Moving houses is very tiring, and when you have a cat in your home, it becomes very stressful. Use these ways to comfort your cat before, during, and after the move.
Like some humans, cats find moving to a new place very stressful. They are territorial creatures who develop affection for a place where they spend most of their time. If you are moving to a new house and have a cat, it is important that you set aside your anxiety aside and help your cat, because they need it.
Cats are not known for having an affinity to change; it is not something they prefer. It can scare them away and even run away from your new home. Therefore, as a cat owner, moving to a new house is much more stressful for you than it is for your friends who do not own cats.
Is the idea of moving to a new place freaking you out? Here are some tips that can help you lower your cat’s stress levels and make moving to your new house a little less hectic.
Preparing the Cat for the Move
The way you have to pack your things and prepare your bags when you are shifting to a new place, you need to prepare your cat too. As the cats are not very fond of change, you must try to acclimate your cat to the house-shifting scene.
Several things can help you comfort your cat and help them adjust to the entire scenario. Shifting to a new place means that you will have to deal with a lot of cardboard boxes, which might make your cat curious. By helping the cat have fun with the moving boxes, you can get rid of your cat’s nosy and skittish behavior. Thinking of how you can do that? Well, you do not have to do much as most cats love cardboard boxes, but when you are moving a lot of boxes around, it might set them off. Play with their favorite toys around the boxes and even place some treats around the boxes to make them get familiar with the smell.
Cat’s Routine
It is smart to consider a pheromone therapy to calm your cat down as it will keep them calm and stress-free while you pack up stuff for the move.
Another important you need to make sure of is that you do not derail your cat’s routine. Provide your cat with what they are expecting from you, and everything will proceed smoothly. If the move disrupts your cat’s routine, be prepared to face your anxious cat because it will. Once you start observing some negative changes in your cat’s behavior, you must talk to your vet. Tell the vet about the changes in your furball’s behavior and give them the anti-anxiety medicines that the vet recommends.
Handling Your Cat During the Move
You will face many problems on the day you are moving if you do not take the necessary precautions to comfort your cat. You must take all the necessary steps before you put your beloved kitty in the car for a move. If you want to make moving to the new house seamless and not stressful, make sure you handle your cat with kindness. Try to attend to all their needs.
Too much anxiety and curiosity can make your cat sick. It can upset your cat’s stomach and even cause vomiting. Imagine if your cat has to go through all this and you have to deal with it while you are o the move, what would it be like? You should prepare for yourself for the worst. A smart way to prevent this from happening is to feed a small meal to your cat. The only way you can avoid such a messy situation is by cutting down their meals from the start of the day.
Moving Day
What’s the worst thing that can happen to a cat-owner on the day of the move? Their cat is bolting out. You would not want your cat to run away when you are about to move to a new place. On the day of the move, you will be opening and closing the front door very frequently, and your cat might run away. You should try to contain your cat in one room. Do not keep your cat in a carrier before you are about to get in the car because it will make your cat restless and make traveling very difficult.
Just as you are about to load your cat into the car, load your cat in the carrier. No matter how restless your cat becomes, do not let them out. Try to stay as calm as possible as it will keep your cat calm.
Help Your Cat Settle in the New House
Now that you are past the toughest phases of moving to a new phone with a cat, it is time that you make efforts to make the cat comfortable in the new house. Try to help your cat ease into the new house, as smoothly as possible.
It is important that you gradually introduce your cat to the new house. The cat is already under stress and anxiety; therefore, do not impose. Make them stay in one room, letting your cat be at its own in a new place is not smart. They might hide into spots that you might not even know about. Make them stay in one room and to calm then down you can place their toys, litter box, and other things they are familiar with, in the room. Try to spend time with the cat in that particular room as much as you can.
Soon your cat will replace their fear with curiosity and would want to explore. Only when you think your cat is ready to explore, should you let your cat out.