Best way to move cats

[Icedgemandjelly]

Hi
We are moving early next week, but we don't have to give back our existing house the same day as we move to new. There's overlap

Should we leave cats until the next day after we move in empty house (with food blankets etc but not us and nothing else in house) and then collect them.
Dh thinks they'll be lonely and scared.

I'm just wondering how we'll catch them as they'll take themselves off while removal people are here. If we come back next day might be better.

The evening of the move will be tricky as we are moving 1 hour away and it may be too late.

I think it's too late to book cattery and they've never been. Surely worse than empty house??

Help what should we do???

would it be possible for a cat sitter to come round? maybe stay in the house for the evening to make sure they are okay and to give the cats some company?

The night before you move, shut them in one room with food and litter trays.

Before the removal men come, put them in their boxes and put them in your car. They'll be fine for a few hours in their boxes.

When you get to your new house, you could shut them in a room or even the bathroom with their food and litter. (Put a big sign on the door DO NOT OPEN so the removal men don't open the door).

After the removal men have gone, make sure all doors and windows are closed then open the door of the room they have been shut in so they can explore at their leisure.

What Tea says. That’s what we’ve always done, confined them to one room. And get a couple of Feliway plug ins to stick in the new house as soon as you get there, including in the room you put them in there.

If they’re allowed outside, I’d keep them in a few days before you move. They’ll have to stay inside in your new place while they adjust for a few weeks anyway. Definitely don’t allow them outside while the house is being emptied - all the upheaval could scare them off for a few days.

I would take them with you but do as PPs have suggested and lock them in one room with strict instructions that the door isn’t opened. We had to do this when we relocated, I put a big sign on the door and barricaded it for good measure

Do not let them out on moving day! I've heard of way too many cats left behind that way when they were nowhere to be seen when owners moved...

As a PP says I would also put them in carriers when the removal men come and move them when you drive over, and then be very careful again at the new house to avoid escapes - don't open carriers until they can be shut in one room with the removal people not going in there.

Thanks everyone. That sounds a good idea about the room