Moving house with your cat

Moving house can be a stressful experience both for you and your cat and a little planning will go a long way in insuring a smooth transition.

Cats enjoy stability so prepare in advance by packing most things a couple of days earlier. If possible, empty one room first and place your cat there on the moving day together with her blanket or basket, food and litter trays and the container you will be using to transport her. You can also use a synthetic feline facial pheromone diffuser such as Feliway to calm her before the journey. Make sure that the door stays shut. You cat will sense the commotion and is likely to try and get outside and stay away for a few hours or even days which might disrupt your moving plans!

The journey itself should be fairly easy. If your cat is nervous, use Feliway again, and offer her an opportunity to use the litter tray when you stop for a break. Don’t feed your cat just before the journey in case she gets car sick.

The hardest part starts when you arrive. Keep your pet in a locked room again, preferably a bedroom, and remember to leave her some food, water and a litter tray. If you can, ask a family member to stay with her as she settles in. Once the furniture is in your new house, lock all the doors and windows and use some Feliway around the house to make your cat feel relaxed. Now you can let your cat out of the locked room to explore the rest of the house. If you have children, ask them to stay queit while the cat is getting used to the new environment. You might find that your feline friend will rub her body and face on furniture: this is her way of making herself feel safe as she leaves her own smell all over the place. You can help her by gently rubbing a cotton cloth on her face and then rubbing the walls and furniture with the cloth at cat height. Repeat this daily until your pet feels more safe.

If your cat is used to going outside, she might find it easier to adjust to the new environment. Wait a few weeks before you let her out though. When she is ready, keep her food away for a few hours beforehand, then let her go out on her own. Make sure you leave the door open so that your pet can come back if she feels intimidated. You might have to act as a big brother figure at first and shoo away all other neighbourhood cats. Help your cat find her confidence and before long, you will both be enjoying your new home!