Moving With Your Cat ...

Moving With Your Cat

As the new year has now kick started you may be starting to think about some exciting new things happening this year. Perhaps you are going to be re-locating to your dream home? Although it is an exciting prospect moving somewhere new and starting a new chapter of your life, this can be a scary… Read more »

As the new year has now kick started you may be starting to think about some exciting new things happening this year. Perhaps you are going to be re-locating to your dream home?

Although it is an exciting prospect moving somewhere new and starting a new chapter of your life, this can be a scary thing for your animals at home, particularly cats!

Cats are notoriously known for being creatures of habit and once they have a routine it can be extremely stressful for them when things are changed.

It is vital to plan ahead before your moving day so you can best keep your cat as stress-free and safe as possible.

The best thing you can do, whilst packing and organising the move, is to try and keep your cat’s routine as normal as you can. This will be a huge benefit to your cat, keeping them as calm as possible whilst a lot of activity is going in at home.

It’s also worth designating a room in the house that can be “theirs”. Perhaps move their food and water bowls, along with their litter tray into this room too. That way when the big day comes you can put them in there for the majority of the move, which will help them feel more secure as lots of noise and commotion is going on in the other rooms of the house. We would also recommend getting their carrier into “their” room too so they can get used to seeing it again if it has been a while since they last travelled!

So now all your boxes and furniture is safely in the moving van, it’s time to grab your favourite little furry friend and get going to your new home.

If your cat is anxious when travelling we would highly recommend having a discussion with your vet before moving day. They may be able to offer certain medication to help relax your cat for the journey which is invaluable for both you and your animal, particularly if you have a long drive.

Once you’ve made it to your new home we would definitely recommend setting up a room, similar to how you did before, with your cats food and water bowls, and their litter tray and just let them settle into this one space. Keep the door closed and make sure anyone helping you in the move is aware to leave the door shut so your cat doesn’t escape and get itself lost in it’s new surroundings!

Once everything has been moved into the house open the door and leave your cat to explore where it wants to of its own accord. It will take a bit of time before it is used to everything and there could well be some “accidents” along the way, but remind yourself this is a huge change for your cat and it is just working things out as best as it can.

If your cat is outdoor we would strongly recommend keeping them inside your new home for a minimum of two weeks. This will give them time to get used to their new surroundings and perhaps have a little look outside through the windows and doors to get a better understanding of where their new home is.

The other really important thing to do is to update the details attached to your cats microchip! If your cat does get a bit lost on its first adventure out and someone takes them to a local vet, it’ll be really important your new address is attached to it!

The main thing to remember is to be patient with your cat and work together with them in making them feel as settled and comfortable as possible in their new home.

Happy Moving!