Stress-less Moving Day with Your Cat
“Take time from your unpacking to give your cat lots of extra attention. You will be able to gauge how she’s settling in and when she’s ready to explore other rooms.”
Cats are territorial and sensitive creatures, so moving to a new home can be a very traumatic event. It’s important to think outside of your moving boxes to make the transition as stress-free as possible.
First on the ‘to do’ list is to ensure that your cat is wearing a collar with identification tags. Have a new tag made in advance with your new telephone and address so that you can change the tags on moving day. If you cat is not microchipped, now is the time to have it done. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted under the skin in the chest area. It’s permanent identification for your pet that lasts for the lifetime. Remember, should your pet get lost as a result of your relocation, proper identification is her ticket home.
If your cat is allowed outside, stop letting her outside at least two weeks before moving day. This will prevent her from possibly disappearing before the move. Confine her to one room when there’s heavy foot traffic coming through the house.
Boxes of Fun
Bring in the packing paraphernalia a few weeks before the move if you can. Most cats love boxes, so let her curiosity rule and allow her some fun. Exploring the boxes will help put a positive spin on the experience of transitioning into a new environment. It’s also a good idea to have her carrier accessible so that she sees it around and can get used to it.
When you actually begin packing, place her in another room. Cats have been known to jump into a box and snuggle down amidst the contents, out of sight. Then you can’t find her because she’s packaged to go!
Moving Day
Before the movers arrive, confine your cat to a room that’s not going to have any activity, such as a bathroom. Put her litter box, favorite blanket and food tray down and add a note on the outside of the door to keep the “cat zone” secured. Place her carrier in there too so that it isn’t mistakenly loaded on to the moving van.
A move usually means “all hands on deck,” but if there’s a responsible child or a friend you can call on, ask them to stay with the cat. She will appreciate the company.
Feeling at Home
Wait until the movers have delivered everything and left the premises before transferring the cat to your new home. Choose a room and make it her temporary home for at least a few days, putting everything in place before her arrival. This way, when she steps out of her carrier she will immediately begin to feel at home. It’s also a good idea to plug a synthetic feline pheromone diffuser into a floor-level socket to help reduce her stress level.
Helping Her Adjust
Take time from your unpacking to give your kitty lots of extra attention. You will be able to gauge how she’s settling in and when she’s ready to explore other rooms. Before she begins her first walkabout, spray feline pheromones at strategic points throughout the home. This will encourage her to make her own scent markings – all part of the settling-down process.
An Indoor Lifestyle
Cats are generally much safer if they enjoy an indoors-only lifestyle. However, if you are planning to give your cat access to the outside, put a harness and leash on her to introduce her to the outdoor areas. By using a lightweight retractable leash, you will be able to slowly extend her boundaries.
Make sure she’s wearing her new identification tag and remember to inform HomeAgain and your veterinarian of your change of address.
Sandy Robins is an award-winning pet lifestyle writer. Her work appears regularly in various national and international publications. She is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America and the Cat Writers Association of America.