My cat keeps going back to the old house

Question
I moved house about 3 wks ago and after a couple of days i let him out. He went out but always came back after a few hours. Now all of a sudden after 3 wks he has decided to go back to the old house. He went there last Thurs so i went around and collected him and kept him in the next day and thought it would be ok to let him out on the Sat. I saw him go over the wall and within 20 mins they called me to say that he had turned up at the old house. I left it the night as i thought he would come home when he is hungry but he was still there the next day. I went around and collected him and have kept him in but how can i stop him from going around there again?
Thanks Hannah

Answer
Hannah,

Unfortunately, outdoor cats are more attached to territory than to their human "owners".

He may eventually stay closer to you in time, but I cannot give you any guarantee or even venture to guess how long it might take.

The only option to keep him hanging around, is to make him into an indoors only cat.  That is the only way I know to make sure you can keep him at your new digs.

The conversion from an indoors/outdoors cat to an indoor only cat is not easy, but with patience and persistance, it can be done.

You must make sure he has lots of things to jump up on as cats tend to navigate in all 3 dimensions, so providing him with at least one sturdy exercise post with sisal rope and/or closed loop carpeting would be a must.  The taller the better.  The more shelves and cubby holes, the better.  Putting it near a window where he could look out at the outside would be ideal. At least one kitty perch at a window per each room in the house would be helpful.

You will also have to be very vigilent as cats are notoriously good escape artists.

Good luck and best regards... Norm.