moving with a cat

[simba928]

My grandparents are finally moving after years of talk about it. Its not a far move, maybe 10-15 minutes away. They have been in their current house for over 40 years (my grandfather bought it and moved in while my grandmother was in the hospital after having my dad). They have a cat thats maybe about 5 years old? She was a stray and found her way to my grandma's house. My grandma started feeding her (even though she insisted that she didn't want the cat to stick around). Then we took the cat to the vets with the intention of making sure she was spayed and getting her vaccinated, then letting her loose again. Well, that plan didn't quite work out and she has been with us ever since. Every chance she gets, though, she will sneak out. She won't go anywhere, just stay on the porch. When we move, though, if she gets out, who knows where she'll go. We plan to have a shoebox packed with all her stuff so that when we get to the new house, it will be easily accessible and we can get it out right away. We have a cage for her that we will keep her in on moving day. She also has these pads that she likes to lay on so we'll put them throughout the house and one in the cage.

Anybody have any tips for moving with her, getting her used to the new house, etc.? I think with her it will be a little more tricky than usual since she was original an outdoor cat and still loves to be outside. Any advice to make the move easy on all of us, including the cat (her name is Kitty), is greatly appreciated. I'm already stressed out because my grandparents are packrats and have things from like 30 years ago that aren't even theirs. They won't get rid of anything that they don't know where it came from (whoevers it is might want it eventually, even though its been wedged somewhere under the bed for the past 25 years) or they might possibly need it in the next 50 years, even though they haven't even looked at it since that day they brought it home 20 years ago. LOL.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Could they bring the cat to their "new" house to "explore" before the move?

 

[justplaingoofy]

When I've moved I'd put the cat in one room with litter/food (not next to eachother) for a day or two. Then I moved him to another room, etc.. After a couple of days he'd have run of the house...

 

[simba928]

Those aren't bad ideas. I'll tell my grandma them. Keep 'em coming!

 

[LK03]

Oy, I have no idea. This is one of the things that scares me about letting cats outside, where will they go? I've heard of cats that trekked across country to go back home after their owners moved. I don't think I'd let that cat out for a long time to make sure she knows that's her new home. If she got away and didn't come, I'd definitely go back to the original house to see if she went back "home."

 

[Hannathy]

It may not be thrilled with this idea but I'd still do it, put it on a rope or leash and take it outside- after it has settled inside the house, and let it smell around and get it's own scent around the new house. I would do this a few times so it learns this is it's new home. My Mom was adopted by the same kind of cat and when she passed away I brought it to my house and it became a totally indoor cat. It still likes to try to escape occasionally- to go roll around on the patio and gobble grass so it can come in and puke on the carpet! One night it did slip out when I brought in groceries late at night it is all black and not only did it know his new house but he spent the night on the porch! They learn quickly.

 

[Sherri]

Can you get a cat leash and harness and walk her around the new house so she gets a sense should she escape? This was she will know her surroundings.

 

[Virgo10]

When we moved from Massachusetts to Florida, we brought all 16 of our cats with us. All of them went out on the lanai (porch to you northerners). We gave them a lot of extra TLC for the first couple of weeks because, while some were like ho hum, we moved, others were totally freaked out. They had access to the entire house but I let them make up their mind when it was time to explore.

None of my cats go outside so losing them wasn't a consideration. Could your grandparents keep the cat in a closed room while the moving is going on? As for letting the cat out, well I'm against that but if people are going to do it, nothing I've said so far has changed their minds.

I'd wait as long as possible and possibly go outside with the cat the first few times. Gradually increase the out time and maybe leave its favorite food by the door. Cats navigate mostly by smell. If it can smell its food, it will know where home is. Eventually it will know the way home with or without the food.

Just a few reasons cats should be inside pets.

Dogs
Feline AIDS
Automobiles
Feline Leukemia
Rabid Animals
Cats are the #1 killers of songbirds.

Best of luck with your grandparents' move.

 

[RadioNate]

we've moved several times with our cats. My advice is to move the cat last. Leave the cat in a bathroom w/food and litter while the moving activities are happening. After the familiar furniture and smells are at the new house move the cat into a bathroom or other small enclosed room there. With all the in and out happenings of a move I'd keep the cat locked up until you can be sure it won't escape. Then let it explore on it's own.

After a few days let it outside on a leash or with a harness. Let it explore the immediate areas and let it get to know the smells of the new home.

Just take everything slowly.

 

[simba928]

Thanks everyone! We actually do have a leash and harness for her. The only problem is that she refuses to walk when its on. I think that stems back to when we first got her (long story, but basically she had a leash on, ran away, then got stuck back in the woods. If I hadn't heard her doing backflips in the bushes trying to get loose, she would probably still be back there.) We'll probably keep here in the house in the beginning (theres a finished basement, so maybe we'll keep her down there) and then once everything settles down, I'll start bringing her out and putting her in the cage outside.

Thanks again! Anymore advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. If the next couple of weeks goes how today went, it should be an interesting move. LOL.

 

[Robinrs]

Adding my 2 cents...

I moved from NY to Atlanta with 2 cats. I used a vet recommended anesthetic to relax them on the plane ride down.

I moved since then with 2 to 4 cats about 10 times.... I LIKE TO MOVE!! I know, no one else does!

I agree, move them last. I put the babies in a bathroom with food, litter and water with a big note on the door to not touch this room. When EVERYTHING is gone I make sure that one room in the new place is set up with things they recognize and love.

All of my cats have different temperaments. One is very used to the world and can be taken in my arms. The other three are crazy, for different reasons so they can only be taken in cat carriers. I drive them myself to the new place and let them loose in the appointed room. Cats like to have their territories around them or they will not be comfortable. Make sure the room they're in does not have places they can hide and would be hard for you to reach them.

I've found even the most finicky of my animals gets adjusted in just a few days. I had one that was so scary that we had to hold him in the parking lot and let him pee because that's what he'd do when he was nervous!! He had a habit of finding a hiding place in every new home for about a week, only coming out to eat and go to the litter box. Even he liked the place after awhile.

Make sure they have access to a window. It's the indoor cats lifeline.

Have fun! Moving cats is a comedy show in itself!

 

[simba928]

LOL. Robin. That would certainly be an interesting move with your cats. LOL. I haven't been to the new house, but my grandma said in the front of the house there is a big window with kind of like a window seat area (a thick ledge inside the window) so I have a feeling that will be the cat's favorite place to be. We might try and hang the bird feeders within view of that window and she'll be one happy cat.

 

[Planogirl]

We've moved many times with cats including to country places where they were allowed out at will. They never disappeared or really had much trouble with the move but I do like the idea of locking the cat up in a room for a day or two until all of the confusion has died down. The cat will likely get out quickly anyway, most outdoor cats have a tendency to keep a bit of that "outdoorness" no matter what.

 

[Planogirl]

We've moved many times with cats including to country places where they were allowed out at will. They never disappeared or really had much trouble with the move but I do like the idea of locking the cat up in a room for a day or two until all of the confusion has died down. The cat will likely get out quickly anyway, most outdoor cats have a tendency to keep a bit of that "outdoorness" no matter what.