Aug
13
2008
Moving House
When moving house don’t forget to take into account the sensitive needs of your cat. Cats are very territorial creatures and like the safety and security of their own surroundings so imagine the sheer terror and panic that ensues when you uproot them to a new home.
My cat, Tikka, is an old hand at moving. In the past few years we have moved three times and he’s handled it relatively well. Here are my tips for making sure its as stress free as possible for you and your cat:
- Plan, plan, plan! Make sure you plan exactly what you are going to need for the journey from your old home to your new abode. Put your cat in a cage or crate for the journey and take a first aid kit with you just in case. If the journey is likely to be a long one make sure you’ve taken a bowl for water, a bottle of fresh water and some cat food. Line the crate with newspaper as most cats don’t like travelling and will show their dislike by urinating or worse in the crate!
- Make sure you’ve packed your cats belongings together and the box is clearly marked so that you can find all his familiar things straight away. Set up his bed and litter tray in a quiet part of the house and leave him to explore. Do not let him go out for a bout 10 days but do allow him to survey his new kingdom through a window.
- If there is not cat flap then get one as soon as you can. Once your cat is free to explore outside he’ll like the security of being able to bolt back into the house when he gets a bit too nervous.