How to Help a Cat Settle in at a New Home
Encouraging Cats to Grow Accustomed to a Novel Environment
Oct 17, 2009
Many cats want to hide for awhile upon arriving at a new home. This is normal, and a cat shouldn’t be forced to come out from her hiding place until she’s ready. In the meantime, she can be helped to adjust to her new environment by:
- Maintaining similar routines to those of the previous home
- Spreading the cat’s scent throughout the new home to help her feel secure – this can be done by taking a soft cloth or cotton gloves, gently rubbing the cat’s head and cheeks, and then scraping the gloves or cloth along door frames, furniture, and walls at the height of the cat’s face to make the territory feels familiar
- Using a cat pheromone product such as a plug-in Feliway diffuser to calm the cat (move the diffuser from one room to the next each day to spread the pheromone around the new home)
- Spending plenty of quality time with the cat, playing and providing affection
Some people recommend buttering a cat’s paws after a move to prevent her from wandering. This is a myth. The only benefit of the butter is that the cat will probably enjoy the taste of it when she licks it off.
Letting Outdoor Cats Outside After a Move
An outdoor cat should be kept inside for two weeks or more after a move, until she’s very comfortable with her new environment and has accepted it as her home. When it’s time to begin letting the cat out:
- Don’t carry the cat outside – let her explore at her own pace when she’s ready.
- Feed her before letting her out – hunger may cause her to wander far away in search of food.
- Accompany the cat on her first outdoor excursions into the yard. If she’s harness-trained, take her on a walk around the property. Bold cats usually adapt quickly, but timid cats may require accompaniment for quite a few excursions before they feel comfortable going out on their own.
- Chase other cats away from the garden to help the new cat establish herself as the owner of the territory.
- Make sure that the cat can get inside immediately whenever something frightens her. Initially, this usually requires leaving the door open.
- Purchase a magnetically or electronically controlled cat flap, as this prevents strange cats and other animals from coming inside. This is important, as such invasions can be traumatic for a cat in a new home, and can lead to problems such as urinating or defecating outside the litter box due to stress or a need to mark territory.
- Territorial conflicts are common when a new cat arrives in the neighbourhood. An owner who hears the sounds of a cat fight while his cat is outdoors should find her and check her for injuries.
Letting cats outdoors puts them at risk for a variety of dangers, including cars, predators, and toxic substances. Consider building or purchasing a cat enclosure or cat fence.
Moving House with Multiple Cats
Moving with several cats can be difficult, particularly if going to a smaller home, as the cats will need to re-establish their territories and conflicts are more likely when space is tight. The risk of conflict can be reduced by:
- Making sure that each cat has her own litter box, food and water bowls, bed, scratch post, and toys in different areas of the home
- Providing high resting platforms where cats can get away from other cats – these can be elaborate cat trees or just cat beds on top of dressers and other pieces of furniture
- Providing enclosed spaces where timid cats can hide, which may be anything from fancy store-bought kitty condos to cardboard boxes with cat-sized doorways cut into their sides
See Moving with Cats – Tips and Tricks for a Feline-Friendly Move for information on planning and preparation for moving with cats, as well as ways to make the journey to the new home safer and less stressful.
References:
- Cat Protection Society. (17 July 2008). “Moving House with Your Cat.” CatProtection.org.
- Feline Advisory Bureau. (November 2008). “Moving House with Cats.” FABCats.org.
- Maloney, F., Best Friends Animal Society. (n.d.). “Moving House.” BestFriends.org.
- Miller-Smith, S.J., Darwin Veterinary Centre. (2009). “Moving House with Your Cat.” DarwinVets.com.
- SaferPets. (2009). “Checklist: Moving House with Pets.” SaferPets.co.uk.
 |
