Moving house can be a happy occasion, but for your cat, this could actually be dangerous.
Unfortunately, many cats get lost during the mayhem of moving day. Huge boxes and heavy furniture being moved around pose an additional risk for injury. The good news is that with some planning and thinking ahead, you can minimize the risks from the move.
Before The Big Move
1. Make sure you have a large carrier or crate.
Your cat will have to be securely placed in a sturdy carrier during the actual move. Make sure the carrier is large enough to allow Kitty room to turn around. Depending on how far you’ll be traveling to get from your current place to the new one, you may need to get an actual dog-sized crate. If your move entails a long road trip, read these tips by our members on what to prepare:
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Help your cat get used to the carrier or crate by leaving it open in your current place for several weeks before the move, allowing Kitty to go in and out at will. Make the inside of the carrier more inviting by placing a familiar blanket or pillow inside. Read more tips on how to help your cat become used to its carriers here:
2. Prepare for the worst: Collars, name tags and ID chips.
The guidelines in this article should help you minimize the risk of losing your cat during the move. However, the risk is still there, so please make sure your cat is properly ID’d. If your cat doesn’t regularly wear a collar, use the weeks prior to the move to get him used to wearing one. Make sure there’s a solid name tag attached to the collar with your name and current phone number. Consider having your cat microchipped as well. Read more:
.3. Use caution during packing.
Cats adore boxes and they love lending a helping paw when we’re busy, don’t they? Keep dangerous items such as strings, glue and scissors out of Kitty’s reach and pay attention when closing each box to make sure there isn’t an extra feline furball hiding inside!
4. Designate a safe room in the current place and the new one.
Your cat will need a safe room in your current place for moving day, and one in your new place as well. Think ahead and designate such rooms in both places. These will be rooms the movers will not be entering. They should be rooms which you can lock and take the key away with you. Make signs which read: “Cat’s Room – Do Not Enter Or Knock” and don’t forget to have something to stick them on the doors with!
5. Know where you pack everything your cat needs.
Unpacking dozens of boxes can take a while but you should be able to locate everything you need for your cat right away. Cat toys, beds, treats, food and litter should all be packed in a clearly-marked box. Make sure you let the movers know where to place this box so you can easily find it in your new place.
6. Find veterinary clinics in the area you’re moving into ahead of time.
Hopefully it’s going to be a while before you need to see a veterinarian but you never know… Make a list of the nearest veterinary clinics, including emergency clinics. Have the information stored within reach. If you don’t have a car, find out in advance how you can get Kitty to the clinic in case of emergency or find a veterinarian who makes emergency house calls.
On Moving Day
Whether you’re using a professional moving company or having friends come over to help you put everything on a U-Haul, moving day is a dangerous day for your cat. The hustle and bustle of moving furniture and huge boxes can send even the most relaxed cat scurrying out the main door, sometimes never to be seen again. Don’t let that happen to your cat!
1. Lock your cat inside one room while the movers are in your home.
This is where the previously-designated safe room comes into play. Get an estimate from the movers on how long they’ll be inside the house. If it’s a quick move of under an hour, you can also keep your cat within a securely latched cat carrier in a quiet corner of the house. If it’s going to take longer, a safe room is a better option, allowing Kitty access to the litterbox and food dishes, room to move and possibly even the opportunity to nap in his favorite cat bed.
Make sure the safe room is locked and that only you have a key. Put a sign on the door warning movers that this room is out of bounds. You don’t want them rattling the doorknob looking for stuff to take out.
If you need to enter the safe room for any reason – including to finally put Kitty into his carrier – make absolutely sure the main door is shut and that there’s no way for your cat to make a dash for it, out of your house and into the great unknown.
All of the above applies to the safe room in your new place as well.
2. Take your cat’s litterbox and food dishes with you.
Your cat will need to eat and to use the litterbox during moving day. You’ll be keeping those with him in the safe room, so they won’t be going with the movers’ truck. These items go with Kitty and you in the vehicle you’re using to move between the two places (your car or a taxi). Have a large box ready where you can put the litterbox itself as you take it with you. Use a separate box for the food dishes, and some extra food for the first few hours after the move. For a longer drive, see the tips about using the litterbox on the road here:
3. Keep your cat in the carrier at all times while traveling between the two places.
Once it’s time for you and your cat to leave the house, it’s carrier/crate time. No ifs, ands or buts. For a short drive, a large carrier will do. For a longer road trip, use a crate. Either way, never drive with a cat loose in the car and never carry a cat in your arms outside your home.
4. Keep any medications your cat may need with you.
If your cat needs any medications make sure you pack them in your own bag where you can easily find them when they’re needed.
In Your New Place
1. Keep Kitty in the safe room until the movers leave.
Just like before, your cat needs to be safely locked up inside one room as the movers unpack their truck and bring the furniture and boxes inside. Set up the litterbox and food and water dishes, and open the carrier. Make sure in advance that all windows are properly shut. With this being an entirely unfamiliar room, your cat may attempt to wriggle his way out of it, including through blinds or anything which might look like a possible opening. It is up to you to make sure the room is cat-proofed and properly sealed and has no hard-to-reach nooks or crannies where your cat can get stuck.
2. Cat-proof your new place. Secure doors and windows.
With the movers gone, you can open the safe room’s door once you make sure all other doors and windows in the new house are shut! Alternatively, you can choose to keep your cat in the safe room for a few more days, giving him time to adjust to the new place in at a more gradual pace. There’s no one rule here and how fast you can familiarize a cat with a new home depends on the size of the place and cat’s temperament. Fast or slow, wherever your cat is allowed to explore should be cat-proofed for safety, especially any windows or doors through which Kitty can get out.
3. Don’t let your cat out for at least a week.
Staying indoors-only is safer for your cat. However, even if you choose to let him out, don’t do so for six-eight weeks after the move and not before he has completely settled in and seems relaxed. The first few outings are best done with a harness and leash and should not be for more than a few yards outside the door. Let your cat smell the area for a few minutes at a time and then guide him back home. It’s going to take a while before his perception of “his territory” is fully adjusted to allow him to return home from his outings. Again, please consider keeping Kitty indoors-only and allowing him to enjoy the outdoors only in the safety of an enclosure or accompanied by you using a leash and a harness. Read more:
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With some planning and thinking ahead, both you and your cat can get through this difficult day safely and smoothly!
If you have more tips to share or comments on this article, please share them in the comments section below. If you have questions about moving with your cat, post them in the cat care forums where our members can try and help.
