Dear Most Esteemed and Knowledgeable Kitties:
Our mom just bought her first home, so we are moving in early July. She wants to be sure we are happy in our new home. We can’t imagine why we won’t be OK, because we will have her, but she knows that we have just started to be friends — Bella came home two years ago, and Shadow had a tough time accepting a new sister after losing his brother. Mom is afraid the stress of moving will upset us. Can you reassure her that we’ll be OK, and give some suggestions on how to keep us happy in our new home?
Thank you for your wisdom.
~ Grizzabella and Shadow
Siouxsie: We don’t think your mom needs to worry too much. Moving is stressful, for sure — we’ve done it a few times ourselves — but with a few minor considerations before and after the move, we’re sure you’ll land comfortably in your new home.
Thomas: First of all, she should leave your carriers out with the doors open or off for a few days before you leave. If she puts fluffy blankets in the bottom and gives you treats while you’re in there, you’re bound to be less stressed by the carrier. A spritz of Feliway spray in the carrier every day or two — while you’re not in there, of course — wouldn’t hurt, either.
Bella: When your mom is moving stuff out of your house, she should keep you in a room with a door that closes, so that you don’t escape by accident. That would be awful! Left at home when your mama moves? Ooh, it makes my whiskers twitch just thinking about it!
Siouxsie: She should also make sure to pick up your food and water at least an hour before you leave. That will help her make sure you don’t get sick while you’re traveling.
Thomas: When you get to your new home, she should leave you in your carriers for a little while and set up a special room for you to rest and relax while all the stuff is being moved in. If she gives you a room with your cat trees, favorite beds, a litterbox, and some food and water, you’ll have some things around you that smell like home.
Bella: And once again, with the door closed, she won’t have to worry about you escaping.
Siouxsie: You’ll be less stressed if you have just one room to get used to at first, too.
Thomas: That’s what Mama did when we moved to our new home, and it was very helpful. Plus, when she let us out, we had all kinds of boxes to explore while we helped her unpack!
Bella: Once everything is moved in and the furniture is more or less assembled and placed, then she can open the door and let you explore the new house at your own pace.
Siouxsie: A drop of Bach Rescue Remedy, either in your water, on a treat or rubbed into the fur on the top of your heads, will help to reduce your anxiety, too. Oh, and she can take Rescue Remedy too. That’ll be good for her after a big move.
Thomas: You kitties might actually have an easier time getting along once you move into your new home, because you’ll be able to divide a totally new territory between you.
Bella: Nonetheless, your mom shouldn’t be surprised if there’s some growling and hissing while you sort things out. After all, that’s just natural for cats, am I right?
Siouxsie: *grumble*
Thomas: A couple of strategically placed Feliway diffusers might also help you feel happier in your new home.
Bella: Most of all, your mom should do the best she can to stay calm. As long as she’s keeping her cool, you’re less likely to get stressed out yourselves.
Siouxsie: Congratulations to you both, Grizzabella and Shadow. And congratulations to your mom on finding her own forever home! *purrrr*
Thomas: We hope you or your mama will write back and let us know how everything turned out. Moving is kind of fun, actually. Well, except for the traveling in the car part. I don’t like that very much.
Bella: We don’t know how far you’re going to have to travel to get to your new house, but Thomas and Siouxsie tell me that after the first few miles it gets easier, especially if your mom is driving down the highway and there aren’t too many twists and turns.
JaneA Kelley is a punk rock cat mom and award-winning blogger. She is a regular columnist for Catster Magazine, and she and the Paws and Effect Gang share a home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
This can be stressful to any pet, just try to keep all their toys and familiar things in a separate room with them until the moving is done and leave that room for last. That way it won’t be less shocking for them.
That is great advice and all things that I have done for my cats on various moves. Another good thing to do if you are able to, is to bring that cat(s) to the new location (BEFORE) the move. Allow them to investigate (if possible). That way, their scent is left in the new location and when they move in, it smells familiar.
If the new place is close, what about bringing something that smells like the new place for yall to snuff? But, if she is moving to a new state that wont work. Just all remember to eat well and stay hydrated and sleep well.
Watch out for “territory marking” in the new house. My long-neutered male cats (who I had never seen
spray in my old place), made me gasp when my oldest one lifted his tale and sprayed the new end table in the new place (my other house burned down). For about a month I had to keep my eyes open and my nose smelling. Once they were used to the place it quit. They certainly don’t like change. Now they are fine.
I have moved three times with my human. The first was when I was an adventurous little mitten kitten. I got on a small airplane with him, and he flew me to my new home. I was quiet most of the time, and didn’t even let out a peep until he had landed the plane and shut off the engine. Then I let him know, hey, you silly human, you need to play with me since I am not busy.
The second move involved an airplane again, except this time, it was a big one. By then I had learned that being in a cage was no fun, so I struggled when it was time to put me in there, and complained all the way to the airport. But once I was there, I was quiet. It wasn’t until my human was getting the luggage that I complained.
The third, and hopefully final move, was when we moved only a short distance from our old home. I had a new furiend by then, and she and I complained the entire way from the old place to the new. It was only a mile, but we thought it was a long time to be in the cages. We complained so much that our human brought us up immediately instead of bringing us up last as he originally planned.
But now we are happy in our new place.