i am moving nxt month and have a cat that is almost 2, he goes outside and has a cat flap. i dont think i can put a cat flap in my new place and im only going a few miles from my current home. any advice on moving with a cat would be a great help.
2006-12-21 10:31:50 · 26 answers · asked by deltagremlin 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Me and my old cat moved house 7 times!! Always successfully, and the closest was only 6 doors down the road. We also moved around a small town. I think the answer is often about how close you and your cat are. But the advice I got was always keep them in for 2 weeks with lots of good and favourite food. It has to be said Fizzy was unimpressed with this time limit and she regarded it as a bit of an insult. The best thing I found was to keep her in my bedroom for times at night so she slept on my bed - some of the bigger houses I gradually let her explore them so that was the interest before she got outside.
However that being said as she liked to go out and about she was always sitting at the window waiting for her exit time. In 2 houses I fitted a cat flap in the glass window (always a magnetic one so the neighbouring cats couldnt come in). This worked very very well, and got over the whole cutting holes in the good front door. In one case, as it was rented I fitted the glass panel with clear sheet of PVC so it flexed and put the proper glass back when I moved on. You can cut the PVC with a strong stanley knife yourself you see. And the had a plank to walk down from this raised groung floor window to the garden.
Hope it helps - she was very blase about moving in the end!! But put her in the cat basket before you pack as they sure know when to hide!!
Karen
2006-12-21 10:47:45 · answer #1 · answered by karen t 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The cat welfare group with which I work always recommend keeping a cat in for at least 4 weeks after moving & then letting the cat out only for short periods & under supervision. Let the cat out before feeding; he will be more likely to come back in if he is hungry. Make sure that he knows how to get from the front of the house to the back - over a wall, under a gate, etc. Have everything in the new house as settled as possible before moving the cat. Keep the cat confined to 1 area of the new house for a day or two until he settles. He will want to explore his new teretory so make sure that there aren't any open windows or chimneys & make sure that there aren't any gaps that he could get stuck behind. Make sure that there are familiar things with his smell to help him feel secure. Give him plenty of tlc & he will be fine. If he wears an ID collar don't forget to change your contact details. Good luck with the move.
2006-12-22 13:14:27 · answer #2 · answered by Caro 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would keep him in for at least 2 weeks. Then when you let him out for the first time, don't feed him before he goes out, let him out for half an hour, then call him back and feed him. Keep him in until the next day when you do the same thing. Luckily at this time of year, cats are happier indoors in the warm anyway. You can fit a cat flap anywhere so I don't see a problem in your new home.
I have been laughing my head off by people recommending you put butter on the paws hehehehe. Do people REALLY still believe this old wives tale
2006-12-22 06:00:57 · answer #3 · answered by fenlandfowl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
used to work in cat shelter. 3 weeks is what we recommended.A few miles away shouldn't be a problem they are more likely to get confused when its a few streets away. I moved 18months ago with my cats & couldnt put a cat flap in my new place. I have a lock and chain fitted on my bedroom window (ground floor obviously!) so the cats go in & out there instead. Hope this helps
2006-12-21 19:39:00 · answer #4 · answered by la.bruja0805 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We just moved into a new home earlier this month, along with our three cats. I've moved plenty of times to say that it would not be safe to let your cats out of the house until you see your cats are comfortable with the house itself. That should be no sooner than 4 weeks. Give them time. When they're no longer running for shelter under the bed because of the new noises, it's then a good time to take your cat outside with you. I usually start them in the backyard. Good luck! Your cat should warm up in no time!
2006-12-21 18:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by sam_scallin 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Two weeks is the norm. I've had several cats and moved house with some - there has never been a problem after two weeks. The main thing is when moving your cat that he has familiar stuff with him/her, like a blanket they sleep on, or a piece of your clothing he/she knows. Don't put them into a cattery - they will fret. Make a fuss of them - have a good dirt box in somewhere easily accessible and hygienic - after 14 days let them out but watch them and keep calling them - they will soon get the hang and get interested in making their new home their territory.
2006-12-21 19:44:07 · answer #6 · answered by dcfingringhoe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure you let him have a good nose about the place as cats are very curious and need to get to know their surrounding. Keep him in for two or three weeks and keep his feeding habits the same as before, make sure you've fed him a few times before letting him out as that is the key thing that tells him this is his home. Good luck and merry Christmas xx
2006-12-21 18:36:23 · answer #7 · answered by ~Grace~ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have moved a few times with my cat, I have been lucky with him he settles very quickly, I dont let him out for a couple of days, buy a tray and cat litter, take cat outside in couple of days and stay with him for a while....reassurance for the cat, the cat will b fine,mine is :)
2006-12-21 21:00:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
we have moved several times and have dealt with this exact situation with our kitty.
a week is sufficient for the cat to start realizing where he/she is, and then let him out...call him in after a few mins. and then let him out for a while longer the next time and then call him in. don't worry if he does not come back for a while though, he is just visiting the old place. grab the cat carrier, get in your car and go pick him up and bring him back, it won't take long for him to learn where he now lives.
good luck to you and your kitty with the new place
2006-12-21 18:49:40 · answer #9 · answered by amber 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
2-3 weeks.But i would let him out on leash the first few times just so he wont get scared or lost.i also reccomend getting him micro chiped as well,or put a snug colar on with ID tags just to be safe:)put some favorite toys in a cat kennel with a bed .
2006-12-21 20:14:53 · answer #10 · answered by Liddy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋