Moving day with a cat

[Ilovemycat13]

Hello

Following a unexpected ‘I can’t do that day’ from our vendor, our moving day has changed. The cat cannot go into the cattery until the next day.

Aside from the stress of moving itself, the removal men, boxes and getting the cat into the carrier and a half hour drive, the house we’re moving to has a dog and is quite dirty. The plan was originally to get it clean and at least semi liveable before the cat came back. That way he had his blankets, his chair and smells.

What can we do to help him on the day? I just don’t know what to do and am worried. I’m checking weekly if there has been changes to the cattery allowing us in the day before but it’s currently unlikely.

Any tips?

[BookWorm45]

We had a version of this some years ago.
Is there a downstairs loo, or small room somewhere in your new house, that can be left alone by family, moving men etc? Print out a notice and stick to door, stating NO ENTRY. Put some water, food and cat litter tray in there. Put the cat in there, barricade the door against people who don't read your notice, and then you've done all you can. Once movers have gone, you can let the cat out

[livingwithbees]

I’d do exactly as Bookworm said (hoping to be in a similar scenario shortly). I’ve moved with cats many many times and this has always been what works, small loo is best in case your cat is a nervous wee-er? Perhaps also a small radio switched on for background noise. I’d also try and avoid letting him out until ‘his’ house is put back together as much as you can, sofa in the living room etc so it smells a bit more like his home. Good luck!

[PissedOffNeighbour22]

I'd agree with a small room, or if that's not possible, a pop up pet tent. Our cat was ill before we moved and I had to contain her in one. It was large enough for a litter tray, bed and food.
I couldn't have coped without sending her to the Cattery before we moved so I understand how rubbish this is going to be. She's an indoor cat and we couldn't risk an escape.

Our new house stunk of dogs and was dirty too. I wasn't able to fully clean it to standard in the few days before the cat came back. I extended her stay by a couple of days but still couldn't manage it. I decided that I just have to renovate the whole thing as it's so disgusting (and smelly) - but the cat doesn't care. She did go and roll on the horrible kitchen floor before we ripped it up though . The dog smell didn't put her off at all.

We did use a feliway plug in for the first few weeks. I was surprised how well she settled in, she just walked in and 'owned' the house. She wasn't jittery at all and didn't hide away.

[Newhousehope]

We’ve just collected ours from the cattery, to the new house.
He won’t stop meowing! Is this normal? Will he ever stop!!?
Anything I can do now he’s home to help him settle?

[hartof]

We had ours on a harness and lead on the day and then once we got to our new house we set him up in the spare room and shut the door whilst everything was going on.

[hartof]

@Newhousehope

We’ve just collected ours from the cattery, to the new house.
He won’t stop meowing! Is this normal? Will he ever stop!!?
Anything I can do now he’s home to help him settle?

I don't know about crying but the day after we moved our cat was sick I think the new surroundings stresses them out.

[CatherineAragon]

I have put the cat at the end of the garden in its cat box whilst the removal goes on in the past. If you live in the flat, the loo is the next best option.

[ShadowInVain]

I put mine in the cattery for a few days.

[Weeble09]

Do you have either a really reliable friend who could have him for a day, or access to a large cage so you can contain him in that as well as barricade him in a small room? We are going to have to do that when we move, I'm not looking forward to it but keep telling myself it will soon be over.

[Ilovemycat13]

Thanks for all the tips!
A friend has offered to have him for the day but the problem with that is going from hers, to the cattery the next day, then the new house. I feel that’s even more stress on him.

I think il go with the one room thing. There’s one room I know will work well for that so will pop him in there whilst we move, maybe il stay with him whilst my partner deals with removal men and go from there. Il ask the cattery nearer the time if there’s any changes 😃😃 thanks all!

Oh and I will get some feliway too. @PissedOffNeighbour22 good to hear your cat didn’t care! Hopefully mine doesn’t either but he is a frightful little thing bless him

[ShadowInVain]

I hope your move goes well.

Mine have always been fine in a new house because all the old furniture is there and I daresay it smells the same to them.