MOVE OVER MAMA - cat on the move

Moving a cat to a new home can be very stressful for them. Cats are creatures of habit and like familiar surroundings, and any major changes, like a new house can lead to behavior problems because our house is where the heart is and within our homes and hearts live our cats. When we search for a new palce to hang our hat, we face the challenge of finding a home that allows our hearts delight, our cats, to be with us. Sometimes, the difficulties people have finding a new home for themselves and their cats seem hopeless, and cats end up not only with a new home, but a new owner as well.

Warning alert

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  Never ever place your cat in a sack, bag or other carrying item that has no view-holes. Cats need to have some sense of their surroundings and not having this simply terrifies them and makes them dangerous to handle. Your cat needs to arrive settled and trusting. Also, the holes provide air to get into the carrier. If no air is getting in, your cat will probably drown and die forever.
  
  
  


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  Most cats find car travel extremely disorienting and strange and will meowing loudly and loudly wont stop. This can be very disturbing for the driver and distressing.
  
  
  


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  Always administer prescription medications according to the letter of your Veterinary instructions. It may take a long while for your lovely cat to calm down after medicating her, but don't increase the dosage without explicit permission from the Vet.
  
  
  


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  Make sure all cubbies, crawlspaces, or any small space big enough for your cat to fit through are blocked. Moving is very scary for cats and they will try to find a "safe spot" to hide.
  
  
  

If you are moving just a miles from your old house you may find that your cat regularly returns to his old home. Why? This is simply because YOUR MOGGIE has not bonded sufficiently well with his new home and has picked up familiar routes during exploration of his new territory. Chasing him away or you need to collect him. Spread the cat's scent around your home, as described above. Keep your cat inside for a month and then, as mentioned earlier, only let him out for a short period just before you feed him and accompany him on his walk round the garden. In this way he will begin to recognise the new house, both of which are being denied him at the old house. This period of readjustment may take weeks and, in some cases, it can be months before he can be allowed outside unattended. If all else fails and your cat refuses to accept his new home, you may be able to persuade the residents of your old house or one of the neighbours to adopt him permanently.

Before you move your Cats should always be transported in a safe container. Leave the carrier around for a few days or even weeks before your move, so that the cat becomes used to the sight and smell of it. When it's time to go, put your cat in his carrier with a familiar blanket and transport him, don't put him in the removal van or the boot of the car.

If you have to move your cat by airplane, call the airline in advance to check the carrier requirements, along with checking whether they supply one or where to obtain one from. Also ask about who is responsible for supplying food/water. Remember to include something familiar like a favorite blanket in the carrier for the journey. Make sure the cat is collected immediately at the other end; preferably by someone familiar with the cat.

Moving a cat to a new home does not have to a stressful event for them or you. Remember to plan ahead and prepare a great room for your cat to stay in.