
Expert Q&A: Moving to a New Home With A Cat
Moving to a new home with your cat is a BIG deal for you and the cat. Try and see it from their point of viewโฆ
Their home is their sanctuary. Theyโve put time and effort into surrounding themselves with โhappy messagesโ that make them feel safe and secure.
Entering a new home without their familiar โhappy messagesโ can be confusing and scary for them. Add to this the process of moving; seeing you pack up your stuffโโโwhich is their stuff tooโโโand put it into boxes, lots of strange people coming in and out of their home, no attention from you for a couple of daysโฆand youโre left with one very unhappy kitty.
Thus itโs important to take special care of your kitty before, during and after the move. Our board certified veterinary behaviorist, Dr Valarie Tynes, shares her top tips to help make the big moving home for your cat easy and for everyone involved.
What should I do during the move?
Plug a FELIWAYย Optimumย diffuserinto your current home as soon as you start preparing for the move. It can really help to comfort your cat before you move.
To help your cat remain calm and comfortable in your current home, dedicate one room where they can stay. ย This will help keep the sights and sounds of the movers and moving equipment minimized. The room should contain everything your cat would need during this time, such as food, bedding, toys and a litter box.
A final recommendation for the room, is to place a sign on the door notifying everyone involved there are pets in the room and the door should be kept shut. ย This will also help prevent a cat running through an open front door and getting lost.
Leaving their cat carrier in the room will help them explore and investigate it prior to the move. By sprayingย FELIWAYCLASSICย in the carrier the โhappy messagesโ provided will make the carrier feel safe and comfortable, which will help keep them calm during transit to the new house. The result? A fuss-free journey.
To help prevent motion sickness, during the trip, withhold food for 6-8 hours prior to trip. They should, however, still have access to water.
What should I do when we arrive at our new house?
Identify a room where you can leave your cat with all their essentials and try to keep them in this in this room, and this room only, for the first few days without access to the rest of the house. This may seem restrictive, but they will feel safe within a confined space and it will give them the opportunity to slowly familiarise themselves with the new sounds and smells. It also gives them a room of their own to use later as a refuge.
If you have access to the new home a few days before the big move, plug a FELIWAY Optimum diffuserย in the room where your cat will stay for the first days.ย If you donโt have access to the new house prior, plug in the diffuser as soon as you arrive.ย Your cat will feel comforted by the โhappy messagesโ being released and start to feel at home straight away.
Try to unpack most of the house before you let your kitty wander. As much as they usually love to help you pack, they wonโt be much use after the big move.
As soon as your cat seems comfortable in their first room, you may open the door and allow them to explore their new pad.
What can I do to make sure my cat settles in comfortably?
Knowing your cat and their personalityโโโconfident, social or shyโโโwill help you determine what their individual needs are.
Some cats will settle quickly into their new home and saunter around confidently within the first few days. Others may take a bit longer to become accustomed to their new surroundings.
But there are a few things you can do to help your cat after the move:
- Cats use their acute sense of smell to figure out whether something is safe or not. Placing their favorite blanket or a piece of your clothing in the room will mean it immediately smells familiar and will remind them of cuddly times with you.
- In addition to this, provide multiple litter boxes, food & water bowls, toys, scratching post, bedding around the house. When your cat is ready to investigate, these will help them feel at home in any location.
- Let them explore on their own and in their own time. If they decide to hide under the bed, let them be. Theyโll eventually come out when they feel itโs safe.
- And of course, even if youโre very busy organizing your new home, do not forget to spend time with your cat. Daily play and cuddle sessions should continueโโโnothing should change from their perspective
Leave the FELIWAYย Optimumย diffuser plugged-in continuously for at least one month. Then, to give your cat more time to adjust to their new environmentโโโall catโs have different personalitiesโโโyou may use monthlyrefills as needed until they seem perfectly comfortable and happy.
Give them plenty of time to adjust, it will be just as big a change for them as it is for you!ย But with these simple suggestions if can be a much more pleasant experience for everyone!