Yes, you may hear some howling and complaining, but don’t worry. Cristine writes: Is it healthy, safe, etc to have a Indoor Cat and then an Indoor/Outdoor Cat in the same home? Key is minimizing the disruption to the cat (so keeping her in a separate room until the last possible moment — as described in the article) or even board her at a cattery whilst the move is taking place. MOVING HOUSE WITH YOUR MOGGIE . However, cats can adapt to living indoors, particularly if they are used to it from a young age. Even "well-bred" cats will venture into neighbors' yards when allowed to roam free, and the resultant neighborhood discord has in some cases caused cat owners to move. In her article, Should You Let Your Cat Go Outdoors? This post is focused on turning your indoor/outdoor cat (a cat that is already spending time in your house and familiar with it and everyone in it) into an indoor-only kitty. Some cats need to be confined indoors due to medical conditions, while others are just happier living an indoor life. The worst is over! Move your cat indoors slowly. Pay attention to these 10 tips for moving with a cat long distance so that both you and your dear pet have a pleasant stress-free move … The indoor cat to outdoor cat transition can be a lot easier if your cat has a safe spot he can go to outside. Free-roaming cats are used to freedom. Indoor life Ideally all cats would be allowed access to the outdoors to express their natural behaviour. Choose a secure spot (either near a seatbelt or safely on the floorboard) that has plenty of ventilation and nothing blocking the crate openings. Some cats need to be confined indoors due to medical conditions and others prefer an indoor life. This can work especially well if your cat is trained in using a cat door or cat flap, which then can connect to an enclosed area outside. If you’re relocating with your cat then don’t worry. Pay special attention to our practical advice when moving with cats so that the relocation trip proves to be smooth and stress-free not only for your feline friend, but also for you as their loving master. The first thing you want to remember is that bringing a stray cat into your home is NOTHING like adopting a cat from a shelter. New home environment, new territory will all work in your favour. While moving is very stressful for the two-legged members of your family, companion animals can find it even more difficult to move and adjust to new surroundings. The most obvious and commonly occurring reason is due to a house move, where it is recommended that cats be kept indoors for a few days to acclimatise before being let out, and while this can be inconvenient, is usually manageable as it is only for a short period of time! The house we are moving to is way bigger, so that will be nice for her... more rooms to explore. People who don't like cats will not tolerate cats using their gardens as litter boxes, and will sometimes resort to extreme measures to keep the cats out. If they become Even if your cat spends most of his time indoors, he still likely leaves the house for an occasional veterinary appointment or grooming visit. Indoor cats are at lower risk for injuries associated with the outdoor environment (cars, trains, dogs, predators, humans, etc.) Sadly, some indoor/outdoor cats respond to change by disappearing. I'm worried about how she will adjust to the move. Moving with cats across country is not only challenging for you as a pet owner, but it can also be rather stressful and even traumatic for your beloved cat. We have a 13 yr old Indoor Male Cat (declawed). House Cats that stay indoors exclusively are safer than outdoor cats that are exposed to many different types of dangers.However, Cristine from Georgia wrote in with an interesting question about Indoor Cats and Indoor/Outdoor Cats. Make the change from outdoors to indoors gradually, until the new way of life becomes old hat. Make the move to your new home with your cat in a safe, well-secured container, such as a cat carrier, to avoid danger of escape. Anyway, next month i'm moving to a new house in a different town. Enhance your cat’s indoor worlds. However, transitioning a cat who has spent most of its life outside isn’t always easy. For starters, you have no idea what the cat’s health history is, unlike cats at the shelter which have been checked out by a vet and vaccinated. Perhaps you’re adopting a stray or maybe you’re moving from a house to an apartment — in these circumstances sometimes it’s necessary to transition an outdoor cat to an indoor cat. My younger cat usally sleeps with me. Cats are all individuals. Traveling by car with cats long distance. After the move. That goes for moving the tamer variety outdoor kitty, too. I have just moved house with my 4 cats, I also have a dog and children. Introduce Your Cat to Its New Home Gradually . An indoor cat to outdoor cat transition doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult, as I will explain in this article. Moving house. Moving outdoor cats to a new home is more complex than indoor cats. Bringing Home a Stray Cat. If you have an indoor cat, a kitten, or have adopted a cat that’s now ready to start going outside, there are a few things to consider and be aware of if you want the transaction to be smooth and successful.. I am moving soon to a new home from an apartment. Many cats will adjust with little effort, while others will be miserable—and let you know it. Perhaps a section of your porch can be screened in for a safe place your cat can access through a cat door for anything he wants to. Part of the lifestyle change from street cat to house cat involves convincing felines that relocating inside is much more fun than being outside. And should I confine them to one room at first. I moved house 6 months ago and kept the cats in for all that time due to the garden being littered with rubbish, there had been work done to the property and the workmen dumped the rubble/rubbish and it wasn't cleared despite months of me asking. I have had her since late August and she was just spayed. ... House cats who are used to being popped into a carrier for an occasional trip to the vet or the groomers, they can handle the temporary isolation and confinement that comes with moving better than outside cats. Cats who spend all of their time indoors can become especially anxious when being forced to move to a new environment. We have an semi feral outdoor cat who adopted us years ago who we feed and take medical care. When you want to help a feral cat adjust to living inside, the following tips can help. If you are moving with a cat, there are some things to consider to reduce her anxiety, minimize problems, and help her settle in. Moving into a new home with a new family is a very stressful event for most cats. After moving house, how long should I keep my cats indoors? Use that lead time wisely to prepare the cats for the move. When it comes to settling your cat or dog into their new home after a move, remember to be conscious of their concerns. So you’re moving house, congratulations! An outdoor cat will have plenty of opportunities to hunt mice, insects, and other critters, but an indoor cat may need more help. I've recently moved back to my home village and have taken my indoor cat with me. His name is BW and he resents the indoors unless it's to cold or raining for his comfort. and are at far less risk of contracting parasites and infectious diseases such as the feline immunodeficiency virus. To move with a cat, start by setting out some empty moving boxes in your home a few weeks before your move, so your cat can explore and get used to them. He may also stay with pet sitters while you’re out of town, or maybe he enjoys play dates with other neighborhood cats. We understand that the first thing you might think about is whether your cat might struggle to find her way back to your new home, but we can help you with this. Now your objective is just to help your cat ease into the new home as seamlessly as possible. I’m not suggesting you move house, but if it is on the cards already, then it is a perfect time to transition your cat from outdoor/indoor to indoor only. Cats who stay indoors have longer lifespans than those who are left to roam outdoors. Now that your home is packed up and loaded, you can focus on keeping your cat comfortable during the drive. Your cat will likely benefit from the change, too. Pack the car with the crate in mind. I recently adopted a stray cat. Many people think cats are better off living outside, but between traffic, diseases, aggressive animals, and poisonous substances, cats who stay indoors live much longer than those who stay outside. The Comfort Zone Calming Diffuser for Cats & Kittens provides a sense of calm for the cat by releasing an odorless vapor that mimics a cat's calming pheromones. Engage your cat in plenty of interactive play with a wand toy or laser pointer. Title really says it all. If you aren’t home a lot or can’t commit to frequent play sessions, consider adding some battery-operated toys to your home. They might scratch at doors, claw at windows, yowl, and try to dash through open doors. Bw will be moving … Before you move, make sure she has adequate identification (a collar or microchip). I have 2 cats, one is an outdoor cat and is 12 years old, the other is an indoor cat that is 2 years old. Outdoors. On moving day, set up a safe room, like the bathroom, to keep your cat in, where it’ll be out of the way and can’t run out an open door. This can make it difficult for some cats to accept their new home. If your cat is allowed to venture outdoors, it can be quite worrisome for you that your cat might get lost when exploring their new neighbourhood. While some like heading out, others will be content to stay at home - especially if they've been indoor cats from a young age. The more stressed your cat is, the more gradual you’ll want to be about introducing them to their new space. These outdoor trips are opportunities for your furry friend to pick up fleas or ticks. We are relocating to Omaha next week. While it may be stressful to move cats from one outdoor environment to another, and though some attrition may well take place (cats lost who knows where or running back home, miles away though it may be), the majority of cats will comply with your human interventions. How long after I move should I keep my cats in before I let them out? On moving day, place kitty in the carrier and then in the car. However, i'm worried that when I let her outside she will get lost. Indoor cats. They often need a lot of help adjusting to their new homes. Here are 15 great tips for moving with outside cats. Follow your cat’s lead. The great outdoors presents a whole new environment to explore. Then setting up a room with furniture that smells familiar will help her readjust. Help Your Cat Settle Into Their New Home Moving into a new home, means new smells or old smells from other animals. Cats hate change so moving house is a difficult thing for some cats to comes to terms with. So, if your cat is having a hard time feeling comfortable in their new home, there are ways that you can help them to feel more at home. I got a really good job and we are buying a house. Cats are notoriously suspicious of change within their environment - even a newly decorated room, replacement sofa or Christmas tree can cause them unease. So, if 1) you are a cat owner and 2) you are about to move house, then you should definitely learn how to go about moving your cat to your new home. There are many circumstances in which keeping a cat indoors may be safer for a cat and therefore, arguably, better for the cat. Thank you to everyone at www.fabcats.org for helping compile this advice section.. Y ou know only too well how stressful moving house can be - and it's almost as bad for your cat!. We successfully turned several outdoor cats into indoor cats when we moved house. These pheromones help communicate to your cat that the area is safe. The trick is to match expectations: yours and the cats, so that you can both share the same space without the fur flying. Cat and then an indoor/outdoor cat in plenty of interactive play with a new house a. 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