Moving is often a busy and stressful time, and can be filled with challenges. Moving homes is not only stressful for us, but also for our pets. Generally, cats are known to not be happy travellers, and as they are territorial animals, moving them out of their safe core territory can make them feel stressed and anxious. In turn, this can trigger behaviour difficulties such as soiling outside the litter box.. In this article, we will give some tips to make a move with your cat as smooth and stress free as possible.
Understanding Your Cat
In order to be better prepared for the move with your cat, it’s essential you understand their natural instinct, and the way they see and interpret the world around them. A cat’s primary sense is smell, which is different from ours, as we mainly rely on our sight. Cats mark their territory by leaving their signature scent, by rubbing their cheeks on objects, scratching surfaces, and spraying urine. Cats will feel at home in the territory that is marked with their scent. When moving homes, cats are placed in a new territory which does not have their own scent, and hence they do not consider their own yet. Besides that this creates stress which may result in behaviour difficulties, they will also want to start making this new territory their home, which can lead to increased scratching behaviour, and spraying.
Before the Move
Proper planning is essential if you have cats that will move with you. In an ideal situation, the new home will be fully ready before your cat moves in. Any maintenance or renovations are best done before the move, as they will create additional stress for your cat if they have to be completed afterwards. Get your cat accustomed to their carrier well ahead of time and make it an inviting place to be in with comfy blankets and/or towels, their favourite toys, and some treats. If your cat isn’t microchipped, it’s highly advised to do so, as microchipped cats are 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners when lost, compared to those that aren’t microchipped. Additionally, prepare a collar with a tag with your contact details on it, and have your cat wear it on the days leading towards the move, and afterwards.
Any sudden changes to the cat’s living situation, like the packing of items away in boxes, can lead to stress within your cat. Be patient with them if behaviour difficulties arise, and consider the use of a pheromone diffuser, collar, or spray. These products mimic the natural feline reassuring pheromones, and will help your cat feel comfortable and calm.
On the day them moving team is coming, ensure that your cat is safe in a room that they do not need to enter. The last thing you want is your cat bolting out the door while rooms are being packed and loaded. Bathrooms are ideal for this, as they most of the time do not contain many items that need to be moved, and any items that do need moving can often be removed and put aside before the moving team arrives. Put your cat’s own bed, litter tray, food and water bowl, and its cat carrier in the room, this so they are surrounded with their own items that have their scent. Be sure that windows and doors are closed, and make a clear sign indicating the door should remain that way. If possible, the door could also be locked or blocked of to prevent any mistakes from happening. If you expect your cat may be extremely startled by the sounds of the packing, or you can’t guarantee that the door will remain closed, consider putting them in their carrier before the movers arrive, and put the carrier in a quiet spot.
The travel
When putting your cat in the carrier, check that it’s secured properly. It’s sadly not uncommon that carriers aren’t secured right and the cat bolts out. You can consider spraying feline pheromones in the carrier to provide extra comfort. Your cat should travel with you inside its carrier, not inside the transport van of the furniture and personal belongings. Depending on the length of the trip, you may want to include a water container in the carrier. When it’s hot on the day of travel, keep your cat cool by providing proper ventilation and keeping them in the shade. Do not leave your cat inside the vehicle when you stop for a break. Be patient with your cat, as they may turn very vocal when stressed or anxious. Do not open the carrier midway to comfort your cat, as this increases the risk of your cat escaping in unfamiliar territory.
After the move
Before letting your cat out of the carrier, make sure that the home, or room they will reside in until things are finished, are fully set up, cat proofed, and windows and balconies are secure. Bring your cats own items and be sure not to wash them, unless really necessary, so their scent remains on them. Having their smell around them will help them feel safer and make the experience just a little bit less stressful for them. Again, consider the use of pheromones in the new home until your cat is settled in. It advised to gradually give your cat access to the house, compared to just letting them fully out all at once. Give more freedom to explore once they feel more comfortable.
For at least 4 weeks, take extra care in making sure that your cat does not go outside. Cats have a homing instinct, which makes them instinctively want to return to their old territory. By keeping your cat inside, you will give them the chance to establish a new core territory and mark it as theirs.Your cat may feel stressed and not be themselves, so prevent them from escaping through windows, cat flaps, or when opening the door. Wondering if you should allow your cat outdoor access after they have settled in? Have a look at our article: Should I Let My Cat Go Outside?
The stress caused by a move can trigger behaviour difficulties within your cut, such as peeing outside the litter box. These problems will usually subside after your cats settles in and gets back into their daily routine. Meanwhile, give them grace, and prevent punishment as this will only lead to more stress.
Last, change the address details connected to the microchip on the microchip databases where you have registered the chip, and at the vet your cat is registered with.
Conclusion
Moves are often stressful for cats, but by preparing well, you can make the transition as smooth and pleasant as possible while ensuring your cat’s safety and well-being are protected. By playing into their primary sense, by the use of pheromone diffusers, and keeping their items with their scent close, we can lower the stress.
If you would like to know more about our cat sitting or cat relocation services. Feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help.