6 Tips for Moving House with Cats: A Stress-Free Guide
Moving with your feline family member can be extremely challenging. It’s one of the most stressful events for cats, as they are introduced to an environment that feels completely alien to them.
Since most cats are sticklers for routine and familiarity, not keeping a few important tips in mind can lead to significant stress—or even disaster. However, with the right preparation, you can ease the transition and help your cat adjust more comfortably.
Key Signs of Anxiety to Watch for When Moving with Cats
Before we dive into the important things you should know when moving with cats, let's first review the signs of anxiety your pet might display.
It's important to recognize that nervous cats not only create additional challenges during a move but are also at risk of injuring themselves or others. Understanding these signs will help you take the necessary steps to keep your cat safe and calm during the transition.
Sudden changes in appetite
Moving to a new home can disrupt your cat's regular feeding schedule as they adjust to the new sights, sounds, textures, and other aspects of their surroundings. While some cats may experience a loss of appetite, others tend to overeat.
Display of excessive irritability or aggression
Even the calmest cat may show signs of irritability or aggression in a new home. It's not uncommon for cats to swat, hiss, or even bite at familiar objects, people, and other pets. This behavior is especially noticeable if you primarily keep your cat indoors.
Restlessness and increased vocalization
Cats tend to show their displeasure or discomfort through yowling, meowing, or other vocalizations. If this is coupled with restlessness or hyperactivity, it can be a sign of stress when moving to a new house. Some cats may also seek out hiding spots where they can retreat.
Excessive grooming and unexpected change in bathroom habits
Most cats may have difficulty using the litter box during or after a move. This behavior can also extend to their food and water bowls, as they seem to have lost the familiar scents, sights, and sounds they've grown comfortable with.
Additionally, some cats may groom themselves excessively, sometimes to the point of causing skin irritation or sores, as a response to stress.
Moving With Cats? Don’t Forget These 6 Essential Tips
Now that we've covered the basics, let me walk you through some crucial steps to keep in mind when moving with cats.
In my experience as an animal homeopathy expert and pet mom, I recommend starting this process at least a couple of weeks leading before the move so it won't be as demanding for you and your feline friend.
By preparing ahead of time, you can help make the transition smoother and less stressful for both of you.
#1. Ease your pet into comfort with the cat carrier.
Regardless of your pet's age, not using a cat carrier when moving to a new house or apartment can lead to serious problems. Your cat may become highly stressed or even traumatized, and there's a greater risk of injury during the move.
Using the cat carrier can help your pet stay calm and reduce stress when moving to new surroundings. It's extremely important to build positive associations with the carrier before the move. Otherwise, your cat may become stressed and resistant to using it. Help your cat see the carrier as its own space and quiet place.
Encourage your cat to feel comfortable in its carrier by leaving the door open and placing toys, treats, and bedding inside.
#2. Stay on top of your cat's routine.
One straightforward way to reduce stress in cats during a move is to continue the routines your pet is accustomed to. This means maintaining consistent daily activities like feeding, playing, grooming, and more. It's especially crucial to keep these routines if you have multiple cats.
As pet parents, it's our responsibility to prevent the move to a new home from becoming a traumatic experience for our cats. While some felines may only go through mild anxiety, others may require a mild sedative on moving day. It's important to consult your vet in advance to determine if this is necessary.
By maintaining your cat's routine, you allow your pet to adjust to the changes at its own pace.
#3. Ensure your cat is comfy and secure on moving day.
It is crucial that you keep your cat feeling as comfortable and secure as possible on moving day. Given that you've followed my advice on using your cat's carrier as a safe space, this won't be a cumbersome process.
This step is important because there will be a lot happening on moving day. Furniture will be shifting from one place to another, unfamiliar people will be in your old home moving things around, and your pet may not have access to its familiar spots like the window ledge.
The phrase "comfy and secure" includes everything from keeping your cat fed and hydrated to ensuring it stays inside the carrier with all the essentials for comfort. Don't forget to include a cat bed, litter box, scratching post (or two), and some toys to keep your cat company.
Moreover, ensuring that your cat is already settled in its carrier will make car rides less uncomfortable for your pet.
#4. Prepare a safe space for your cat in the new environment.
It's not uncommon for your cat to be hesitant about exploring its new surroundings when you arrive at your new place. This time is crucial because you'll need to create positive experiences to help your pet feel welcome and happy in its new home.
One simple and practical way to do this is by preparing a room in your new place where your cat can seek refuge. Think of this as the designated room for your pet during or after the move. Ideally, each cat should have its own room.
The rule is one room per cat. However, if you have multiple cats, you can group two or three together, as long as the space is sufficient for all.
I'd like to emphasize that this room should have all the essentials, such as food and water bowls, scratching posts, and litter boxes, while keeping your cat safely inside.
#5. Don’t forget the litter box and other must-have essentials.
The excitement and tension of moving to a new house may cause you to forget essential cat care items like the litter box, food and water bowls, toys, grooming supplies, and other necessary accessories. This can become even more chaotic if you have multiple cats.
Before putting your cat in the carrier for the ride to your new home, make sure you have all these essentials ready. This will help your pet feel that everything is normal, making the transition to a new place less stressful.
#6. Understand that most cats need time to adjust.
Just like us humans, your cat needs plenty of rest before, during, and after a move. This will ensure it has the energy to take in the new sights, sounds, and sensations of its new environment. Rushing things will only prevent your pet from exploring the new house as it should.
You can start this adjustment phase by allowing your cat to explore one small room in your new space at a time. Introducing one room per week is a realistic goal. However, be careful not to keep your cat confined to a single room for too long, as this could lead to feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
Conclusion
Moving to a new space or home with your cat can be very stressful if not properly planned and executed. This can cause your pet significant stress, potentially triggering anxiety and other negative effects on its mental health.
You can also consult a vet or pet wellness expert for additional guidance when moving to a new home. Always remember that cats can be significantly affected by a move, so it’s our responsibility as pet parents to make the experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
About the author
When moving yourself. First have a friend or family member take your cat into their home in a quiet location. A large bathroom, laundry room, a area that can be blocked off from the commotion of the rest of their home and/or pets. Do not try to move out boxes or furniture while your cat is still in your home. While packing to move, pack up the room where the cat’s litter box is last
After you have moved into the house, go get your pet from the cat sitters home. Move the cat into a smaller room with it’s litter box so while you are unpacking and making room for your cat’s items are being placed. Place those items FIRST. Once they know where the litter box is, they will return to it. They will put up with all the unpacking if you are light hear-ted about it and they will enjoy the boxes and wrapping paper to play in. Cats are highly emotional, moving is stressful on humans, if you are in a emotional up roar, your cat and your dog, your kids, everyone in your life will feed off that upheaval if you don’t take a chill pill yourself. Cats will feed off it ten times more easily than your loved ones will so get them into someone’s home you trust for a few days so they can be out of the mess and chill out until you have at least their items in place. Remember to take breaks often, have a cup of tea, sit down on a chair and let them get in your lap if that is what they are used to doing with you, while unpacking the rest of the house and pet them or feed them or spend ten minutes with them so they know they are OK and things will settle down quickly and they are not being ignored or up rooted. It might not be a bad idea to take those breaks for your own brain to settle down. Getting your shorts in a knot and getting all worked up in the mess of things is not healthy for you either.
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