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Highlights
- Cats are super-sensitive creatures of habit that don’t enjoy big and abrupt changes in their environment.
- A house move can really stress out a cat so you should do all in your power to keep your feline friend calm and safe.
- Transporting a cat between two homes can be challenging so the best way to do it is to use your car.
- Cats can have a tough time adjusting after a move so you should know what worrisome signs to look for during the adaptation.
Cats are extremely sensitive creatures of habit who are not great fans of change. Famous for being highly territorial animals, they tend to rub their body scent all over various household objects in an attempt to define and set their boundaries.
For pets who are as closely attached to their familiar surroundings as they are to their caring owners, it’s important to understand that cats can have it pretty rough when a house move takes them out of their comfort zone (current home) and throws them into a strange environment (new home). This is especially true if the new house or apartment has residual scents from other cats.
How do cats react to moving?
As oversensitive to ambient changes as that, cats that are being moved between two homes can have close to a nightmarish moving experience if their fears are not understood completely and their needs are not addressed properly.
Cats are great at detecting worrisome notes in human voices and will react in direct proportion to the stress level exhibited by their masters.
So, if you are a cat owner and you are about to move house, then you should definitely learn how to move a cat to a new home. Pay special attention to our practical advice when moving with cats so that the relocation trip proves to be smooth and stress-free not only for your feline friend but also for you as their loving master.
Let’s take a closer look at the best way to move a cat to a new home. Read on to learn what exactly you should do as a cat owner so that your lovely pet stays safe and stress-free throughout the move, including during the tough adaptation period in the new place.
Before The Move: What’s This Fuss All About?
Have you ever marveled at the extraordinarily developed senses of your cat?
Cats seem to be constantly scanning the immediate surroundings and respond to even the slightest changes in the ambient conditions, don’t they? As if their nine lives and unrivaled gracefulness were not enough, cats are gifted with a number of outstanding qualities that can even be perceived as superpowers: the unique abilities to
- see in the dark and reflect directed light back to its source,
- locate the house spot with the strongest concentration of positive energy, and then
- channel that same energy effectively to achieve mystical healing effects.
One thing is clear: your cat will be the first one to pick up the altered frequency of the pre-move vibes coming from you and the fast-changing settings of your home.
Cats are the perfect detection devices and hardly anything can alter its current state without being duly registered by your super-powered pet. The sudden inclusion of worrisome notes in your voice, the surprising appearance of packing supplies, and the unwelcoming sight of moving experts in your home will be the very first signs that something big is going on.
![How to move cats to a new home](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cat-in-box.jpg)
These intimidating interruptions in your cat’s set routine will frighten your animal friend and their anxiety level, after an initial sharp spike, will continue to rise.
And this is exactly where you should come in and try to calm your furry friend’s nerves and show them that there’s nothing to worry about.
Did you know that planning ahead is the secret to a smooth move for your cat?
Here are the preparatory steps you should take before moving house with cats:
Step 1. Keep the daily routine unchanged
When moving your cat to a new home, it’s imperative that their daily routine remains as unchanged as possible.
The moving preparations will probably wreak havoc on your cat’s regular schedule for food and play, but you should do your best to keep things as they used to be because cats rely on their routine to feel safe, confident, and content.
Step 2. Talk to your cat
Your cat will probably not understand spoken English but they can surely detect the calming and reassuring tones of your voice. As crazy as it may seem to possible onlookers, sit down and have this fundamental man-to-pet chat with your feline friend, explain why things are changing, and reassure your pet that these changes are for the better.
Remember that your cat understands more than you probably think, so you shouldn’t be surprised at all when, all of a sudden, your friend becomes less frightened and less stressed out as a result of this little talk.
Step 3. Take your cat to see the vet
A full medical checkup of your pet before the relocation trip takes place is a must-do pre-move task that you shouldn’t skip. Your cat should be in good health before you embark on the relocation adventure, so make sure you take them to the vet’s office.
If you notice that your furry friend is easily frightened or excessively nervous about the upcoming move, discuss with the veterinarian whether specialized anti-anxiety medication for your cat will make the actual relocation journey easier for everyone.
While at the vet’s office, request copies of your pet’s medical records or any other documents you may need during or after the residential move.
Step 4. Provide adequate identification
Before moving your cat across the country, you must provide adequate identification for them – either in the form of a permanent microchip or a suitable collar with your mobile phone number.
Your cat’s proper identification can contribute greatly to your happy reunion in case the moving stress becomes too much for your pet and they manage to escape. Don’t forget to inform whoever is responsible for the microchip data to update your new address.
Step 5. Get the transportation carrier ready
You will definitely need a specialized pet container in order to guarantee the comfort and safety of your cat during the relocation trip to your new home.
The pet transportation carrier should be spacious enough so that your pet can sit or stand comfortably, as well as turn around freely in it. If you don’t already have one, you can purchase such a suitable pet carrier from your local pet shop before moving house with your cat.
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Thanks a lot for mentioning how you should take your cat to the vet before moving. It is important to understand that doing this can help yo make sure it is healthy enough to move. We need to neuter our cat before we move next month, so I wanted to learn more.
It was helpful when you mentioned that you should keep your cat inside for a couple of weeks when moving. My family is planning on moving to a new home next week and we have 2 siamese cats that we’re worried about with the move. I appreciate these tips on how to move cats to a new home!
We have been in our new location for over a month and my previously indoor/outdoor cat refuses to go outside. We are in a wooded area and I have seen a fox in the area. There is also a male fer rel cat in the area. My cat sleeps a lot more than she use to. Should I just respect her judgement and not push the issue?
My very affectionate cat has been so mean. She hides under the covers of my bed and if I go near her she hisses and claws at me. She never did this before. She stays under the covers all day. At night she will come out and she will let me pet her and she will sit by me but she acts so cautious. I want my loving little girl back. What should I do?