Moving House With Your Cat.
Moving house is always traumatic and can be made worse if you are worried about your cat. Cats are very territorial and don’t take kindly to change. However there are some things you can do to minimise the stress to both yourself and your pet.
Before the move:
If your cat is used to going to a cattery this will probably be the easiest option until after the move is complete. If you can do this, skip straight doen this article to After the move.
If you are taking your cat with you try and empty a room the night before the move, put in a litter tray, your pets toys, bed, scratching post, and feed in this room as well.
Keep this room closed so there is no chance of your cat escaping.
Choose a room in the new house to use as a safe room for your cat when you arrive.
It’s worth checking that things like your pet insurance is up to date, if something is going to happen, it is more likely to happen during a time of change such as this.
Moving day:
Feed you cat as early as possible but keep your safe room closed perhaps put a notice on the door to prevent it being accidentally opened by the removal men.
When it’s time to leave put your cat in a secure carrying case or basket, do not try to use a cardboard box or allow to travel loose in your car. Use bedding that is familiar to you cat; it will help it to settle. Keep your cat in the travelling container until safely in the chosen room at the new house.
At the new house:
As soon as you have put what you need in the chosen safe room, (Try and arrange these things to be the last things on the van so they can be the first things off.) put in your cat, still in the basket, and all his things including litter tray and water and make sure the room is completely secure, then let out your cat and keep it shut in this room until the removal men have gone and you can secure the house.
After the move:
When you let your cat out of the safe room close off most of the other rooms so that you let it explore only one or two rooms at a time. Try and keep your safe room as one where you feed your cat and where it sleeps so that you can use it any time you are not able to keep the rest of the house secure. Keep your cat indoors for at least three weeks! When the time comes to let your cat out for the first time make sure any identification details on a collar are updated with your new address and phone no. If your pet has not been micro-chipped this would be a good time to have it done.
On the day you let your cat out doors leave it till just before it is due to be fed so that it is hungry open the door and allow it to go out in it’s own time leaving the door open so it can come back in when it wants. Go out with it so you can reassure it and try and keep the first trips out short, calling it back for food when you want it to come in.
Gradually increase the time you allow your pet out until you have reached it’s old routine.