Moving house

[Alldara]

If you have a friend or family member he's family with, having them stay with him while you manage the moving process can be quite comforting.

 

[Rysiek]

The move is scheduled for 15th August. Unfortunately, I have no-one to stay with him whilst we go to the new place. I will be back in around 2 -3 hours and will take him there...
I am unsure if I need to give him gabapentin twice or three times a day...
I think, I will give him a dose the night before and in the morning... perhaps baps another one in the evening...
But, I don't want to drug him too much...

 

[IzzysfureverMom]

I have always kept my guys with me. If I had the possibility of bringing them to the new place before the move in I did. Otherwise we designated a room for them and the first items brought to to new place were their familiar things litterbox , tree, toys, blankets etc.

 

[Rysiek]

I will make a designated room for him here with his favourite things. I will leave him here, so we can get on with the moving there...I will organise his place there with other items that are his, we have lots of them. I will plug in pet remedy, the one he likes...
I will then drive back here, and get him for the ride to a new place, with his litter and blankets (I am not washing them, so the smell stays). I expect he will spend a few days under the bed...
Oh, it is a big move...the house is becoming more and more messy and he does not like it...

 

[fionasmom]

It is just a little bit funny that he does not like a messy house, but he probably is also suspicious as to why things are so different. When I moved the last time, I could not take all the animals at once partly because there was a huge GSD. I did leave them in a safe designated place. If you are moving yourself, with the help of friends or family you trust, you can make sure that Rysiek is secure. If you are using movers, make sure that they understand about not opening doors or whatever is entailed.

 

[Rysiek]

It is just a little bit funny that he does not like a messy house, but he probably is also suspicious as to why things are so different. When I moved the last time, I could not take all the animals at once partly because there was a huge GSD. I did leave them in a safe designated place. If you are moving yourself, with the help of friends or family you trust, you can make sure that Rysiek is secure. If you are using movers, make sure that they understand about not opening doors or whatever is entailed.

I am using movers. I will ask them to move everything from a little bedroom first and put a sign on a door..I also have a portable tent/crate, so I may leave him there with his litter and food.
I will give him gabapentin in the morning, maybe evening as well. When we will go to a new place a may let him free, although this may be difficult, as everything will be gone...so perhaps, better to leave h in the little room...
I will see how he responds to the mess becoming overwhelming. I have not packed anything yet, but when I was sorting things out for charity, he did not like that...

 

[Alldara]

I am using movers. I will ask them to move everything from a little bedroom first and put a sign on a door..I also have a portable tent/crate, so I may leave him there with his litter and food.
I will give him gabapentin in the morning, maybe evening as well. When we will go to a new place a may let him free, although this may be difficult, as everything will be gone...so perhaps, better to leave h in the little room...
I will see how he responds to the mess becoming overwhelming. I have not packed anything yet, but when I was sorting things out for charity, he did not like that...

Keep him in thr little room. Your plan sounds great!

 

[Rysiek]

When you moved house, did you use gabapentin?
This is what vets suggest, but this is such a powerful medication...

 

[fionasmom]

I did not use gabapentin, but not for any good reason. In retrospect, I might have with a couple of the cats but it seemed that vets were not offering it as often. Currently, I have it on hand from two vets for my HCM boy if he has to be taken in and for my flame point boy as he has strong objections to just about anything that might need to be done for his own good.

It seems almost standard now to be issued for stressful situations like vet visits and moving. If you have not used it much, it may not take a lot if you do decide to give it.

 

[Jaxson’s momma]

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!

I think boarding him during the move will make only make his anxiety worse. When we moved I packed slowly giving my cat, Victor a chance to adjust to changes in his environment slowly. I had a room all ready for him in the new house where he spent the first few days and slowly over the course of a week, I introduced him to the entire house. Victor hates traveling so my vet gave me a mild sedative for him so he was calm on the 30 minute drive to the new house. With careful planning to destress as much as possible my boy did great! Not one episode of diarrhea which had been my fear. Good luck with your move

 

[Rysiek]

I did not use gabapentin, but not for any good reason. In retrospect, I might have with a couple of the cats but it seemed that vets were not offering it as often. Currently, I have it on hand from two vets for my HCM boy if he has to be taken in and for my flame point boy as he has strong objections to just about anything that might need to be done for his own good.

It seems almost standard now to be issued for stressful situations like vet visits and moving. If you have not used it much, it may not take a lot if you do decide to give it.

He used to take gabapentin for at least three month when he had problems with trigeminal neuralgia/fops.
He is medication free now...

I will give it to him the night before and in the morning...

 

[Rysiek]

I think boarding him during the move will make only make his anxiety worse. When we moved I packed slowly giving my cat, Victor a chance to adjust to changes in his environment slowly. I had a room all ready for him in the new house where he spent the first few days and slowly over the course of a week, I introduced him to the entire house. Victor hates traveling so my vet gave me a mild sedative for him so he was calm on the 30 minute drive to the new house. With careful planning to destress as much as possible my boy did great! Not one episode of diarrhea which had been my fear. Good luck with your move

Thank you. Such a good idea to introduce him to one room first...I am packing slowly, but each time I put something where it does not belong he sits and looks at me as if wanting to say: "this is not the place for this..."...
But, there are more and more boxes around...

He is quite a nervous cat. Had problems with trigeminal neuralgia/fops and I am a bit concerned that the move my trigger his symptoms...

All his things will be taken to a new house and I am not washing his things, such as blankets, so the smell stays there...
I have pet remedy plugs so I will set them at new place...

 

[Rysiek]

He does not like the mess (me too) and this is only the beginning...still lots of packing. He almost asks me the questions: "why all the boxes, and why everything has changed it's usually place, things have been moved etc). I leave " his areas" untouched at the moment, as they provide him with safety...

 

[Alldara]

Keep talking to him and letting him know. Even if he doesnt understand the content, your calm words will reassure him.

 

[Rysiek]

Keep talking to him and letting him know. Even if he doesnt understand the content, your calm words will reassure him.

Yes, I do, and I keep some areas unchanged, so he can retreat and find some safety...
I see that he notices changes and feels a bit unsure...

 

[fionasmom]

You are doing the best you can. You have to move, carry on with your life, and do what you have to do. Just keep reassuring him that things are fine. The alternative cat outlook are the ones who are just waiting for everything to be put in the middle of the floor in a heap because it looks like a game.

 

[Rysiek]

We have moved!
Eventually, I decided against gabapentin, and he definitely did not need it. He appeared calm enough, just normal frights, but short lived...he spent a day in his tent, not disturbed by people moving around that room, he heard a strange noises of course...
I took him here at my last, third run. The place is the mess, but he is ok! Firstly poofed his tail, but then started his adventure through the house, windows, views etc. He appears happy. After gabapentin he would have been groggy and a kind of more stressed out...
Unsure if gabapentin is for him, as the only time he attacked me was related to gabapentin...
I am so relieved, as I was so worried that it would be traumatic for him...
On a photo id our view from the toilet...(I will be some curtains)
He used his litter tray, but is not eating at the moment...

 

[fionasmom]

You did it and he is relaxed enough to be curious as to what is outside...which is a lovely view...so that is a good sign!

 

[Rysiek]

You did it and he is relaxed enough to be curious as to what is outside...which is a lovely view...so that is a good sign!

He has a bit upset stomach, a bit of diarrhoea...I guess from stress...

 

[Alldara]

He has a bit upset stomach, a bit of diarrhoea...I guess from stress...

Can be or from the car ride.

Is his food dish already elevated?