Moving with cat- how to do it?

[AllMimsyWereThey]

We have a gorgeous, 7 year old neutered ginger Tom, who is used to having a cat flap and 24-HR access to the garden, and the woods beyond. We are moving a few hrs drive away at the end of this month, and will need to stop in a hotel at least one night. So do we put him in a cattery? Find a pet friendly hotel? And any ideas about how to help him adjust?

Keep him in for at least 6 weeks once you have moved. Not sure about the other. Cattery for a couple of days?

I would find a nearby cattery. You will need a safe room for him at the new house.

At least your taking him with you, some don't.

I would book him into a cattery for a few nights so that he misses all the furniture being moved into the new house.

Set up his favourite food, water bowl & litter tray in the new house and some familiar smelling blankets or cushions for him.

When he first arrives at the new house let him explore at his own pace. He'll spend a good few hours sniffing everything!

You'll need to keep him in for a few weeks so that he gets to know his new home and then when you have a day off open up the back door and go out into the back garden and sit out there while he explores outside. Stay within sight in case he gets spooked by something and then entice him back in with some food.

It's a worrying time & Sottocat took a few months to get used to the new garden & neighbourhood cats when we first moved here last year. She seems to have established her turf now & seems happy.

Good luck with the move

We moved 2 months ago with our very skittish cat used to free access to our doors. She went into a Cattery the day before the packers came and stayed there till the day after the move. I then kept her in for just under 4 weeks. She's actually very happy indoors and doesn't really go out apart from an hour or so in the evening, despite previously being out all day every day whatever the weather.

Thanks all, yes I knew we'd need to keep him in for a while. The last time we moved (2 years ago), he only lasted two days inside before starting a dedicated wee-on-everything campaign. We installed a cat flap after a week and he was back to his contented self. So I'm a bit worried about the indoors confinement!

Good advice about the cattery though, will have to look into that.