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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Moving house next week - advice!

17 replies

jackjacksmummy · 01/04/2013 03:20

Our cat is an outdoor cat, only ever comes in for food and a sleep during the day then he's off out again.

What's the protocol for moving house?

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gobbin · 01/04/2013 13:10

I would keep him in for a week/few days, let him explore the new house a bit at a time til he's familiar with it.

Next, take him out in your arms for a short time, bring him in and feed him. Do this before each feed for a couple of days. Then let him out properly but before a feed. Call him in after 5 or 10 mins for food. Gradually up the time til he's in a routine. He may crawl the walls at first if he's used to being out all the time but stick a litter tray down and he should be ok.

We moved with our cat Aggie years ago and this worked. It's also worked for all the other cats we've had as kittens/adults in the last 16 years since we moved (6 in total).

Lovethesea · 01/04/2013 15:21

Yes, I agree, act as if he is a new cat from a rescue. Keep him in for 3-4 weeks, let him adjust to new sounds, sights, smells and really register it is home otherwise he might set off for the old place!

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 01/04/2013 16:33

Thank you, he knows something is up, he hasn't been home since yesterday evening! Seen him about in the garden but not interested in entering cardboard city!

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Lovethesea · 01/04/2013 19:35

Try and catch him long before you leave as well .... they have an annoying habit of disappearing when you need them to get in the cat basket!

Lonecatwithkitten · 01/04/2013 20:30

Is he microchipped if not get it done. If he is make sure you change your details on the register.

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 07/04/2013 21:31

We got here ok, spent all afternoon yesterday sleeping and chilling out in his bed. I shut him in the kitchen overnight and my autistic 6yr son let him out this morning thinking he needed to go out for a wee. (It was part of his routine at the old house to let him out and he didn't understand that he might not come back)
I haven't seen him all day but been calling and looking round the streets shaking his biscuits and tapping his food bowl.
He's not chipped - had an appointment booked for Wednesday.
He's done this before at our old house but he knew his area. I'm going to call the vets in the morning and put out posters and hope he's just hiding out in a garden somewhere nearby :(

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Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 07/04/2013 21:52

We got here ok, spent all afternoon yesterday sleeping and chilling out in his bed. I shut him in the kitchen overnight and my autistic 6yr son let him out this morning thinking he needed to go out for a wee. (It was part of his routine at the old house to let him out and he didn't understand that he might not come back)
I haven't seen him all day but been calling and looking round the streets shaking his biscuits and tapping his food bowl.
He's not chipped - had an appointment booked for Wednesday.
He's done this before at our old house but he knew his area. I'm going to call the vets in the morning and put out posters and hope he's just hiding out in a garden somewhere nearby :(

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Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 07/04/2013 21:52

Ooops double posted!

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thecatneuterer · 07/04/2013 23:22

Oh dear. That is bad news. We always recommend keeping cats in for at least three weeks when you move.

Make sure you leave food outside your house at all times so that, even if he doesn't know where he lives, he will hopefully be wandering round the area looking for food and come across it. Even if he just eats it and wanders off again he will hopefully remember where he found food and keep coming back.

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 07/04/2013 23:41

I thought about leaving food out but have seen other cats about who might eat it? Hmm

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thecatneuterer · 07/04/2013 23:58

Well if they do eat it then just keep filling it up. It really is the best way to get him back.

smokinaces · 08/04/2013 17:48

Any news on him? Mine got out about five days after we moved, hated it and came back and barely went out since.

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 08/04/2013 21:09

No news yet Hmm posters are up, vets have been called so just got to keep fingers crossed now.

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thecatneuterer · 08/04/2013 22:05

Are you leaving food out?

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 08/04/2013 22:55

Yep, put some out overnight but all gone in the morning, then was putting biscuits out during the day and the seagulls kept getting them! Put some more out tonight so will see in the morning I guess. A lot of my friends on FB have said theirs has done it before and they've come back a few days/weeks later so keeping positive

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thecatneuterer · 08/04/2013 23:03

At night it could well be foxes eating it. I would try to leave some out during the day. Can you leave it in an upturned cardboard box or something to keep it away from the seagulls?

Original poster
jackjacksmummy · 08/04/2013 23:18

Good idea, got plenty of boxes from the move do I'll do that in the morning Smile

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