Moving house with a nervy cat

[Elektra1]

I’m moving house soon. It’s a simultaneous sale and purchase so I won’t have any time “left over” in the old house once I get into the new house. I have one very much-loved but rather skittish cat. She runs away and hides when a stranger comes to the house so a load of removals men in and out will be stressful for her.

Options on the day are:

1. the “bathroom transition” - shut in bathroom in old house with litter tray, food and water while the van is loaded and then go to new house and do the same while van is unloaded (but what if there’s a delay getting into the new house? Can’t just keep her in carrier for ages.)
2. Take her to a friend’s house the day before and leave her there till day after move (but then having to deal with 2 x unfamiliar houses might be even more stressful for her).
3. Cattery. She’s never been to one before.

Which seems like the least worst option?

Cattery. You know she’s safe. When I last moved house when it came to leaving we couldn’t find the cat. He’d got out. Thankfully the new people weren’t moving in for a few days and kindly let me keep a spare key and go back to the empty house the next day. But we were lucky that he came back.

What actually happens at a cattery? Are they just kept in a cage? My parents always had dogs and the few times they put them in kennels when going on holiday, the dogs always came home with fleas or worms or something and didn’t seem to have enjoyed it so I’m a bit apprehensive about a cattery

Photo of my little queen for the cat tax!

Get some gabapentin from the vets for the day. It will make it less stressful for her.

Just did the same with 2 cats. Put them in the carrier in the car whilst the movers were there, and then put them in a room at the new house, litter tray etc. They were in their carriers a long while but could set the air con to stay on in the car for them. They were good as gold and didn't take long for the to settle. The drugs really helped my super nervy cat. Also got some feliway and some spray of it for the car.

Most catteries have an enclosed area where the cat can hide away and then a 'run' or larger area where they can move around and stretch out. Do your research early because good ones book up.
I have a skittish cat and she manages well in a cattery. We have two that we are happy to use.
I would not risk the cat staying in the bathroom or with your friend. The risk of something going wrong is far too high. If she gets out and panics you might really struggle to get her back. If I were you I would book her into the cattery for a couple of days before and a few days after the move. There will be a lot of disruption before with lots of coming and going and the same after whilst you unpack and rearrange. You can always collect her early if everything is settled sooner. It will honestly be less stressful for you and her this way.

Cattery.

My cat hates the cattery.
We decided to try the bathroom transition route.
We had packers in day 1, and she was fine. She disappeared overnight - and was found wriggled between the packing boxes.
We then emptied our bedroom, and shut her in there with the ensuite. She often gets shut in rooms, and just waits quietly til someone realizes. This time she went absolutely bonkers until I sent the kids to sit up there with her too.

She was her normal protesting self in the car, waited paitently in her carrier while the removal guys unloaded, and was fine as soon as we released her. But the packing side wasn't great.

The cattery we use is runs all next to get other. A row of garden sheds at the back, with a shelf to sleep on, food, water and a litter tray, a window, and a catflap. In winter they shut the shed door and have a heater. Then they have a similar sized patch at the front (with solid, clear, panels between the neighbors) for a bit more space. As much as anything, I trust the owner. Been using her since around 2000, and never had a cat come back with fleas etc.

I'd go look at a local cattery (or 2 if you've got them nearby) and see.
From what you've said, you stand a chance of her hiding and not being able to find her. You also risk her bolting out if your friends door if they aren't very careful.

I think take her to your friend’s house. Set her up in a quiet closed room, with litter, food and some familiar possessions eg cat tree.

Better than being shut in the bathroom because there is risk of escape if somebody forgets and opens the door. Also, less banging and bumping and less stress for you.

Better than a cattery because there will be no other cats around and she will be able to have more of her own things with her at your friend’s house.

The thing about friend’s house is that it’s a rental and when my cat is shut in a carpeted room, she scratches up the carpet by the door.

I’ve called the vet and they are giving me some calming medicine for her (not sure what it is but they said to give it to her for a week or so) and think I’m going to have to hope for the best with the bathroom method as the cattery has no availability.

Mine had a month on feliway after returning to old house twice. Worked well

My cat was skittish with strangers when we moved, he has since come out of his shell. We did the bathroom thing, wish we had got some medication for him, might have helped. The bathroom thing worked well for us though.