subject: Moving With Cats [print this page] In all likelihood, your cat does not want to move. Cats get comfortable in their surroundings, becoming so territorial over time that moving them can be very traumatic. Here are some tips to help you help your cat deal with a move, and adjust to his or his new home more easily.
As soon as you can before the move, make sure your cat has a lovey. A lovey is a comforting object that your cat is attached to, similar to a childs teddy bear or blankey. If your cat doesnt already have a favorite cushion, blanket, or pair of shoes he or she likes to curl up on, you can encourage attachment by offering a soft (and portable!) kitty bed or small blanket.
On moving day, put the cat, along with the lovey, food, water, and litter box, into a room you can close off. Try to put the cat as far away from the action as possible. A back bedroom or bathroom that has already been packed is perfect for this. Your cat will have the space all to his or her self, with no loud noises or strange moving men to invade their territory. Plus, with the cats safely locked away, you and your movers wont have to worry about stepping on kitty, and you can prop the doors open without concern that the cat will get out of the house and get lost.
If you put the kitty carrier in the room with the cat, (especially with the lovey or another soft blanket inside it), you may even return to find the cat curled up inside the carrier.
Once everything else in the house is packed and ready to go, its time to collect kitty and head for the car. Spend a few minutes in the room petting and reassuring your cat, and then close up the carrier. Let your cat ride in the car with you, not in the back of a moving van or open pickup truck. Remember, most cats think theyre people, and they appreciate all the traveling comforts that you do.
When you get to the new place, unload the cat carrier first, placing it in a quiet, out-of-the-way room while you get everything else unloaded. Try to set up furniture in a similar pattern to your old place, so that the layout is familiar to your cat. When you let kitty out at last, stand back and let him or her explore a bit uninterrupted. Remember, everything needs to be sniffed and rubbed against before your cat feels at home in the new home.
Dont be surprised if your cat hides behind or under furniture at first. Its just a way to observe from a safe distance. Be sure to put your cats lovey somewhere similar to the old home. For instance, if it was at the foot of your bed in the old house, put it at the foot of your bed in the new house, too. Soon your cat will find that comfort object, remember it as a safe place, and start thinking of your new house as home.
