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

Original poster

Would welcome any tips for moving home with cat

31 replies

TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 19:09

Hi. I have googled of course, but ‘real life’ tips are invaluable
So far so good I think, TwoCat was moved last Friday 24th -hid for about an hour but soon found a lovely comfy spot and seems to have taken to new home nice;y, is scenting everything he can (with his face) I’ve opened all cupboards for him to have a good investigation.
Two Cat is 14 (i assume from chip info) very fit and healthy and very much a free roaming cat but loves sleeping all day, he’s always been lively come evenings
hes not eating much has weed a lot and has done three-five poos since Friday I guess the lack of exercise is affecting appetite and therefore less poos ? He’s normally eats a lot in the evening, loves cat milk so drinking well

I can’t comment about previous poos actually as he did them outside, so not sure if the poo output is normal or not !

he’s getting a bit restless in the evening enjoys looking out of the window, and I do his grooming and play routine
I’ve been told two weeks for lockdown
I’ve got a harness but I don’t think he will take to that so any tips from MN cat people most welcome
😻

OP posts:
SallyWD · 29/03/2023 19:20

I've heard you should actually keep them in for 4 or 5 weeks. I think 2 weeks is too soon. We kept our cat in for 5 weeks (the longest 5 weeks of our life!) and even then he made it back to our old house, which was only a mile away. All cats are different. Your cats sounds like they're settling more quickly than mine did. It took months for him to accept the new house.
If they do, at any point, seem distressed than Zylkene (a calming supplement) worked well for out cat.
Good lick, I'd start off by letting them out fgor short periods only to begin with so they don't feel overwhelmed.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 19:37

@SallyWD
five weeks 🤯…..it’s his fifth house move apparently …..I feel awful as he was so happy in the old place, it’s breaking my heart, funny thing is though he’s become so affectionate and wants to snuggle up to me every time i sit down, very rare for him but I guess normally he’d be out on the rampage in the evenings. He’s still sleeping with me every night too, was hoping he’d stick to his luxurious sofa arrangement I’ve made him (including a teddy bear duvet doubled up )

OP posts:
Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 19:39

@SallyWD thank you

OP posts:
Mumskisail · 29/03/2023 19:40

Keep him in for a long time. Get him used to a few favourite fleecy blankets now and put them out when he gets to his new home. Familiarity and familiar smells are key. You will need to be there and reassuring him, he will be okay ☺️

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 19:42

@Mumskisail we are already in new ‘pad’ I brought his fave throw and didn’t wash it …..but he likes his new fleecy duvet better 😻

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JemimaTiggywinkles · 29/03/2023 20:05

Mine didn't eat much for the first week or so. She got back to normal after that. I didn't let her out for 4 weeks though, and she normally loves being out. I made extra effort with her "wild" toys - a laser pointer and bits of string to chase.

Wolfiefan · 29/03/2023 20:08

Two weeks definitely isn’t enough. Is he microchipped? Don’t forget to change address on the chip.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 20:31

@Wolfiefan yes he’s chipped and I’ve updated the address, thanks that was on the tip of my list of ‘vitally important things to do’

Petlog is weird though makes you reset your password every time you log in and sends you a Verification code

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 29/03/2023 20:32

Yes it was on our list when we moved too! Hope he settles well.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 20:33

@JemimaTiggywinkles
crikey 4 weeks ! he’s going burko as it is after four days 🤯
hes just done a healthy four jobbies and is now rolling around two pounds lighter obviously 🤣

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Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 20:34

@Wolfiefan
hmmm reminds me must update car insurance tomorrow whoops !

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Bobshhh · 29/03/2023 20:34

We’ve kept ours in for 6 months now after a move 😳they settled really quickly and it’s a much bigger house and we don’t have a cat flap so it was just easier and then one month became two and then winter and here we are! So that’s very unhelpful. We also put put feliway plug-ins at key points around the house.

when you do let them out do it before a meal so they’ve got a reason to come back.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 20:35

@Bobshhh
aaaah that was always my strategy previously when he want on his nightly rampages - keep him hungry !
thank you

OP posts:
Oakbeam · 29/03/2023 20:42

I didn’t manage two days before he escaped out of the upstairs loo window. He was gone about six hours but came trotting back down the lane in the early hours of the morning. I didn’t bother keeping him in after that.

JemimaTiggywinkles · 29/03/2023 21:04

Tbf, the four weeks was partly because I didn't have a cat flap and it was winter so way too cold to have the window open all night. Mine prefers night time outdoors and sleeps in the house all day. After four weeks we compromised (me and the cat) and I had the window open for a couple of hours each evening.

Finally got a new patio door with a cat flap (12 weeks wait) so the cat is delighted to be allowed out whenever she fancies pouncing on dead leaves.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 21:08

@Oakbeam
thats must have been a very worrying 6 hours, great he came back (without a care in the world) I am being quite vigilant about windows, need some air round the place even though it’s so cold .

OP posts:
SoosanCarter · 29/03/2023 21:19

I read that, when you do first let them out, put used cat litter around the garden to help them remember where they live. I would also encourage them to sit on window ledges during the first lock-ins so they can get their bearings.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 29/03/2023 21:24

@SoosanCarter
thank you I was also given that advice from a work colleague so I do plan on saving some of the spent litter when the time comes. I use the wood pellets so it’s just like ‘sawdust’ when it’s been weed on and therefore will not be messy in the grass or anything

OP posts:
Ishouldbeoutside · 29/03/2023 22:15

Put butter on their paws when you first let them out. It helps them find their way back. Keep the cat in for at least three weeks and then only let it out for very short periods.

Oakbeam · 30/03/2023 09:39

To be honest, we have always taken our cats on holiday with us since I was a child (quite a few cats) and not lost one yet. So, based solely on my experience, I’m not sure how big the risk is.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 30/03/2023 20:59

@Oakbeam
taking a va’cat’ion ! I have Never heard of that how sweet ! 😻

thank you to all who have replied

OP posts:
WhenDovesFly · 30/03/2023 21:04

We kept ours in for less than two weeks when we moved, then spent a lot of time in the garden when she went out, so she could hear our voices. I was terrified when she left the garden but kept calling her and she soon came back.

Original poster
TwoMonthsOff · 30/03/2023 21:10

@WhenDovesFly
im actually thinking he’s ready for this - he’s been on the kitchen window sill this evening I cracked the window a few inches and he was sniffing the fresh so deeply he’s absolutely desperate to get out, I do feel for him as he’s a very active cat, when it suits - he’s also very street wise, I’m trying him with the harness tomorrow evening, it’s worth at least a try. I just thought at previous place huge enclosed garden but he didn’t know it was enclosed (he got though hedges) and always came back when I called him. I don’t want him getting depressed and unhealthy
thank you

OP posts:
A34 · 30/03/2023 22:38

Two weeks here - we moved just before Christmas. It was a struggle - Bigcat was desperate to go outside and would try to make a dash for freedom whenever we opened an outside door. We let them out when they were hungry first time, and went out with them. We then installed a cat flap and spent a few weeks persuading them it wasn't a portal to cat hell. They were both fine! Littlecat has decided to be an indoor cat now though, which is also fine.

Mixkle · 30/03/2023 23:20

I kept mine in two weeks. He ran back to our old house (30 min walk away).

I caught him took him back to new house and kept him in another week.

He got out and ran back to old area again.

I kept him in a month - he pissed all over my clothes in his fury but he did stay this time.