Moving House – Bringing a Cat to a New Home
How to Help Cats Stay Calm and Survive Moving Day
Oct 17, 2009
Moving day can be terrifying for cats, as it involves radical life changes, vehicular travel, and invasion of their home by strangers.
Some exceptionally nervous cats do better if placed in a cattery or boarded with a friend or family member the day before moving and collected the day after, but most cats can manage a move alright if steps are taken to protect them from its most anxiety-provoking aspects.
What to Do Before Traveling to the New Home
On the day of the move, before the moving van arrives:
- Place the cat in a single room, preferably the bedroom, with her food and water bowls, litter tray, cat carrier, and any cat furniture she owns, such as a cat bed. Make sure doors and windows are shut.
- Place a note on the door to let those who are helping with the move know that the door must stay closed.
- Provide a small meal and clean the litter box.
- Line the cat carrier with a towel or blanket and spray the interior with a calming pheromone spray such as Feliway (preferably about 30 minutes before putting the cat in the carrier).
- Place the cat in her carrier and bring the contents of the cat room to the van once everything else in the house has been loaded.
- After all other items from the cat room have been loaded, bring the cat in her carrier to the car or van.
- If embarking on a long journey, be sure to keep an extra blanket or towel handy, along with some paper towels and a non-toxic cleaning product, in case of accidents along the way.
How to Ensure a Smoother Journey
To minimize stress and ensure safety during the journey to a new home:
- The cat should be transported in a car or the cab of the moving van – not the back of the moving van or the trunk of the car.
- Wedge the carrier securely on the car floor or hold it in place on the seat with a seatbelt.
- If embarking on a long journey, stop to provide food, water, and litter box options at some point, being sure to attach a harness and leash before letting the cat out of her carrier so that she can’t run off and get lost in a strange area.
- If the day is hot, leave a window open or the air conditioner on.
- Don’t leave the cat alone in the car if stopping for a break.
What to Do upon Arrival at the New Home
After arriving at the new home:
- Bring the cat in first, before unpacking anything else, along with her food and water bowls, cat box, and other equipment.
- Confine the cat to one room, and, if possible, sit with her or have someone else sit with her while she explores her new surroundings.
- Bring in a familiar-smelling piece of furniture or other well-known item to make the new room feel more like home.
- Make sure that the cat has food, water, and a clean litter box before unpacking other items from the moving van.
- Place a note on the door of the room where the cat is confined to let those helping with the move know not to open that door – make sure that there are no open windows or other means of escape in the cat room.
- Use a plug-in feline pheromone product such as a Feliway diffuser to help calm the cat throughout the moving process and encourage her to accept the new environment.
- Once everything is moved in and doors and windows are shut, allow the cat out of the room to investigate her new home (block access to any rooms where a nervous cat could squeeze into narrow gaps to hide, such as utility rooms).
- Remain calm while the cat is exploring to let her know that the new home is a safe environment.
Moving with Multiple Cats
In the case of multiple cats, there is a risk of aggression due to stress. Fearful cats may attack one another in moments of panic, and cats may also engage in territorial aggression when placed in a new environment.
If the cats begin to fight, it may be necessary to give each her own room initially or find some other way to separate them until they have calmed down. In this case, be sure that each cat has some familiar, comforting objects and her own litter box and food and water bowls.
See How to Deal with Cat Conflicts for information on preventing cat conflicts and other problems related to stress, aggression, and territoriality, such as spraying.
See Moving with Cats – Tips and Tricks for a Feline-Friendly Move for information on planning, preparation, and helping cats settle in after a move.
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.
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