Moving home can be a stressful experience on your own, but with the added responsibility of taking a cat with you, you might think that it will be a nightmare. While there are quite a few things that you need to consider before making the move with your kitty, they can be easily managed if you think ahead and find out exactly what you need to do. That’s why we’ve put together these five handy tips that will help you to make your cat’s moving experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Speak to your vet
There are several things that you will need to discuss with your vet before your moving date. If your cat needs any special care, you should have a chat about how the moving experience may affect him or her and to see if your vet has any recommendations for the trip. Make sure that they are up to date with any due vaccinations and that you have a good supply of any medication that they need, especially if you are moving to a new area as it may take a while to get to find a new vet.
You can make this process easier by asking your vet if they have any colleagues that they can recommend in your new location — they might not, but a referral is always handy if you can get one. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a handy Find a Vet tool that you can use to search for practices in your area, but only if you are moving within the UK.
Prepare for escapees
Being a cat owner, you will be very aware of how independent cats are as well as how skittish they can get at the first sign of a disturbance, such as a troop of movers entering your home to pack up your belongings. You may think that you know your kitty pretty well, but moving day can be a stressful experience for him or her and it is always best to take precautions.
Make sure that your cat is micro-chipped and their record is updated with the latest information, including your new contact details. You can do this without much hassle through one of the UK’s pet microchip databases, and if you know your pet’s microchip number it is pretty straightforward. You can use Check-A-Chip to easily search through all of the UK’s compliant pet databases.
When you are loading up the moving van, make sure you have confined your cat to one room and that all possible escape routes are closed, as it is likely your front and back door will be open for extended periods of time. Consider clearing out one room before moving day to keep your cat in, so that they won’t be disturbed by any of the comings and goings.
Make sure they are comfortable on the road
An essential bit of kit that you will need to make sure you have before the move is a specialised pet container to keep your furry friend safe and secure when you’re on the road. You should ensure that it is the correct size, with enough room to sit, lie down and turn around. It should also contain a source of water and a litter tray, as you should try to keep your cat in the container as much as possible while on the road. This is because they can get panicked when let loose in a moving vehicle, which is the last thing you need.
Find a secure location in your vehicle to hold your kitty’s container in place in the event that you need to brake sharply. Good locations are behind on of the front seats or attached to one of the back seatbelts, but you should avoid the front passenger seat due to the risk of the airbag being deployed, causing injury to your cat. Make sure they have a good airflow and they are not hidden away by layers of luggage.
Consider a professional pet mover if going abroad
If you are emigrating to another country with your cat, there is a lot more that you have to prepare for, especially if you plan to do so by plane. Many countries have strict regulations when it comes to bringing animals over their borders, for example Australia and New Zealand have quarantine laws to protect their unique indigenous species from invasive species and foreign diseases.
You can minimise the stress to both your cat and yourself when emigrating by using a professional pet moving service from a company like Pickfords. These companies use their specialist knowledge to make the process of emigrating your pet as smooth as possible, taking care of everything from the pet carrier for the flight to the paperwork for your pet’s arrival.
Help them to adjust
When you get to your new home, leave your cat in the car and head inside to do a quick sweep of the house, looking for anything that isn’t so kitty-friendly like exposed wiring or broken glass. You can then let your cat explore their environment bit-by-bit, taking extra care not to let them outside as they will not have had a chance to adjust yet.
Lay out some items from the old house, such as their bed and toys. They will immediately begin to associate the area with these items, which will in turn provide a source of familiarity and comfort. Even if you have an outdoor cat, you should make sure that they stay inside for two weeks after the move so they recognise this new house as the place they live.
Follow these essential tips and you and your kitty will be able to enjoy a fabulous life together in your new home.
Not yet subscribed to our Newsletter? Click here.
I am a cat rescuer (have done 100 cats and kittens with either TNR/Domestication since I was a young teen with my mom).
To help the cat not go into shock is to pack them and their things last.
Pack up the home as you would. Then, right before you are about to go, throw him or her in a carrier with toys, blanket,etc.
I go the room by room approach so the cat does not get skittish and revert to aggressive behavior or gets into a confused state. I have a very large cat motel with a scratching post, room for litter box, etc. I keep that in the entrance way. Next night the kitchen, and so forth. That way, the cat gets used to each room and knows each is safe. (not bathrooms. those are too small. I’m talking about living room, kitchen, bedroom, etc).
This is the best way I have found for a move with a cat, and also with moving a cat from a foster situation to home situation.
<3
xoxo
Drem
Thanks for the extra advice 🙂
Also, I am a certified TNR in the state of NYC under the Mayor’s Alliance, NYC Feral Cat Coalition, and am connected with SICAW (Staten Island Council for Animal Welfare). So, this isn’t just advice from someone who only has experience with one kitty (: I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s my passion to help animals, especially those in need.
Oh wow! We are going to be in NYC later this year 🙂
Cat related? haha!
I think at one point I was going to do a guest story but then I forgot to do it.
It would be about my cat? I write a series on him. He’s a certified therapy animal who was a 4 month old feral tom born in the swamps. Now he’s a funny sweet fella.
Oh yes! That’s the kind of story we would want 😉
And it’s a general holiday but we will be staying in the Algonquin for part of it and go to some of the cat cafes ^^
Oh and if you ever fancy doing a guest story do drop us an email to info@katzenworld.co.uk !
Well I have never moved more than a few miles with a cat but when it is a close move, the cat may return to old haunts, so the two weeks inside can be a must. I also do one more thing beside taking toys, their old dishes, etc (you can get new dishes after the cat is acclimated but at first make everything as near as to the old place as possible…..so….here is my special trick.
I take my old sheets off the bed AND DON’T WASH THEM. I stick a pillow case in the cat carrier and when I”m at the new place, I just dump the sheets in whatever room the cat is in for the night. They like your smell and the sheets work as a bed memory anchor.
So that is my trick. The only probably with it is if you have company over the first day or two….which I would not suggest anyway. Thus spake Druathrustra. ~~dru~~
Thank you for the extra trick :). Never thought about the old sheets!
And you are right about being careful with your cat possible returning to the old location =o
Great piece of advice. Thanks!
You are welcome 🙂
I was EXTREMELY lucky in that my cat enjoyed Moving Day. He was a bit whiney when we released him in the new house, but otherwise perfectly content, purring, washing, catching moths & even snuggling the removal men.
Awwwww very lucky 🙂
great advice – all tips I have used when moving my pet friends around the world 🙂
🙂
Pingback: Keeping Kitty Safe During Moves (Re-Blog) – My Life With Cats
Thank you ^^
Thank you for your great advice.
Glad you found it useful 🙂
Oh!…….I think Jamima and I have moved 4 times in 15 years. It’s a case of best laid plans scenario. The first time not familiar with how to transport a cat she was moved in a box……the next I’m sure I held her to my chest under a wet towel, clearly a odd mix or comfort versus damp nightmare, and since she has gone into hiding under the couch and inside it she has proved challenging to catch. Clearly, improved a great deal over the years and when it m settled so is she. I know, crazy cat lady but we are a team.
4 times! That’s a lot =o
Great tips
🙂
Very helpful! Thanks for the informative, interesting, often fun blogs you post each day. I may not comment often, but i thoroughly enjoy what you post!
Awwww thank you 🙂 and yes I try to cover a variety of different topics ^^
We should do a feature on your two at some point btw!
Pingback: Moving with Kitty | Pacific Pooch
Thank you 😀
Reblogged this on ravenhawks' magazine and commented:
Have experienced the fun of moving with cats on to many occasions. Most scary was the move from Germany to the US with them. I think my cats and I were both traumatized by that event. We did not handle the separation well.
Oh! I didn’t realise you were in Germany at some point? Which area were you living in?
<- From Northern Germany 🙂
Reblogged this on Rattiesforeverworldpresscom.
Pingback: Moving with mog: 5 Essential Tips For Relocating With Your Cat – Rattiesforeverworldpresscom
Pingback: Too Much? – Katzenworld