When the flurry of unpacking is over, gradually give your cat access to the rest of the house, one room at a time. 2 Posts . When he begins to explore, offer your cat attention, treats and playtime. Cats are very much creatures of … I would say no. Do not try to intervene in the squabbles, as the cats need to work things out for themselves. 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. Since cats don’t like change or new environments, and these can cause them stress, I think it’s always ideal and best to find a petsitter, where they can stay home. Choose a sort of home-base for your cat in the beginning, and keep their things, litter box included, in there. This will help the cats get used to the idea that there is another cat around. Be sure to provide food, water, a bed, and a litter box all in that contained space. Cats are very territorial and, unlike dogs, do not make friends quickly. Spend time with your cat in his home-base room, at first doing low-key activities like reading or watching TV. Is your current cat likely to accept another cat? It is so difficult to be able to predict whether a cat will accept another into its household. Your little cat needs two to three times as many calories and nutrients as adult cats, making proper nutrition particularly important. When you get to your new location, be sure you know the location of the nearest pet emergency clinic just in case something unexpected happens in the middle of the night during your first few days in the new home. Helping your cat settle in: Keep your cat indoors for at least two weeks to get used to the new environment; Provide small frequent meals; Maintain routines adopted in your previous house to provide continuity and familiarity; Help your cat feel secure in her new home by spreading her scent throughout the house. Your veterinarian can administer any necessary vaccinations and provide you with more parasite control. That way you know you will reach the new destination, where hopefully your cat will feel better, making moving house with a cat less stressful. Help your new cat to acclimate to the scent of the old cat using footwear. If your cat is an adult and is established within your home as the only cat, then you should think carefully about introducing another feline. Discussion Starter • #1 • Jan 18, 2010. In case you have moved house with more than one cat, then you should keep all of them together so that they can provide comfort and give courage to each other. An adult cat poses different challenges than a kitten. When you describe your cat as a mostly outdoor kitty, I’m going to assume that the cat comes indoors some of the time and is OK with being picked up, taken to the vet and so forth. This will engender you to the cat's affections. Cat Plus Cat. Hi, New poster here, so hello everyone. However, if this does happen, it’s best to have your pet’s latest records with you so the vet you find at your destination won’t have to waste time trying to track them down from your home vet. That makes me a little less worried but I still feel so incredibly guilty for leaving mine alone while my boyfriend and me will be on vacation for two weeks soon. Bring toys or bedding that both cats use to allow the other to become accustomed to the new scent. But seriously, could you try and reach a compromise with the neighbours and say to them that you don't mind that Rosie visits them during the day when you're out at work but not to feed her and the moment they realise you're home they need to gently evict her from their house. 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. Trust us. Of course, finding someone to come to your house to change the litter, feed, and play with your cat is not always an option. If you have the opportunity, take your cat with you to your new house before the furniture arrives. When you first bring the new cat home, put the resident cat in a separate room to give the newcomer time to check out the house without interference. If a cat had to choose between moving to a new house with you or staying in the same house with a new owner, the cat supposedly would select staying in the same house. Introducing the New Cat to Your Dog. For the health and happiness of all, leave your cat at home. Clean up the catnip once he has finished so it remains a special treat. Resident cats may develop house-soiling problems and there may be occasional squabbles. Kittens get everything they need from a mother cat’s milk for the first four weeks of life and are usually able to chew dry food by 6 to … 3. After the cats have been exposed to one another’s scents via blankets or other items, you may want to allow the older cat access to the closed door of the kitten’s safe room if they don’t already have access to that part of the house. That goes for moving the tamer variety outdoor kitty, too. Awesome! If traveling prompts your cat to yowl and scream, it may not be fair to ask your furry friend to endure this experience on a regular basis. Cats spend most of their days sleeping, eating, snuggling up with their human, and sleeping some more.But when your outdoor cat is not lounging in his favorite spot you … Moving Kittens. But, sometimes our furry friends need freedom to roam! When you are moving house with a cat, you want to keep them restricted to a safe room on the big day. 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. Before you get another cat, think about the personality of the cat or cats you already have. Ensure that your cat is up to date on vaccinations and parasite control. Isolate your cat from the moving mayhem. Diana L. Guerrero author of Resources for Crisis Management for Animal Care Facilities, says the decision to add a new cat should be based on your present cat's personality and its predisposition toward other animals. Moving kittens is a very normal mother cat behavior, even though it can be very unnerving for us humans to see a mother carrying baby kittens in her teeth.If your cat is doing this with her kittens, and it is causing problems, you should try to make her happier with the spot she is in. Your cat loves you. Leave his carrier open in one of the rooms so he can get into it if he chooses. Cats bond with their owners partly because they provide for them. Lay a trail of catnip from one room to the other so he can follow it as he explores. None of the solutions are perfect, but that does not mean that you should not have a lovely vacation and that your cat will not be just fine when you return. of your cat’s things, such as his cat bed, toys, and cat dishes, this can help him acclimate to his new surroundings quicker. If you can, be the one to feed and water them. Adopting an adult cat? Research has shown that cats prefer their homes to their owners. It is absolutely essential that the cat not be traumatized by the dog. Moving is a stressful process for your cat, so you will want to make sure that she is as healthy as possible. Moving is stressful for everyone, your cat included. As was the case in your old home, you may choose to place the traveling container in the room or leave a closet door ajar so that your cat can find a more secretive place to hide. Choose Option #2 (your cat goes to someone else’s house) if… Your cat gets along well with other people and in new environments; Your cat gets along well with other animals (if the other person has animals) Take it easy the first day – it’s a good idea to allow some time for the pet to get used to the new environment. Kind of hurtful to think about, but true. Spend a good amount of time in the room as well, interacting with your cat and doing other normal activities. 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. Outdoor cat house The indoor cat to outdoor cat transition can be a lot easier if your cat has a safe spot he can go to outside. If you have another cat in the house, it’s best to take a slow, staged approach to introductions. Keep your cat restricted to one safe room in your old home that is quiet and less chaotic (for example, a spare bathroom or a laundry room). Keep treats and reward the cat for coming up to you. Take your cat to the veterinarian. The last thing you would want or hope for is that you cat get sick when you finally reach your destination. Even if your cat is a chilled out indoor pet, the arrangement becomes less viable if your cat hates being in the car. Thus…. As your cat eases in, curiosity should replace fear and they’ll be ready to expand their explorations. With time it should be possible to introduce a new cat into an existing household, but this may take a great deal of time and very gradual introduction. Oh, Courtney, you pose a difficult question. Allow the cats to smell each other under a door, but do not let them have physical contact. Thanks for your comment Judy. There are upsides and downsides to taking cats to pet boarding facilities. You don't have to have the cat on your lap, but you can play next to a couch or some other high are you are happy to have them play. 1 Caring for your cat 84001 2 Welcome home 84002 3 Moving house 84003 4 Feeding and obesity 84004 5 Keeping your cat safe 84005 6 Neutering – family planning for felines 84006 7 When to let go 84007 8 Microchipping 84008 9 Understanding your cat’s behaviour 84009 10 Managing your cat’s behaviour 84010 11 Cats living together 84011 If you are ready and in the position to adopt another cat, we can tell you that there are lots of benefits to doing so. If you’re moving far enough away that you’ll be switching veterinary clinics, get your cat’s records ahead of time to keep with you. Cats, as a species, have become more socially flexible during the process of domestication to an extent, but individuals still vary hugely in how accepting they are of other cats. Hey, it's good to hear that you've made good experiences with leaving your cat at a friends place and that your cat dealt with it just fine. When it comes to the day of the move it is especially important to isolate your cat … Deep clean. While all the packing is taking place keep your cat in one room with everything she needs. Also, your cat is feral and this may cause additional problems if you take it to another cat's home. Also, don’t forget to update your cat’s identification tag with any new details, if required. 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