When you’re moving house with your cat, it’s bound to be disrupting, stressful and disorientating, for both of you! However, there are things you can do to help your cat keep calm during and after the move to help them feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
In the build up to the big move, your home will start to feel unsettled for your feline friend; packing boxes, strangers wandering in and out, new scents and the emptying of once-familiar rooms can all add to their anxiety. If your cat is used to staying with some familiar friends of yours or in a cattery, it may be a good idea to have them stay there for a short break to spare them the stress. If you decide on a cattery, book well in advance and make sure all their vaccinations are up to date. Read our article on cat sitting and catteries for more helpful tips and advice.
If you’d prefer to keep your cat with you during the move, set aside a quiet room in your old house and leave it untouched until the very last minute. Get them accustomed to that room about a week before you move by placing their bed, litter tray, toys, food and water bowls in there. It will soon feel like their home within a home, and allow them a haven away from the hustle and bustle in the rest of the house!
"Once you’ve moved home with your cat you need to give them at least a week to get used to their new surroundings before you let them go outdoors."
If you’re using a removal company, let them know in advance that as well as your furniture, you’re also moving a cat to a new house. They’ll need to know which room has been designated for your cat so they don’t disturb them in their quiet den.
Just before the removal team arrives, give your cat a reassuring cuddle or soothing stroke and place them gently into their travel basket with a supply of fresh water. If you’re concerned that your cat will get stressed it can be a good idea to spray their basket with a calming pheromone (available from your vet or larger pet stores), or cover it with a cloth to keep it dark and calm. You can then leave them in their basket in their “safe” room while you make your final rounds.
For advice on taking your cat in the car, read our article on travelling with your cat (you’ll also find information on moving house with your cat to another country by plane).
Remember, if your cat wears a collar, you’ll need to swap their identity tag on the day you move for one with your new address and phone number and don’t forget too that you need to supply your new details to their microchip registration company. The last thing you need on moving day is an escaped cat with out of date ID! The last piece of admin to take care of is registering your cat with a new vet, if you’re moving to a new area.
The secret to moving a cat to a new house is familiarity, so start to make your new surroundings more recognisable for your cat as soon as you can after you arrive. Similarly to how you prepared a “safe haven” in your old house, fill one room in your new home with your cat’s bed, litter tray, toys and a bowl of fresh water.
When you’re soothing them with strokes, gently rub a soft cloth on their face and neck. This will pick up their natural pheromones, which you can then wipe onto new surfaces in the house at cat height to help your cat feel more secure. You can also add a worn cosy jumper of yours or an old towel to their bedding to surround them with more reassuring scents.
Synthetic pheromones can also help to reassure your cat, which you can use via a spray or diffuser – have a chat with your vet for their recommendation or pop in to a large pet store to see what options they have.
Now that you’ve done all you can to make your cat as comfortable as possible, you’ll want to give your cat some uninterrupted peace and quiet while they explore their new surroundings. Keep the door to their room shut until the removals team has left and you’ve checked that all doors and windows are firmly closed. Only once you’re fully moved in should you open the door and let them take a look around the rest of the house. Even then, only do one room at a time to allow them time to take it all in.
Once you’ve moved home with your cat you need to give them at least a week to get used to their new surroundings before you let them go outdoors. Some cats accept their new home quite quickly while others need time to adapt. It can help if you’re able to spend some time with them at home in the first few days and weeks to help them settle in better. Don’t rush things; let them take as long as they need to get used to the sounds and smells in their new environment. For more advice on settling your cat in, read our article on welcoming your cat home.
Before long they’ll discover that their new home is just as welcoming and loving as their old one, and they’ll soon enjoy exploring their new world. All it takes is a little patience and a lot of understanding.
