Cats and Moving

If you thought moving were stressful, try moving with a cat in tow! Cats are territorial and hate change with a passion that borders on fiery. They can sulk for months afterwards and sometimes hate to travel in cars or by plane. Indeed, the people you meet along the way may hate cats too; from hotels that have a ‘No Pets’ policy to airlines with the same. However, people still have to move and no one wants to leave their cat behind, so how do you move with a pet?

Moving to a Nearby Location

If you’re just jumping to a new house within the same town or one that is nearby, you can rest a bit easier. Cats can be moved in this fashion easier because you won’t be traveling far and your cat won’t have enough time to wind itself up into complete distraction. However, if your cat is sensitive and hates traveling, then you should be ready to soothe your cat throughout the trip and have gentle food and water at the end of the trip since the usual foods can cause stomach problems. If possible, move your cat first and have someone stay with him while he explores the empty house and gets his scent on everything; if not, move your cat last and let it settle in one room with the door closed while all of the moving is happening. Always make sure to take time out to spend with Sir Anthony. Reassure him, pet it, let him sniff everything, and don’t pester him to eat or play. If nothing else, your cat might be upset with you for a while and want to sulk before forgiving you! Princes don’t like to be unsettled and they’ll let you know if they’re made uncomfortable in the slightest fashion.

Moving a Distance

If you’re going farther away, then you have a new set of problems on your hand, but they can be remedied. Always make sure your cat is in a carrier for the duration of the trip and that Anthony is in the front seat if possible so that he can be petted and has a hand to sniff every so often. Keep cats and children apart as the shrill voices and yelling will upset your pet even more. Drive carefully and as smoothly as possible; too much bumping and jostling will upset your cat. Remember, he’s already annoyed with you and feeling out of sorts. Best not to make things worse, which will only lengthen the time he’s angry at you. Finally, don’t worry about feeding him until you stop and even then, your cat may not want to eat much. This is normal and your cat will go back to eating when you’re in the new destination.

Once you’re in the new home, give your cat his own room and leave him with a buddy in there while the rest of the moving is going on. Don’t let your cat wander while the movers are doing their thing or he might get stepped on or even escape. Cats can take a few weeks to get acclimated to a new place, so don’t be surprised if you have an invisible cat on your hands for a while.

Cats and Hotels

This is a tricky one. If you’re moving a great distance, you’ll have to figure out what to do when it comes time to sleep. Some motels and hotels are cat friendly, some are with limits and some are flat out opposed to the idea. Try your very best to get a motel that is cat friendly; explain your situation and tell them that you’ll clean up any messes your cat makes. It’s likely that your cat will crawl in a corner and glare at you all night, but make sure to cover your bases. Offer food and put out a small litter box for your cat in a place that will be easy to clean (or with bags underneath it) and make sure your cat won’t attack the furniture.

If at all possible, plan out your moving trip with the motels planned in advance so you know which ones are pet friendly and which ones aren’t. This will cut down on a great deal of stress when it comes to travel day.

Cats may be sensitive to their environment, but they are also adaptable animals and when a move is carefully managed, they’ll settle into their homes like they never had one before it. Be understanding, caring, and patient, and your cat will come around to the new home before you know it.