Moving With a Cat: Everything You Need to Know
Moving is always exhausting and stressful, even more so for your pet. Cats are creatures of habit. Their routine and their need for stability are extremely important to them. Moving requires your cat to change its usual routine, so it’s easy for it to become disoriented.
It’s important to offer your cat all the support it needs to make the experience as stress-free as possible.
Moving with a cat: how to make things easier
Preparing your cat for the move
It’s always easier for a cat to go through a progressive change than a radical one. Gently preparing your cat for an upcoming move will enable it to start modifying its habits so that the shock is less jarring the day it finds itself in unknown territory.
Ideally, you should start preparing your cat several weeks in advance. When you start packing your boxes, think about leaving a few of them open and empty. Make your cat’s experience more pleasant by putting a few cat treats and kitty toys inside. This will allow it to make a positive association with the boxes by making them seem like something new and fun.
Acclimating your cat to the carrier
Few cats exhibit enthusiasm at the idea of getting into a carrier. You can leave it open and place some cat food and kitty toys inside and all around it. The principle is the same as with the boxes: to encourage your cat to associate the carrier with something joyful and pleasant. It’s a safe bet that it will be much less reluctant to get in it on moving day!
In review, to help your cat better anticipate the move, do the following:
- Prepare it for the change several weeks in advance
- Leave some empty moving boxes around; put some treats and toys inside
- Leave the carrier out to help your cat get used to it
- Maintain its routine (food, play, etc.) up to the last moment
- Wait until the day of the move to pack up its things
Moving with a cat: let it adapt
Once you arrive at your new home, it’s ideal if you can isolate your cat in a room with its food and water bowls, its litter box and its toys. This will decrease the stress of having to get used to a new environment while dealing with all the commotion of a move.
Moving is stressful for your cat, so give it time!
Wait until everything is in place in your new home before letting your cat out of the room where it’s in isolation. If it still seems distressed and cowers in a corner, let it stay in its room a while longer. Once it’s ready, it can explore its new home at its own pace, one room and one floor at a time.
Be patient with your kitty. Comfort it and play with it to calm it down.
Moving with a cat: when should you let it go outside?
If you have an indoor-outdoor cat, it’s important to wait at least a month before letting it out. The goal is to make sure that it’s fully acclimated to its new territory and that it understands that this is its new home. A good strategy to ensure a successful move with an indoor-outdoor cat is to let it out under supervision, starting with short periods and gradually increasing the amount of time.
Moving with a cat: ask a professional mover for help
To get all the support you need for your move, you can count on the team at Martineau Movers. Our professional movers are devoted to taking care of you and your belongings!
References:
MONDOU. Comment réussir son déménagement avec un chat [Tips and tricks to move with your cat].
ÉDUCHATEUR COMPORTEMENT FÉLIN. Comment bien déménager avec son chat en 6 étapes [How to move with your cat in 6 steps].
WHISKAS. Bien vivre un déménagement [Coping well with a move].
