Moving house with our cat - how to tackle the long drive and unpacking?

[barmybunting]

We are moving house in a while to a town about 600 miles/10 hours drive away.

Our plan is to put him in the cattery overnight as everything is packed up, and pick him up as we leave town.

But what do you do with a cat on a drive of that length? Like manay cats I guess, he hates his cat carrier and the car, and that's for 30 mins to the vet or cattery! We will most likely stop overnight halfway at my parents, so the drive will be over 2 days.

And any tips about the best thing to do when we get to our new house? He will be at home whilst the unpacking etc will be done, there is nothing we can do about that. But how best to settle him?

Thanks!

[lurkedtoolong]

Lurking here for advice. We're moving in a few weeks and have very very nervous cats.

When we get to the house We're going to put some toys/beds/blankets and food/litter tray in one room and lock the door while we bring the furniture in. They won't like it but I think they'll be safe.

Good luck with move.

[forevergreek]

Get a large crate ie medium/ large dog size. Then you can fit a litter tray and bedding and food in one space. Cover with a blanket over half to give cosy space.

Once in I would let out at your parents in one room if that's ok overnight then back in. Although would be fine to keep in for whole time if needed and safer.

[evelynj]

Get sedatives from the vet-my 18 yo cat is a bad traveller & we drove & ferried from England to NI-approx 15 hours. Drugs made her dopey & less stressful all round as she wasn't crying loudly the whole journey

Good luck!

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd shut him in a room at your parents overnight with litter tray and food, then same at your new house.


Line the cat carrier with a base layer of puppy pads, then old towels, and take plenty of spares and a couple of bin bags. And cover the seats of the car too in case of ejected poo/wee.

My old cat hated the box too, and the twice we moved with him was the worst journeys of my life. If you will all be in the same car, I'd recommend ear plugs for the non drivers

[barmybunting]

Thanks everyone! A big crate is a good idea, he may be happier with that. Hopefully breaking the trip will make it a bit easier on him, although in some ways better to get it done in one day! Oh the delights of moving with pets...

[thecatneuterer]

And after the move you need to keep him in for at least three weeks and make sure you don't leave any windows open. You'd be amazed at the small gaps cats can squeeze through.

[Waffling]

Get the crate now and let the cat get used to it.

[Alfiecat]

We just moved 6 weeks ago with our cats and also moved with them three years ago.
Three years ago we moved from Europe to the UK which took 12 hours including the ferry crossing. The cats were fine and didn't wee or poo in the car the whole journey. We did buy larger dog transport boxes for them so they had room to stand up straight and turn around easily.
This time they were fine in the car too but it was only 10 miles so only took 20 minutes. We left them locked in the kitchen with food and a cat litter for the first night and then let them explore the other rooms but kept them inside for two weeks to get used to the house which they hated as they love going outside. They were always trying to escape and was a nightmare when workmen were around. It has been fine letting them out and they have settled in well and no problems apart from the odd fight with a neighbours cat.