It’s easy to forget to create a plan of action for your furry four-legged friend when you are moving house. Whilst you have been attempting to fit all of your belongings into boxes he’s been finding his home vanishing around him. As stressed owners equal stressed pets. Rhiannon Birch, cat owner and storage expert, describes methods of keeping your cat relaxed during your house move.
The most important thing to remember when moving house with a pet cat is to keep it in the house. The last thing you want is to be desperately searching under bushes for your cat at 5 am in the morning you’re moving out. It doesn’t matter if it usually never stays out long or if he always stays in the garden because it is almost certain that on moving day he will vanish. I think the expression is ‘sod’s law’. Obviously you don’t want to keep him constantly indoors from the day you give your four weeks’ notice but a week before you are set to leave keeping him indoors can save a lot of stress.
When moving day comes, keep your cat safe and secure inside the room you plan to empty last and most importantly keep a note on the door so family, friends and removal men are warned. If possible stay with your cat whilst the removal men are emptying the house and when it comes time to empty the final room just gently put him into a pet carrier. Aim to have him in there for as short as possible and try not to leave your cat unsupervised as it may lead to a stressed-out feline. A few cat treats could be helpful and lining the pet carrier with the cat’s usual bedding can help keep it feeling familiar and safe.
Before your moving day, it might be helpful to go for a quick check-up at the vets. It’s a good chance to update them with your new address too. If your cat is prone to getting agitated it may be worth picking up some calming tablets to slip into its food.
If you find yourself with a gap between moves we can offer a secure, safe and dry location to store your furniture but unfortunately, it’s no cats allowed. However, we can help you to find a local cattery where you can check him in the day before the move and collect him again once you’ve settled in. Another option could be pet-friendly hotels if there’s only a few days gap.
When you arrive at the new property, explore the house together but don’t crowd him. Make sure all windows and doors are tightly shut and just let him roam around getting used to the new place. You should try to keep him indoors for approximately a week so that he has a chance to adjust to his new home. There are plenty of opinions on how to climatise your cat to its new area. The most famous is probably putting butter on their paws or even walking them around the area on a lead first. You can try these but the best thing to do is to ensure you have an up-to-date number on his ID tag.