Moving to a new house is an exciting new adventure for us, but for cats it can be very stressful. Cats are very territorial animals, and they struggle when they are moved to another location. Your home is something that they are strongly attached to and when they are taken away from it, they lose their security.
Moving house is a part of life, and when it comes to organising your move – from finding transport like this van hire Bristol based company to getting all the utilities set up in your new one and cancelled in your old one – you also need to plan how the move will go for your feline friend and how you can keep them comfortable and calm throughout the process.
During Packing – Cats are intuitive animals and can tell when something is going on. Having lots of boxes in the home will be a pleasant treat for most cats, as they are fond of getting into boxes, so encourage this behaviour, it helps them to feel safe.
When you are moving large items around, keep them out of the room so that they don’t get scared or accidentally injured. Keeping the routine as normal as possible for your cat during the packing process will help your cat to stay calm and see everything as normal.
On Moving Day – The day itself is busy and often a little fraught from time to time! The best thing to do on the day of the move is to arrange for a safe place for your cat to be whilst all of the moving is going on. A neighbour or a family member may be able to keep them at theirs for a day or two, or you can book a cattery where they will be safe and well cared for whilst you are moving.
In the New House – Getting a cat to feel safe and happy in the new house is important. Remember when you first bring them in, they may be nervous of the unfamiliar surroundings. Introduce them to the house room by room to start with. It is also not advisable to let them out for at least 8 weeks if you have an outdoor cat as they may try to get back to the old house and be lost.