Relocating with a cat

[sweetpickle23]

I will shortly be moving across the country, roughly 200 miles.

Cat has never been in a car (not since we adopted him anyway approx 7 years ago) and is an indoor cat due to FIV so aside from our house/cat proofed garden he hasn't seen a great deal of the world. Don't know much of his history before we adopted him.

What is going to be the least stressful way to move him? We will be driving, but are there any tips or tricks to keep him chilled out?

When we arrive in the new house, how do I best settle him in?

Any advice welcome!

My parents moved 200 miles with their very highly strung beast. They got some gabapentin tablets from the vet as they were expecting him to to be a nightmare. He was as good as gold. He still makes the journey occasionally as my parents like to put him into a cattery that I use. He's never needed the tablets again, and actually quite enjoys watching the world go by.

It makes it so much easier that your cat is an indoor cat! You probably know the drill yourself, as much of the cat’s stuff wherever you want him to settle in the new house, bring bed, toys etc. best of luck op!

Gabapentin is absolutely your friend here! Good luck to you and the puss.

I moved with my 18 year old cat who has never lived anywhere else.
She was an absolute angel, especially as I felt really guilty about moving her from the only home she had ever known.
I got a cat harness in a basket that you plug in to the seat belt rather than a cage on the front seat as I felt then I could reach out and stroke her if she got upset.
She just settled down and went to sleep.
I put her on a puppy pad in her basket because she didn't understand what she was meant to do at the toilet stop outside.
I just changed it when she had a pee. If you think your cat is going to go bananas put them in the back, you don't want a cat attached to your face when you are driving.
I put her in the quiet spare room when we got there and she was fine, a few days later she was exploring the garden with me.
I bought a vest version of this harness:
https://justforpets.co.uk/trixie-car-cat-harness-red/