Transitioning an indoor cat to outdoor, temporarily

Question
I'm temporarily living at my parents house and will soon be moving my 3yr
old cat here for the next month, until we move back into a place of our own.  
My parents do not trust cats and so he will not be allowed to wander freely
inside the house like he always has been allowed to.  They have a dog run in
the back yard that they said I could turn into a cat run.  I am going to build a
roof on the run so that he cannot escape and put a heated cat 'box' and
possibly his cat tree inside it,  but although he has always liked being
outdoors for short periods of time, I am very nervous about having him
outside full-time for the next month.  He has gotten very stressed in the
past, with big changes, causing bladder infections and expensive vet bills.  I
have arranged with my parents for him to come sleep in my room in his large
cat carrier at night, and may be able to ease them into letting him loose in
my room at night only.  But, I am wondering if you have any tips that will help
his transition and prevent unwanted stress on him.  Thank you!

Answer
Hildy,

Here are two stress-reducers that seem to work for a lot of people:

Bach's Rescue Remedy:

Rescue Remedy is developed from five flowers, and is extremely effective in the relief of stress or trauma, both in humans and in animals. Two or three drops in a bowl of water often provide quick relief. If your cat does not like the taste (the alcohol content is almost negligible after dilution), you can rub one or two drops behind the cat's ear. People who have tried Rescue Remedy on their cats, swear by its effectiveness. You can get it at a health food store (people use it too) or online.

Dosage for Bach's Rescue Remedy:

Bach's Rescue Remedy can be given in the water during any time of stress. You can use up to ten drops every time the water is changed depending on the level the cat is stressed. If your cat does not like the taste (though the alcohol content is almost negligible after dilution), you can rub one or two drops behind the cat's ear. The remedy can be given by mouth, which is the most effective method. Only a few drops (4-8) are necessary, and need not be swallowed, but only must contact the mucous membranes (gums, tongue, lips). Be careful not to contaminate the dropper by touching it to the animal (if this occurs, rinse the dropper in very hot water before returning it to the bottle). You can also add a dropper full to the water dish, or a few drops on wet food (there is no effect of dilution). You can add a dropper full to a spray bottle filled with bottled spring water, and use it to spray a room, carrier, car, around litter boxes or plants, or other problem areas. You can even put a few drops in your hand and pat the animal on the head and around the ears with it--the head is very sensitive to energy and will absorb essences in this way.

For most behavioral problems, you can give 3 to 4 times a day for 2 to 4 weeks, or add a dropper full to their drinking water every day until no further signs of distress are present.

There is no improper or wrong method of applying the Bach Remedies. It is not necessary to be precise in counting the number of drops in any of the dilution methods. You cannot overdose the Bach's Remedies, they are non-toxic and have no side effects.


Feliway (spray) or Feliway Comfort Zone (plug ins) for Cats:

Feliway is a friendly pheromone spray, developed by Farnam, Inc. It mimics the facial pheremones cats use to mark territory. Feliway was originally developed to discourage urine marking by cats, since it is believed cats will not "spray" areas they have previously marked with facial pheromones. It is also believed to be effective in reducing other stress-related behaviors. Comfort Zone, with Feliway, is a wall plug-in which diffuses the pheromone throughout a room.
Spraying a carrier with Feliway 20 minutes before traveling reduces the stress of being in a car. You try PetSmart, Petco, etc., a vet's office (they use it too), or online to get it.

If the cat does not seem to be settling down after you are at your parent's for awhile, you may want to speak to the vet about putting your cat on a temporary prescription of kitty Prozac. It is commonly used to calm cats that are very stressed or are dealing with emotional issues. Usually a two week dosage reduces the kitty's stress issues, though some may need to be on it longer.

I use a large dog crate (48x32x30) for cat sitting or introducing a new cat. It works great because it is comfortable for the cat with room for a small doorless cat carrier in it for a bed, a litterbox, food and water dishes, and still room to move around. I got mine at Petco.

Plus, with love, patience, and giving your cat reassurances and attention you should get through this fine.

I hope this was helpful.

Tabbi