British kitten

If there is anything more stressful than moving house, is moving house with your cat. However, with careful planning, everything about removals should go smoothly.

Cats develop strong links with its environment as potentially stressful relocation. Advance planning will help assure that moving from one house to another go smoothly. At the end of the day, it is also stressful for you and have one less problem is great!

The moving day

• Before the moving van arrives, it is advisable to leave your cat in a room – the ideal place would be a bedroom.
• Leave the carrier, cat bed, a plate of food, water and litter box in this room, and make sure the doors and windows are closed.
• Put a note on the door for moving personnel and all family members know that it must be kept closed.
• When all rooms are empty, the furniture in the bedroom where she was the cat can be placed in the van. Before removing the furniture, you have to put your cat in the carrier and place it in the car safely for the journey to their new home. Follow the advice given below for the transportation of your cat.
  
• The bedroom furniture should be the first to settle in the new house.
• Place a diffusing synthetic feline facial pheromone (a device, Feliway, available from your vet) into an outlet at ground level in the new room where your cat will be temporarily detained. When the room is ready, you can leave your cat inside your bed, the plate of food, water, litter tray and the door closed. If possible, a family member can stay in the room with your cat for a while as the cat scan.
• Give the cat a little food.
• When the download is complete, you can allow the cat to investigate the rest of the house, room by room.
• It is important to stay as calm as possible to show the cat that is a safe environment.
• Make sure all exterior doors and windows are closed.
• Be careful when you allow your cat uncontrolled access to the kitchen or the pantry as particularly nervous cats often try to seek refuge in narrow spaces between the appliance.
• If your cat is particularly nervous may be advisable to leave it in a cattery day before the move and pick up the day after when you already have installed on your new home.

Transporting your cat

• If your cat gets nervous when traveling, you might discuss with your veterinarian before travel, may prescribe a mild pain reliever.
• Feed your cat as usual but make sure the lunch is at least three hours before departure.
• Transport your cat in a secure container, such as a basket or a cat carrier.
• Sprinkle inside of the basket synthetic feline facial pheromone (Feliway, Ceva) half an hour before putting the cat inside.
• Place the basket in a seat and secure with a seat belt in the remaining space behind the seat or immobilized in the back seat so that you can not move.
• Do not carry your cat in the moving van or car trunk.
• If it’s a long trip, you may want to stop and give the cat water or the ability to use the litter tray although most cats will not be interested.
• If you make a hot day, make sure your car is well ventilated, never leave the cat inside a heated car if you stopped to rest.

How to help your cat to settle

• Keep your cat indoors for at least two weeks to get used to new surroundings.
• Give frequent, smaller meals
• Keep the routines of his former home to provide continuity and familiarity.
• Help your cat feel secure in their new home spreading his scent around the house.Take a soft cotton cloth (or fine cotton gloves) and rub your cat gently around the cheeks and head to pick up the scent glands around his face. Rub the cloth or glove against the corners of the doors, walls and furniture at cat height to help your cat become familiar with their territory as quickly as possible. Repeat this process daily until you see your cat begins to rub against objects.
• Continue using the feline facial pheromone diffuser synthetic and move the device around the house, room by room.
• Be especially careful with cats live permanently indoors as a new environment can be potentially disturbing.

How to let your cat go outside

• Keep your cat at home for a couple of weeks to get used to their new home.
• Make sure the cat is identified with your name, address and contact phone number.
• You may want to ask your vet to implant a microchip the cat to make sure again if lost. If you have been microchipped, remember to inform the company register the change of address and telephone number.
• Make sure your cat’s vaccinations are current.
• If you’re used to the collar, it helps to walk him through the garden on the belt.
• Do not carry it out, let the cat decide whether to explore.
• At first, the door is always open so you can come home if something frightens him.
• Cats that spend time outdoors are usually so good, timid cats may take some time to adapt to new environment and would need to accompany them outside until they feel more secure.

Changes in lifestyle

Cats who live indoors require extra effort to encourage owners to exercise and prevent boredom.
Suggestions for improving the environment for a cat who lives at home include:

• Hide the house dry food to provide opportunities to “hunt”
• Provide many high places and scratching posts for your cat to climb
• Regular sessions of game play at least once a day.

Sometimes the owners are fortunate enough to move into a house where you can leave your cat outside for the first time. The transition from indoors to outdoors, if done carefully, will contribute to emotional well-being of your cat and let him bring a more natural life.

Follow the recommendations to let your cat go outside but accept that the process should be gradual. Many cats in these circumstances may prefer to go outside only when you are there to give them confidence.

Moving to a smaller house

If you have several cats at home, your cat will already be accustomed to living in the space of its previous home. Moving to a smaller house can cause some tension between them.Limit the risk of antagonism in the new home by providing sufficient resources, such as:

• Beds
• Litter trays
• Scratching posts
• Food Dishes
• Water Dishes
• High platforms to rest (cupboards, shelves)
• Remote places to hide (under the bed, at the bottom of the cabinet)

It is assumed that the move is one of the most stressful experiences in life. Helping your cat to settle quietly and with minimal problems, the harmony of the new house can set a little faster.