Tips for moving an insecure cat

[MitheringMytryl]

Hi folks,

Our cat has been with us for 5 years but was a rescue with an unknown past. Her physical injuries and the way she was found suggest she had a really rough time of it before she came to us :(

Anyway, she was only a few weeks old when she was rescued and she now has a nice life, but she is still quite nervous and does not cope well with any changes to her environment.

We moved once before when she was a year old and she reacted very badly. She hid under the sofa (which is low to the ground so will have been an uncomfortable squeeze) for about 48 hours, and wouldn't even go for a wee or drink water. Once she emerged, for weeks she continued hiding for most of the time, and was clearly very unhappy. She was quite aggressive as well, which is unlike her.

Admittedly we didn't plan the move very well. It was a big rush and she was essentially shoved into her carrier, which she is fine with, and then we let her out into the new place, next to her litter tray and food/water dishes.

I would like to make it easier for her this time. Does anyone have any tips on how to help her feel more secure?

Make sure you have a room at the new place with as much of her stuff as possible so toys, scratching post, beds etc. Then spend as much time in there as you can with her for a day or two. I think cats are more attached to people than we think and so long as she knows you are still there and providing care she will be fine.

@helpfulperson

Make sure you have a room at the new place with as much of her stuff as possible so toys, scratching post, beds etc. Then spend as much time in there as you can with her for a day or two. I think cats are more attached to people than we think and so long as she knows you are still there and providing care she will be fine.

Thank you

What helpful person said.

Also, she has been with you for 5 years now so may have become more attached to you and less insecure.

Cats can be territorial and have a large territory can be stressful fir them so you may want to consider confining her to one room for a couple of days and then open the rest of the house up to her slowly.

And, depending on how you are moving, consider not buying new (unfamiliar, differently scented) furniture until she has settled.

Whatever room you choose to release her in, make sure she does have a good hiding spot (ideally one that Is still accessible to you) as hiding is less stressful for her than having to be out in the open . That is why a small space, just one room, is less stressful for a couple of days.

I've always found felliway very good. I used to have a plug in every year from October to November when we had a cat that was scared of fireworks. I could tell when DH accidentally left it unplugged or it ran out because she became much more skittish and hide. I also used the spray on the couch and our bedding to stop her weeing there. The vet said she was trying to mix her scent with ours as a comfort which was sweet but we didn't want to replace the couch more than once. The spray has a very strong alcohol scent so if you use it, best to do it when you don't need to stay in the room.