Moving House With Your Cat
home moving articles and tips
Cats are territorial animals. We have all heard stories of fearless felines travelling miles to return to their previous homes, or simply spending days hiding once they arrive at their new address. However, fear not – there are plenty of ways you can help your moggy to move with a minimum amount of fuss of hassle...
1. Make sure you know where your cat is when it's time to go!
Nothing adds to the stress of moving than having to keep the removal van waiting, while you trawl the streets with a box of treats shouting “Fluffy! Where are you?” Shut your cat in one room first thing in the morning so that you know where she or he is on the day of your move. Top tip: Check the windows are shut as well as the door!
2. Make your cat comfortable for the journey
Use a good solid cat basket – not a cardboard one. Make sure your cat has plenty of bedding and, if the journey is long, a little bit of water. Don't feed your cat straight before you leave or you might find yourself sharing your vehicle with a nauseous cat and a less than pleasant odour. Make sure you talk to your cat and make she or he feel comfortable.
3. Once you get to your new house, keep the cat in one room
Leave your cat in the basket while you prepare a room with food, water and familiar toys, blankets and furniture. After a day or so, you can let the cat have the run of two rooms. If you let the cat explore the entire house on the first day, he or she can become overwhelmed.
4. Help your cat mark the new territory
Unfamiliar smells can be terrifying to a nervous cat. Assist your cat in making the new home smell like their own by rubbing a cloth around their muzzle and then dabbing it on walls and furniture at cat height.
5. Wait a fortnight before you let your cat outside
About two weeks is the most sensible amount of time to wait and let your cat get used to the new internal environment before you let them out. The best way to acclimatise your cat to the new garden is to release them into it – carefully supervised – just before feeding time. That way there is a strong incentive for your furry friend to come back into the house rather than running away!
6. Make sure your cat can be identified
A collar (with your name, address and phone number on it) and a microchip are invaluable tools in ensuring your cat can be found if she or he runs away. Always remember to contact the microchip company and update your record when you move, though, or you may find your cat is returned to your original home.
7. Tell the residents of your previous neighbourhood to keep an eye out for your cat
Ensure that the new people living in your old house (and as many of your old neighbours as possible) know what your cat looks like... and that there is a chance your cat might return. This is obviously imperative if you are only moving a few streets away, but it's better to be safe than sorry, so always try and do it even if you think the idea of your cat running back that far seems unlikely. Cats love to roam and have been known to turn up on their old doorsteps demanding dinner after travelling astonishing distances – even over hundreds, or in a few unbelievable cases thousands, of miles!
For more tips: http://www.franceremovals.org.uk/news/how-to-take-advantage-of-packing-services.htm
