Moving with my outside cat

Question
Mine is strictly an outside cat since my wife is quite allergic to them. She is an affectionate older cat who had two litters before I adopted her and had her spayed.    She does not roam far from home.  We're about to move 360 miles away.  I've read a number of articles about the car trip to our new location but how should I care for her once we arrive there? Should I keep her in the garage for some time? I'd hate to have her wander away.

Thanks for the info.  

Answer
Hi Don.  Yes, absolutely keep her in the garage for a while.  Otherwise, it is highly probable whe will take off.  I've had this happen with my own cats on more than one occasion.

Cats have a homing instinct that lasts at least 2 months (some say 2 weeks - absolutely incorrect).  It takes about that long for the cat's internal compass to reprogram itself to the new home.  Before then, most cats are very driven to return to where they came from, using a cluster of magnetized brain cells to lead them back to their old place.  I would keep her indoors for at least the first 2 months.  As long as you provide her with a scratching post, litter box and some toys, she should be fine with being confined to the garage.  Cats feel safest in small spaces when they're unfamiliar with new territory, anyway.