Moving House With a Cat

Moving home with a cat can be difficult for both you and your feline friend. With their familiar surroundings now completely different, it will take a bit of time for them to become accustomed to the move. Within this blog, we aim to provide tips on moving house with a cat so that the transition to your new home can be as seamless as possible. 

Why is moving a cat to a new home stressful?

Your cat is used to the familiar smells and surroundings of your previous home, so entering a new home with unfamiliar scents can be confusing. On top of this, the movement of you bringing things into the home and new people entering the property can leave your cat stressed. 

Because of this, it’s important to think about extra ways you can care for your cat before, during and after the move.

Before you move

Before the move, you should determine whether you’d prefer to put your cat in a cattery until you have fully moved all of your belongings over or bring them along with you for the move. Booking your cat into a cattery means there is one less thing to worry about on moving day, however, the distress that some cats feel in catteries might discourage you from going down this route. It is ultimately down to personal preference and your cat’s own personality. 

Whichever decision you make, you will have to put your cat in the dreaded travel carrier. Usually a trigger for fear, you could help to remove the negative associations with the carrier by having it visible for a few weeks prior to them going in it. By housing treats in there, or a calming spray, they should become more tolerant to the carrier.

Another factor to consider before moving is whether you need to change the address on their collar tag and if microchipped, this address should be updated too. 

During your move

Once you’ve begun moving into your new home, it’s important to think about the best way to adjust your kitty to the new space. We recommend choosing one room for your cat to inhabit where little activity will be happening if possible, so they can avoid seeing movers and hearing all of the noises they’re not used to. You should let any removal company or workers know about your cat’s room so they do not enter. 

This room should have:

• Food
• Water
• Litter tray
• Their favourite blanket or cushion with their scent on 
• Toys

Do not be worried if your cat tries to hide to begin with or wants to stay in their carrier, it will take them a bit of time to feel safe in their surroundings. If they look like they are ready to receive affection from you, make sure to make time within your busy moving period to give them the attention they’re used to. 

For cats, scents are very important for them to feel safe in an environment. Before letting your cat snoop around, you may want to rub a cloth gently on their chin and then rub this onto surfaces at cat height, such as doors or sofas. This could help them feel more at home quicker. Once you’ve unpacked and feel like it’s a good time to let your cat explore the rest of the house, leave their door open so they can have a safe space to return to if they need to. 

After the move

The days after the move, you should make note of your cat’s behaviours and look out for any signs of stress. The main signs of stress in cats are:

• Becoming withdrawn or hiding.
• Eating less.
• Excessive meowing, hissing, or growling. 
• Scratching the furniture.
• Vomiting and/or diarrhoea. 
• Poor coat condition including bald patches or sores.
• Changes in toileting e.g. going too often or going outside of the litter tray. 
• Aggressive behaviour.

If you think your cat is not coping well with the move, contact your vet for further support. Take this as a reminder to change vets in plenty of time before your move if you are moving further afield. 

Moving house with an outdoor cat

Moving house with an outdoor cat can be especially challenging if they are desperate to get outside but you are worried they won’t find their way home. It is important your cat becomes accustomed to the house before you let it outside. 

To successfully let your cat outside your new property, we recommend you:

• Start by leaving the door open to see if they are interested in going outside without forcing them.  
• Let them out before having eaten, so they will return to you for food shortly. 
• Keep initial outings short for a few minutes and watch to see where they go. 
• Have a collar tag and/or have them microchipped in case they wander too far.

How long to keep a cat inside after moving

Some cats will adapt quickly to the move, whereas others will take a bit more time. Overall, the main aim is to prevent your cat from making its way back to your previous home. If your new home is not too far from where you used to live, you may benefit from keeping them inside the house for longer until they become adjusted to the new space. It is usually suggested that a few weeks is sufficient for your cat to become familiar with their new home and to associate it with safety. 

Moving house with an older cat

Moving an older cat to a new home can be a particular worry for new homeowners, especially if their cat has only known one property throughout their life. The main tip for dealing with older cats is to take the process slowly.

It is useful to separate your cat from the madness of moving by keeping them in a room in your current house in the days leading up to the move. When you do move, there are products on the market such as plug-in diffusers which release pheromones to help your cat feel calmer. After you’ve moved, make sure to keep an eye on your feline to see if they are showcasing any of the signs of stress outlined above. 

Butter on paws: myth or fact?

A common belief is that putting butter on your cat’s paws will distract your cat from the move and take away the smell of their old home. This theory has been debunked and could even cause them more stress by having to lick the grease off their paws. Not only this, but your wonderful new home will have buttery paw prints everywhere! 

Patience is the biggest tip of all

We hope our blog has helped you to prepare to move into your new home with your cat. Fundamentally, it will take time for your cat to adjust to its new surroundings so patience is the best way to work through it. Only by experiencing the move will you know what works for you, so what’s your best tip for moving with a cat?

For more insightful blogs on moving home, check out our collection from County Town Homes, where you can find useful checklists such as Moving House and which organisations to contact with Address Changes.