will a 15 year old cat manage a house move?

Question

i have a 15 year old cat she is in perfect health, but i am moving house in 6 weeks and im wondering if she'll be able to take the move seeing as shes so old... shes an indoor cat, she has never wanted to go out and im worried that she wont be able to take a move..

Answer 1

She'll be fine. Like all cats that I have seen, none of them like the transport, but once they're let out, they're a bit skittish and curious. She'll settle in quickly.

Answer 2

Yes, she should be fine as long as you try to keep stress to a minimal. Put her in her carrier in the bathroom with the door closed during the actual moving of the furniture. Go in and reassure her often, that everything is fine. After all the furniture is moved, then move her (this works for local moves). If it's a long travel by car, you may want to have the vet prescribe a mild sedative. If it's by plane, same idea, but make sure you go on an airline that allows her in the cabin with you, not to be put in cargo. Once at the new home, set her up in one room only with food, litter, and some of her own belongings for the first couple days. Once things settle in the house, and you are quiet watching TV, open the door to let her explore. After a thirty minute explore, don't be surprised if she crawl in your lap for cuddling. a Felaway plug in the room with her before and after the trip will help calm her too. Good luck.

Answer 3

She won't like the actual move but she'll adapt quickly. She'll know the smells of the furniture you have and will soon get used to the new smells of the house.

What are you going to do with her while the removal men are working? Have you a friend who can take her? That way she won't get under feet or get scared while the boxes and stuff are taken out of the old house and into the new one.

Once you've got things fairly sorted in the new house introduce her to one room at a time so that she can get used to things in her own time.

Good luck and I hope the move goes well.

Answer 4

She'll be fine providing you don't stress her out. Best thing is to put her in a crate or box while the move is happening and once you get to the new house, leave her in the box in a quiet room for a few hours. Also try to shut her in a quiet room while you are unpacking so she doesnt get stressed or confused. She'll have a good wander round and a sniff and then she'll settle fine. If she is a stressy cat anyway you may want to consider one of the calming products you can get from the vet whilst you move xx

Answer 5

I moved across the country when my cat was 13. Changed homes, changed the people I was living with, changed EVERYTHING. Even took the trip by car, with a weeklong stop by my parent's house halfway between.

My cat did just fine and adjusted amazingly well. He's happier now in our new home than he ever was in his old home. He's now 16 years old and doing just fine.

Being an indoor-only cat helps a lot. Expect her to hide somewhere that she decides is safe (likely under the bed) for the first day or two. And she'll want you with him while she explores your new home. You're her stability and she'll follow you everywhere for a little while.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Cats are not always welcoming to changes in their routine and most of them find moving house particularly stressful because of the perceived loss of their territory. However, there are things that you can do to help reassure her.

On arrival day, keep your cat in her travel basket while you set up one room of the house with her familiar items; bed, blanket/towel, toys, litter tray, food and water. You can then get on with moving everything in, knowing that she is safe in one room. Later in the day, when everything has been moved in, you can allow her access to explore one or two other rooms of your new home. As she needs to establish this as her new "territory" she might feel better doing this one room at a time, but obviously if she's a very confident cat, she may be happy to explore the whole of the house straight away.

Cats rely very heavily on their sense of smell. When they rub up against doorways or furniture, they are very subtly marking their territory. Cats find it comforting to be surrounded by their own scent. The new house obviously won't have the familiar communal scent of your old home which will add to any feelings of insecurity. If she has a favourite blanket or something else she likes to sleep on, you could try wiping that over the paintwork at cat head height. Alternatively, you can also try wiping a soft cloth, like a hankie, over her cheeks and then rubbing the cloth on decorated areas and furniture, as this will help reinstate her scent and make her feel a little more "at home". A Feliway spray or a plug-in diffuser will have a similar effect, as it contains pheromones that have a scent similar to that found on cats' cheek glands.

Use food and a regular routine to help her settle in. Small frequent meals will give you more contact initially and help to reassure her that all is well. By knowing when and where feeding will take place, she can anticipate the meal rather than worry about it. This will also help her to relax and reassure her in her new environment.

When my previous cat was 17, I moved abroad, so she had to face up to the challenge of a flight, new home and climate all at the same time. I was amazed at how she took everything in her stride and settled into our new home almost immediately.

Hope all goes well, good luck.

Answer 7

Hi, She will be fine, so long as you are there to reassure her. You said she is a house cat so you know you need not worry about her wandering off. She will be strange to her new surroundings at first but she will soon settle.

Answer 8

Ian b - your answer had us laughing in the office for soooooo long!!
Seriously, I moved with my 17 year old cat and she sulked and weed on my washing in the washing basket! After a couple of days she was fine and it was like she'd been there all her life. Don't worry - they soon adjust.

Answer 9

Cats can develop a form of senile dementia and if this is what she has then euthanasia might be the kindest option. You need to take her to a vet who specialises in behavioural issues and get some idea of what is going on.

Answer 10

I've traveled and lived all over the world with my cat (approaching 20 believe or not). She is doing fine. Just make sure she knows you're not leaving her.