Moving With 3 Cats

Hey everyone,
I am in the process of moving in with my boyfriend, we have the luxury of taking our time doing this so we are trying to decide what would be the best way to introduce the cats to their new home. Since I have three we were not sure if we should move them all together at the same time, or one at a time? Does anyone have any experience with this? Also, if anyone has any tips on how to help make them as happy and comfortable as possible during the process it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hi. I personally think you should move them all at one time - that should help take some of the stress out of the process for them as they will at least have each other for familiarity/comfort.

Setting up a single room in the new home to move them to - with all of their own things - food/water dishes, litter boxes, blankets/towels/bedding, and toys in that room would be the best bet. After they have had time to settle, and the rest of the moving is complete, you can start to let them explore other parts of the home.

Here are a couple of articles that will give you some ideas on both the moving and the adjusting to a new home processes.

How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way

9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment

Hi! Excellent advice from feebysowner, and you could even try some MusicForCats . com or the app Relax My Cat.

They have met your boyfriend of course, but you could still bring a couple of his worn unwashed tshirts for them to have for sniffing/smelling purposes and maybe even to sleep on if they're willing, and then take those, along with a couple of blankets of theirs that they sleep on regularly and a worn unwashed tshirt or two of yours over to the new place to try and get scents really mingled.
Let us know how things go and if they have any difficulties settling in

and I LOVE your handle/name by the way LOL

I agree with FeebysOwner. I would set up your bedroom first and put all their cat stuff in there. Then lock them in there as you finish unpacking/setting furniture up. One thing I did that helped was packing the cat stuff last so I could unpack it first. Also I packed my used bedding, so it would take their/my scent with me. I also took their used litter so it would smell like home to them.

You have had some great advice already, I’ll just add that you should decide if you should move them first or last. We have done quite a few moves with cats, and typically we lock them on a bathroom (with a clear sign that says “Do Not Open: Cats Inside”) with the movers come and we take care of all the stuff. Then you can bring the cats to the new place and their safe room.

Alternatively you can move them first and lock them in their room while the movers bring stuff in. I usually assume it’s less stressful for them to be in familiar surroundings while the crazy moving noises happen rather than a new place but often it depends on the situation.

I’ve found generally our cats have recovered quickly after a move and even explore the first night. I think having them together is helpful, even the two cats that weren’t friends seemed to get comfort from the familiar face.

Cats recover especially quickly, too, if you make sure to let them have at least 6 or 7 of the cardboard moving boxes once things are unpacked and settled in!
Boxes! Cats!

FeebysOwner said:

Hi. I personally think you should move them all at one time - that should help take some of the stress out of the process for them as they will at least have each other for familiarity/comfort.

Setting up a single room in the new home to move them to - with all of their own things - food/water dishes, litter boxes, blankets/towels/bedding, and toys in that room would be the best bet. After they have had time to settle, and the rest of the moving is complete, you can start to let them explore other parts of the home.

Here are a couple of articles that will give you some ideas on both the moving and the adjusting to a new home processes.

How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way

9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment

Click to expand...

Thank you! I appreciate the links and advice!!!

Furballsmom said:

Hi! Excellent advice from feebysowner, and you could even try some MusicForCats . com or the app Relax My Cat.

They have met your boyfriend of course, but you could still bring a couple of his worn unwashed tshirts for them to have for sniffing/smelling purposes and maybe even to sleep on if they're willing, and then take those, along with a couple of blankets of theirs that they sleep on regularly and a worn unwashed tshirt or two of yours over to the new place to try and get scents really mingled.
Let us know how things go and if they have any difficulties settling in

and I LOVE your handle/name by the way LOL

Click to expand...

Thank you!! I will definitely take you advice! I will and thank you lol I can't take all the credit, my bf got me a coffee mug that says it so I found it to be a fitting username! XD Coffee and cats, two of the best things our world has to offer

Thank you everyone for the wonderful tips! I will try them! I am lucky enough that we are doing this more slowly than the average people so I am only taking a couple boxes at a time and unpacking each weekend to keep it all easy and organized! We decided we will get the majority of my things moved and unpacked at his house and then introduce them so that while they will be in unfamiliar territory, they'll still have things they recognize that still smell like home without having to deal with us moving things around a ton. Ill make sure to save some boxes for them I'm hoping they will be happier there, they're moving to a bigger home with more room to get the zoomies and we are getting them a couple new goodies and an extra big new cat tree!