How can I make my cats less stressed when we move?

Question

In about 2 months we will be moving from a small apartment to a house, what can I do to make the move less stressful for my cats?

Answer 1

Congrats on your move. Keep your cats in the smallest room with their food and litter box and scratching post. Don't buy anything new, keep all their old stuff. Its great also, to leave your sweaty moving clothes in there to be comforted by your scent as well. Before you go to bed, cat proof the house; make sure there is no way for them to get out, and make sure the screens are study (press on the screen firmly with the palm of your hand) or even better leave the windows open only one inch or so so that they can't fit on the sill. Make sure that there is no type of insect or rodent poison left from previous order. When you go to bed, open the door a crack so they can come and go at their leisure to explore. Don't be scared if they walk around low to the ground, or hide in a closet. Everything, sight and smell is new to them, and they may be a bit scared. They might even fight with each other. There is a great product to calm them down, its called Feliway and it is a pheremone product. Good LucK, and DO NOT let them out doors!

Answer 2

If the distance isn't too inconvenient, take the cats to the new location to sniff around. Make sure the windows and doors are secured so kitties don't go wandering off and get lost. Let them sniff and check out everything so they can get familiar with it.

On moving day, keep the cats locked in one room while all of the other stuff gets moved. Try to keep them in the bathroom or leave the cats with a neighbor or friend for the day while all the mess gets cleared up. This avoids stress to the kitties.

Remember to secure windows and doors or buy those thin leashes for cats and let them wander as they like until they have checked out the new home.

Answer 3

The link that Mircat provided is useful - I used those instructions when I was introducing my cat to another cat. Keeping your cat confined to one room is also good advice in general when the cat is in a new environment regardless of whether they are being introduced to another cat - allow her to habituate to the room and familiarize herself to the new scents and sounds of the house. Let your cat explore the room on her own. She may want to hide somewhere so provide her with a covered area to give her a sense of security. If she does not eat much the first day that she is in the new home, this is pretty normal. My cat tends to lose his appetite for the first day in a new place. Talk to her in soothing voices and try no to stress out yourself as pets are very receptive to their owners stress. Additionally, provide as much familiarity as possible. Be good with routines (such as feeding your cat on their regular schedule, using the same litter brand, food brand, and providing him or her with familiar toys and blankets or mats). Purchase a litter box that is similar to the one she is used to, etc. It may take a little while for her to get back into the groove of her usual self and even longer for her to become friends with the other cat. Sometimes cats never end up fully getting along, but don't worry, they will definitely learn to tolerate each other if given time. So just be patient, and soon enough you will see her old personality begin to emerge again, and she will eventually act like she is queen of the new castle :)

Answer 4

Give Bach flower Rescue remedy. Cover cage/ box whatever when travelling.They will like the house as opposed to small apartment. Love those cats coz I am the cats mother.

Answer 5

Kennel them for the trip and see your vet about sedatives, I like the herbal sedatives you can buy from petco. When you get to the new place keep them in one room for a day or two then let them out to roam, you may notice they fearful of large rooms and wont cross them at first but it should pass, there are also pheramone plug ins for cats quite pricey but I have heard they sometimes work wonders on stressed cats.

Answer 6

Put an old towell or blanket in the spots where they like to sleep. Let them sleep on it until it is time to move.
When you get to the new house keep them in a single room with their box, food, water and the towell or blanket. Cats take about one or two weeks to identify their new home. Keeping them in a single room will reassure you that they have not gotten out.
Spend as much time in the room with them. If they go under the bed or furniture, then let them. They will come out in time.
Gradually open up parts of the house to them. Let them have access to windows where they can look out.

Answer 7

You can buy calming hormones ( phernomes) at places like petsmart . You put a couple drops on their fur . They also have little dispensing units that release the hormone into the air .
Look them up online at Dr. Foster & Foster's Pet Store . It is good to use for a day or two before the move and a week or two after .
Also it is a good idea to put a worn shirt or such with your scent on somewhere they can sleep on it .

Answer 8

Either keep him in a carrier while you are moving or lock him in a room w/a cat box & food while you are moving...in the new place, lock him in one room until everything is brought in the house and then let him out to explore his new surroundings...physically pick him up & show him where his food, water, litter box & bed are, and then let him roam the house...if he is also an outdoor cat, like mine is, keep him in for at least a week to get acclimated and then let him out for short jaunts...if he does go out be sure to put a collar and tag on him for his & you well-being!

Answer 9

The best thing to do is get some Rescue Remedy from a health store, it is inexpensive and a natural way to relax them as they take the first two weeks to get used to the new place. And it does help to explain to them what is happening, good luck!
PS, please don't get anything harsh or expensive like a tranquilizer, it will just make them sick, and it won't last long. Rescue remedy is made from flowers and works very well, I used it when I moved with my cats.

Answer 10

If you have not had them in a carrier much, between now and then put them in a carrier and take them for a walk or a ride - doing nothing to them - bring them back and let them go.
I have traveled with several cats and let them run around the car while moving. Litter box in back.