Moving house

[JemimaTiggywinkles]

I have a very timid cat. She hates strangers, loud noises, even me coming home at an odd time of day. But she’s so lovely when it is just me and her! I need some help with moving house. She’s normally an outdoor cat, but obviously I’ll keep her in for a few weeks. My worry is about moving day and the days after.

I have a cat carrier so can move her safely, and there’s a room in the new house (a bedroom) I’m not moving any furniture into so she can be in there while the movers are dropping stuff off. But I don’t want that room to be where she stays the whole time she’s not allowed out because she’d be trapped in a single room rather than allowed the whole downstairs (plus I need to renovate it). My personal preference would be to keep her in that room while I move and then have downstairs as her space for a week, then whole house for a week, then let her out.

Am I being a bad cat owner?! Do I need to let her have that room as a space to get to know, or will she be okay if there’s one day (actually probs a few hours) of that room followed by a fortnight of different rooms?

If she's very nervous, I'd put her in a cattery out of the way!

I had a timid cat who was allowed a free run of the new house when I moved. For three months she spent daytime in my bedroom and evenings wherever I was. I think your cat will find where she feels safest in the places that are available to her but putting her in the cattery for the actual move might be kindest, as would having familiar bedding, blankets, toys etc available when she is allowed out.

I later moved house with three cats who were not fazed by being in a new place in the slightest. They did spend the actual move day elsewhere though.

We have two scaredy-cats and moved last year. At each end they were shut in a bathroom with a "keep out" sign on the door. They had food and water and a litter tray but were so terrified by all the noise and strange voices they just hid. Once the movers were gone we let them have the run of the new house.

Thanks folks. I can’t use a cattery because I’m moving on Friday and they’ve all been booked up for ages. I’ll stick with plan A - keep her in the unused bedroom while I move. She hates toys, but has 2 blankets, 2 beds and obviously her food, water and litter tray.

I’ll probably keep her downstairs for a couple of days (and while I’m out) but let her roam the rest of the place after that. It’s only a little house so shouldn’t be too overwhelming for her.