Moving house

[Rysiek]

Rysiek has been well, after last year problems with trigeminal neuralgia/possible fops. He is medication free and no symptoms.

In one month we are moving house and my question relates to preparing my cat for a big house move...Is it better to get him to the cattery? (he has never been away from me and in the past suffered a trauma of being neglected). Or, is it all right to expose him to the overwhelming house move processes?
I have gabapentin at home, so I could give it to him.
He has been with me for three years, suffered some trauma in the past. It has taken him at least two years to start trusting me. He is an indoor cat, but walks outside in the harness...He loves it!

 

[happilyretired]

Because of a job situation, I moved twice in two years with my first cat, who was 7 at the time. For the first move, I put her in the cellar while the movers were loading their truck. I drove to the new place with her in the carrier (6 hours), and I let her out to explore our new home. When the movers arrived the next day with our furniture, I put her in the bathroom until they were gone. She did well throughout the move.

When I moved again the following year, I scheduled her for a teeth cleaning the day of the move. When I picked her up that evening, all our furniture was in the new home--and she loved that. It was familiar to her.

The house moving process is probably more overwhelming for you than the cat--IF you insure that the cat is in a safe, isolated space when the furniture is being moved. I use gabapentin with my current 'high strung' cat and suggest you use it for moving day.

 

[Rysiek]

Because of a job situation, I moved twice in two years with my first cat, who was 7 at the time. For the first move, I put her in the cellar while the movers were loading their truck. I drove to the new place with her in the carrier (6 hours), and I let her out to explore our new home. When the movers arrived the next day with our furniture, I put her in the bathroom until they were gone. She did well throughout the move.

When I moved again the following year, I scheduled her for a teeth cleaning the day of the move. When I picked her up that evening, all our furniture was in the new home--and she loved that. It was familiar to her.

The house moving process is probably more overwhelming for you than the cat--IF you insure that the cat is in a safe, isolated space when the furniture is being moved. I use gabapentin with my current 'high strung' cat and suggest you use it for moving day.

Thank you. I have a special tent for him, so he can stay there in one of the bedrooms and then I can drive him to the place...
It may happen that I will need to leave him in the house for couple of hours, so the removal company will offload my things...

I don't like the idea of him being in the cattery, as he had symptoms of abandonment when I got him from his former owner, as he was by himself for hours, if not days...

 

[happilyretired]

As long as he's in a safe place, secluded and not in danger of 'escaping,' he should be fine.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi. See if you can glean seme tips from this TCS article.
How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way - TheCatSite

 

[Hellenww]

One of the things I've heard that's not in the article is to bag the used litter(box) and put it in his new safe room.
Place small blankets in his favorite spots to get his scent on them. When you move keep them bagged until the furiture is set-up or he's ready to inspect the new space. Then place them around so his scent is all over the house.

 

[Rysiek]

Hi. See if you can glean seme tips from this TCS article.
How To Move With Your Cat To A New Home In A Safe Way - TheCatSite

This is very useful, thank you..I have already bought a big tent like dog crate with the aim to keep him there during the move.
I will get it out, so he will get used to it. It is still around five-six weeks...

 

[fionasmom]

I don't think that I would put him in a cattery. He will be happier at least knowing that you are around and can check on him from time to time.

As long as he's in a safe place, secluded and not in danger of 'escaping,' he should be fine.

I have moved twice with pets, dogs and cats, and one cat and two dogs moved both times with me. Everyone was fine, but do make sure that he is in a safe place where the movers won't disturb him. Put signs on the door, whatever you need to do, so that he is not disturbed or frightened.

 

[Tobermory]

I’ve moved several times back and forth across the U.S. over the years with two or three cats. I always emptied one room and put them in there with a sign on the door so the movers didn’t inadvertently open the door. I put their open carriers in the closet so they could hide not only in their carriers but also in the closet. I know they were nervous, but I checked on them often. They’ve always done amazingly well, even though they’re shy and hate car rides.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

One of the things I've heard that's not in the article is to bag the used litter(box) and put it in his new safe room.
Place small blankets in his favorite spots to get his scent on them. When you move keep them bagged until the furiture is set-up or he's ready to inspect the new space. Then place them around so his scent is all over the house.

I was actually coming here to say that about the blankets. Nice job, Hellenww !

 

[Rysiek]

I don't think that I would put him in a cattery. He will be happier at least knowing that you are around and can check on him from time to time.

I have moved twice with pets, dogs and cats, and one cat and two dogs moved both times with me. Everyone was fine, but do make sure that he is in a safe place where the movers won't disturb him. Put signs on the door, whatever you need to do, so that he is not disturbed or frightened.

Thank you so much...I will make him safe during the move, I have already bought a big tent like crate for dogs, big enough to have his cat litter there! I will open it up and leave in the living room for him to get used to it...
He definitely had some separation anxiety in the past, so I don't want to leave him somewhere he would feel abandoned...

 

[Rysiek]

I was actually coming here to say that about the blankets. Nice job, Hellenww !

This is a great idea with bagging his used litter...
I will not wash many of his blankets, as to keep the comforting smell of them.

Thank you!

 

[Rysiek]

I’ve moved several times back and forth across the U.S. over the years with two or three cats. I always emptied one room and put them in there with a sign on the door so the movers didn’t inadvertently open the door. I put their open carriers in the closet so they could hide not only in their carriers but also in the closet. I know they were nervous, but I checked on them often. They’ve always done amazingly well, even though they’re shy and hate car rides.

Thanks, I will empty one of the rooms and leave him there with the sign of a door...thank you..

 

[Rysiek]

His temporary house/cage for moving house...
Big enough to get a cat litter insight...

 

[DeesCats]

Rysiek , just to be extra safe, if you can lock the door where he will be located as well as put the sign on the door.

 

[Cat.mama]

Rysiek has been well, after last year problems with trigeminal neuralgia/possible fops. He is medication free and no symptoms.

In one month we are moving house and my question relates to preparing my cat for a big house move...Is it better to get him to the cattery? (he has never been away from me and in the past suffered a trauma of being neglected). Or, is it all right to expose him to the overwhelming house move processes?
I have gabapentin at home, so I could give it to him.
He has been with me for three years, suffered some trauma in the past. It has taken him at least two years to start trusting me. He is an indoor cat, but walks outside in the harness...He loves it!

It sounds like you have bases covered really well!
i don’t have much to add from what others have mentioned. I have had several moves with cats. I have always trucked over a small amount of supplies , small cat tree , blankets etc and taken the cats the day before and spent the night in spare bedroom. Then kept that room closed off with a sign and kept guard best I could during the transfer.
I used the bar in the closet with hanger and chip clips to hang Blankets low to the ground to make fannned out hidings areas . They loved that .
My last move , the movers helped themself to using my bathrooms , so I would be cautious or crate them if leaving in a bathroom that’s small where they can make a fast escape.

Once all the furniture was in , I created areas of hanging blankets across objects to create hiding areas… one of them still stands today hahah.
Mine get anxiety easily but it’s always an adventure and they acclimate.
If your cat is scared of ppl one thing you might think about … my front door was glass. Anyone walking by / or car would create shadow and send them runnin from living room . Took me some time to figure it out . Bought a paper shade , fixed that issue.
Good luck to you.

 

[Margot Lane]

Article says “cat proof your home for safety” but please do think about the variety of escape hatches: can ceiling tiles be pushed up? Are there holes next to plumbing pipes? Any ductwork with moveable vents? Just check all over and look for escape routes/hidey holes.

 

[Rysiek]

Article says “cat proof your home for safety” but please do think about the variety of escape hatches: can ceiling tiles be pushed up? Are there holes next to plumbing pipes? Any ductwork with moveable vents? Just check all over and look for escape routes/hidey holes.

I will keep him in one of the bedrooms, additionally in his tent. I will not move him at the time of moving everything, as I do not know a new flat so well, so I will bring him later on, he will spend some time on his own here...but with food and cat litter...

 

[Vivien88]

Hi!
It's good that you decided not to give Rysiek to the cattery . That would have been additional stress for the cat. I wish you good luck and hope everything goes smoothly.

 

[Rysiek]

Hi!
It's good that you decided not to give Rysiek to the cattery . That would have been additional stress for the cat. I wish you good luck and hope everything goes smoothly.

He is my treasure and I do everything to make it easier for him