fashion.

There is an old saying that if you butter a cat's paws he will relax in his new setting. Once he's relaxed and comfortable and trusting he will probably pay attention to the clues Lydia mentioned.

Is he trained to walk on a leash? If so, it wouldn't hurt to walk him around the house and immediate neighborhood, very slowly. He won't like the traffic at first. Accompany him across the street, observing good traffic rules. I taught a cat that once, (we lived on a boulevard) and she would look only in the appropriate direction for cars. This was amazing to me. She learned that on the boulevard, traffic would come from only one direction, depending what side of the street she was on when she wanted to cross.

Is there a particular reason why he has to be allowed to go outside? It's tough enough for cats with sight and claws - besides traffic, other animals and stupid kids, there's parasites and fatal disease.

If it were me, keep him inside. Then you won't have to worry about it.

Oh... and WITH A COLLAR AND ID TAG... just in case.

Cats are so territorial that it takes them a while to adjust to a new environment. I wouldn't even attempt to let the cat out until at least two weeks to give him a chance to settle down and get used to where he is.