What are some good ideas for moving with cats?

Question

We plan to move to a new home next month. What ideas or suggestions do you have to make the move easier on my 2 cats? They have both lived here since they were 5 weeks old but my older cat has been here for 2 1/2 years when her and I moved in here. The new home is a LOT bigger than where we are now. I want to make this transistion as easy as I can for them.

Serious replies only please. They are like our kids and we dont need stupid answers.

The move is in town so its only a 5 minute drive to the new home.

Answer 1

We moved to a different state with our cat. Cats do not like change. They are comfortable when their surroundings smell familiar to them. We transported our cat in her carrier, and kept her in there until we had everything moved in the house. We put her carrier in our bedroom so that she would see and smell us. Her food, water, and litter box were also close by. Then we opened her carrier door so that she would feel free to explore when she was ready. This was all on the first day of moving in. The next morning when we awoke, our cat was already out and about exploring the house. The house we moved to has wood flooring, and I think that helped her feel comfortable too. Just let your cats explore at their own pace. You are like their mom, so they want to see and smell you since you are familiar and safe to them.

Answer 2

It is most important to make them feel safe and secure through the whole process. As you are packing everything in boxes, they are likely to start feeling like something is going on and may become jumpy. Try to reinforce that they are safe with soothing words and petting whenever you can so they know they are alright. On moving day, make sure they are in one room with their little box, food/water, and a comforting item, such as a favorite blanket/toy/whatever at the old house while you are moving all the boxes from the old house to the new. If you take them to the new house first and then try to move all your stuff, they will be even more scared because they are in unfamiliar territory and have a bunch of noises at the same time. When it is time to take them to the new house, do so in cat carriers and put something like a favorite blanket or towel in with the old house smell. Put them in a room at the new house and keep the items (opened cat carrier with towel so they can "hide", favorite item, food/water, and litter box) in there. Make sure you come in and talk soothingly and pet them often so they know everything is okay. Keep them in the room for the day and the next day you can let them out to explore. Try to keep doors shut that don't need to be open so the cats aren't overwhelmed with too much to explore. As days go by and the cats are more comfortable, you can start opening more doors and let them explore their expanding territory. At this time you should put the litter and food where you want them to be permanently. Before long, you should have 2 very comfortable and happy cats. Best wishes!

Answer 3

This will certainly not be a silly answer as I have 2 cats and have gone through a lot of moves with my children. I am like you, my cats are not just pets, they are about the most important things to me, so I will try to give you the best advice I can. One thing to know about cats is that lthough they do not travel well, they do recognize their scent immediately. So, one of the things you want to do is to move the cats after you have moved most,if not all of your furniture into the new home. You want them to go into the new place and smell themselves and to see you.
Granted our little darlings have been traveling since they were small so they do deal with moving better, but they can be surprising. We live in NYC most of the year, but spend the summer in Mass. While we were in Mass this past summer my husband moved apartments,so when we came back to the city the cats and I moved into the new apartment. I was pretty nervous about the cats coming into a new place. Well, all I can say is, we dropped them into the hall, they smelled themselves and took off in a run to check things our. We picked them up,showed them the food and the litter, and before I knew it, Emily was on our bed, her usual place, found it herself, and Pyewacket found her black chair by herself.
So, have no fear, move the furniture, then organize their favorite seating places, move the cats, show them the important places,ie,litter and food, and they should be fine.

Answer 4

When we moved into our appartment we had the opportunity of setting everything up first ... making sure all boxes and strange, loud noises were done with. Then we bought her with us. We made sure her toys were in all the rooms she was allowed in, that her bed was set up, her food was in the kitchen (and water). She's 8 and has settled in well ... she didn't really seem that phased. A little hiding, sniffing, and rubbing uo against everything ... a couple of hours later and she was settled enough to sleep soundly.

Considering your home is bigger, you may want to close of some larger areas at first. Place some things with their scent on them around the place. Cats know when things are different and they won't want to miss anything ... they will surely check out everything where they are allowed to.

Answer 5

I have moved a lot with my cat. A move can be very stressful, so minimize it as mi=uch as possible. Here's the drill:

1. On the day of the BIG MOVE, keep the cats in one bedroom and close the door. This is to make sure that they do not escape and that they are not unduly disturbed by all the hub bub of moving furnitures and boxes. The room that they are in is the LAST room that you "move" in terms of furniture and all.

2. When everything has been moved and only the one room whisch has the cats remains, go in there and put the kitties in their carriers (or kennel or crates). One in each carrier as much as possible. Move the carriers with the cats in them in another bedroom; cover the carriers with a pre-prepared blanket or towel and close the door. Now you can move the furnitures in that last bedroom.

3. Load the kitties in their carrier in the car where their favorite human is. The cats should be the last to be loaded in the car (or truck).

4. In the new home, put the kitty carriers in the bedroom of their favorite human or a room that is designated for them (spare room). Kepp their cariers covered and close the door so that they can remain as undisturbed by the moving in hubbub as much as possible. They will probably be crying, but will stop as soon as you close the door. The watchprase is "Keep Cats as Unstressed as Possible."

5. When you are ready to let kitties out of their carriers, it is best to keep them confined in one bedroom. They will hide under the bed or in a closet. This hiding may last for several days with the cats venturing out only to eat, use the kitty litter and sniff around a bit. So, make sure that their food bowls, water and kitty litter are in that room with them. The presence of thse familiar items (especially their litter box) goes a long way into reassuring them that all is well.

6. When they are ready to venture out more from hiding, allow them to check out the rest of the house... the living room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathroom, etc.

7. DO NOT LET THE CATS OUTSIDE FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH - that is, if you let them outside at all.

8. Keep to their normal routines as much as possible - feeding times, play times, grooming times, etc. This also goes along way in reassuring the kitties that all is well.

Answer 6

While you are carrying out boxes and things, put them in a small room like a closet or bathroom to keep them safe. Transport them in cat carriers. When you get to the new house, put them in a bathroom with their food and water and litter box for a day or two. Being in a smaller space like that will help them feel more secure. Then open the door and let them explore on their own when they're ready.

Answer 7

Try and keep them in the house for a few weeks so they get use to everything. Also u might want to walk around the neighbor hood and see if there are any other animals that u're cat could come in contact with.

Answer 8

Board them overnight the day of the move.