With Spring just around the corner, you may be moving to a new house. Here's some helpful advice to make the move a lot less stressful for you and your feline friend.....
On the move
Moving house can be a big deal
for cats – much of their feeling of security and ability to relax comes from
being surrounded by the familiar sights, sounds and scents of their own
territory. It is also very stressful for humans too, so some thought and careful
planning will ensure it’s a smooth move for everyone.
Planning ahead
There are two options for
moving day: booking your cat into a cattery or taking them with you as you
move. Which one you choose depends on your own personal preference and your cat’s
character, as every cat is different.
Booking your
cat into a boarding cattery
If you book your cat into a
boarding cattery for a few days, you won’t have to worry about them while you
move. This may be the easiest solution for both of you, but you will need to
organise it well in advance and make sure your cat’s vaccinations are up to
date prior to moving.
Keeping your
cat with you
This option requires a bit
more planning. What follows is just a guide and, as everyone’s circumstances
are different, you may need to alter parts of it to fit your own situation and
your cat’s character.
First, allocate a room in your
home that can be cleared of furniture a week or two before the move. At the
same time, decide on a room in the new home where you can put your cat when you
get there. Ideally, both rooms should be out of the way so your cat can be left
undisturbed for as much of the move as possible.
About a week before the big day,
start getting your cat used to ‘their’ room. Pop an additional sleeping place,
litter tray, cat carrier and blanket in there. You could begin feeding them here
too so they become really familiar with their ‘safe place’. On the evening
before the move, move their scratching post, toys and water bowl into the room
and shut them in to make sure they don’t go missing. If you have more than one
cat, make sure they have separate resources if possible, to help prevent
further stress or any toileting accidents. If you know your cats don’t enjoy
each other’s company, it may be better to give them separate ‘safe rooms’. You
could also use a synthetic form of facial pheromones, which are available from
your vet. Feliway is available as a plug in diffuser or a spray. The scent helps
to create a reassuring environment and may help to reduce stress.
Moving day
If you are taking your cat to
a cattery, do this the day before if possible, so they are away from all the
commotion. If they are staying at home, keep them in their room, feed them a
small meal, make sure they have fresh water, clean the litter tray and shut the
door. Once you are ready to leave, you can put them into their carrier and load
them into the car along with all of their belongings. Your cat may be less
anxious if the carrier is sprayed with the synthetic facial pheromones a few
minutes before placing your cat in the carrier. If they are prone to travel
sickness it is worth withholding food for three to four hours before the
journey.
Once you have arrived at your
new home, take them to their secure room with all their familiar bits and
pieces. You might also like to give them something that smells of you, like an unwashed
item of clothing, to help them settle. Provide them with something to eat, a
box or something to hide in and make sure they have a litter tray. Then close
the door and leave your cat alone for a while – tell the removal staff and the
rest of the family which room your cat is in so they don’t disturb them or accidently
let them out. You may also want to tack a sign on the door.
A helping
hand
Talk to your
vet about artificial pheromone products such as Feliway. When cats rub their faces
around furniture, corners or doorways they are making themselves feel secure by
marking their home territory. Artificial pheromone sprays and diffusers are
available that mimic the scent from a cat’s facial glands, helping cats to feel
more secure. You can get these artificial pheromones from the vet and use them
in your cat’s new room to help them settle in. Alternatively, you can take a
clean, unused cloth and wipe it around your cat’s face to pick up their own
scents and then wipe this around the furniture at cat height.
Settling in
It is a good idea to keep your
cat in their new room for a few days; it can be overwhelming to have access to
the whole of the house straight away. Most cats will let you know when they are
ready to venture further and it very much depends on your cat’s individual
character. However, when you let them see the rest of the house, make sure that
all doors, windows and cat flaps are closed – they’re not ready for the outside
world yet! Make sure they always have access to their ‘safe room’ in case they
feel the need to retreat.
Going outside
It’s important that your cat
feels relaxed and secure in their new house before exploring the great
outdoors. Some cats go missing shortly after moving house because owners have let
their cats go outside too soon. These cats sometimes find their way back to
their old houses. Cats should be kept indoors for at least three weeks to allow
them time to regard the new house as a secure place and to build up a scent
profile to help them find their way back.
When you do let them out:
• do it just
before a mealtime when they are hungry so you can call them back with their
favourite food
• open the door
and step outside encouraging your cat to go with you
• don’t pick
them up – let them make the decision to go outside themselves
• leave the
door open so they can run back into the house if they feel insecure
• only let them
out for short periods at first – you can gradually build up the time they are
out until you are confident they can come and go as they please
Before letting your cat out,
make sure they are microchipped so if they wander off they can be traced
easily. If they are already microchipped, don’t forget to change your address details
on the central database when you move.
In the UK, you can update your cat’s registered details by contacting your existing UK database company, or Petlog – on 0844 4633 999 or via www.petlog.org.uk – or Anibase – on 01904 487 600 or via www.anibase.com.
Also, don’t forget to register with a
new vet, who is likely to request your cat’s veterinary history from your
previous practice. If your cat has existing health issues, you may wish to
organise this before you move.
