Moving to a new home with my Cat........any suggestions?

[Gravitykillr]

so I'll be moving to a new place in a few weeks, and my cat is 4 years old has been with us for about 3.5 years, and has never really left our apartment since we got her. When we move I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this without freaking her our, I've come up with a couple of different solutions just wondering other's experiences/thoughts. The new home is about 10 minutes away by car, and we're going from an 804 sq. ft. apartment to a 2 storey condo.
First one is to take her down to the new place a few days before we start moving our stuff (we get the keys on a Tuesday and we'll start moving some stuff up that night won't be moving anything big just little stuff) and let her wander around a little bit and see what she thinks and then do most of the moving then bring her down when 95% of the stuff is moved over.
2nd idea is just to move as much as possible and then bring her down when it's pretty much all moved over.
Might add she's not really good with other people usually runs and hides under the bed until they leave or in the case of people being around alot she's still a bit weary of them.

Any tips/idea's or opinions would be a great help Thanks.

[sclitheroe]

My two cats cracked mentally when we moved into our house from our apartment. They became these odd shadow dwellers in the basement, we almost never saw them again...

Kinda sad, really

[SteveToms]

It depends on the cat, I was able to move my cat a few times over the years and she always took the move fairly well.

[Resolute 14]

Cats hate change, so she will freak out. There is nothing you can do about that, really. If she likes to hide under the bed, I might suggest moving that before the cat. Gives her a comfort place to hide.

When you move her into the new place, take her to her litter box, take her to her scratching post and then let her hide. She'll probably disappear for a day or so, but eventually curiousity will get the better of her and she'll start exploring.

[Bobblehead]

When I adopted my mature cat, we were told to put him, his food and his litter in one room, then let him sniff around a while and get comfortable. Then open the door to rest of the place and let him decide when to explore.

I think for you, just pick a time when some of the stuff he knows well has been moved (where he sleeps, if it is a mat or a specific chair) and when you have some free time, and then stay with him for a bit.

[KTrain]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Cats hate change, so she will freak out. There is nothing you can do about that, really. If she likes to hide under the bed, I might suggest moving that before the cat. Gives her a comfort place to hide.

When you move her into the new place, take her to her litter box, take her to her scratching post and then let her hide. She'll probably disappear for a day or so, but eventually curiousity will get the better of her and she'll start exploring.

From my experience this is the best option as well. Also, find where you're going to put the litter box, stick it there and don't move it. When you do bring the cat to the new place, take the cat out of the carrier and put it next to the litter box.

Be prepared for a pissed off cat. Don't leave piles of blankets, clothes, etc. around while you're moving or the cat might use them as an alternate toilet.

[taco.vidal]

Its not always as bad as everyone has said so far. Ive have (and have had) cats that arent the most easy going of cats but have been "moved" without too much problems.

Id suggest moving moving everything then moving the cat. When your packing up and moving your old place, you may want to lock your cat in a room. When you get to your new place, you might want to let your cat only have access to parts of your new home at first. For example, keep the door to the basement closed so you cat doesnt have the option of going downthere.

And also be careful that your cat doesnt escape when youre moving and after youre in your new place. A cat in a condo doesnt have many ways to escape wheres as a house/townhouse its a lot easier for them to get outside if your not careful.

[jayswin]

Get Chid to throw it off a roof. Problem solved.

* Sorry I've been reading the confessions thread religously lately.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

When I adopted my mature cat, we were told to put him, his food and his litter in one room, then let him sniff around a while and get comfortable. Then open the door to rest of the place and let him decide when to explore.

I think for you, just pick a time when some of the stuff he knows well has been moved (where he sleeps, if it is a mat or a specific chair) and when you have some free time, and then stay with him for a bit.

This is definitely the way to go. Don't scare your cat by showing him the whole house at once. At first just a room, one where he'll be comfortable, then another few rooms then the whole house.

I wouldn't just let him wonder around or he'll likely be so overwhelmed by the experience that the house will never be comfortable.

[Russic]

We recently moved our cat from an apartment to a house and he was pretty strange for a few weeks. He couldn't seem to find himself a hiding spot so he just snuck around the house crying the whole time. Once he discovered that his window ledges had increased by about 300% he calmed down.

I will echo the calls to give your cat a little safe place with necessities and let her explore when she's ready.

[FireFly]

I've moved my cat two different ways... First I emptied the place and moved her last to a house with all her familiar things. Second I emptied one room with her comfy stuff, and put that and her litter box and food in one room in the new place and locked her in that. The second option works better. Do not let your cat see an empty house! That's the freakiest part for them! Also, locking them in a room helps with not tripping over them while you're carrying things.

[Shin Pad]

If you want to be able to re-sell your place - get rid of the cat. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, but it's the truth.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

If you want to be able to re-sell your place - get rid of the cat. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, but it's the truth.

Just give the cat time and she'll adapt!

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

If you want to be able to re-sell your place - get rid of the cat. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, but it's the truth.

bullcrap. Just make sure you give the house a good cleaning and you'll have no trouble.

[Ford Prefect]

I've adopted mature cats, and moved with cats a few times, so here's my feedback based on my experiences.

First of all, pretty well all cats are going to totally hate it. Cats do not like change ... some more so than others.

I would not recommend taking the cat to see its new home, and then bringing her back to your current place until near the end of the move. That would just double its trauma probably because it would mean two "strange" events rather than one. And I would recommend taking the cat pretty much at the end ... that will give it less chance to sneak out while doors are open to bring boxes and stuff in. If you have a car carrier, or can borrow one, use it.

As others have suggested, definitely shut her in a room like a bathroom or spare bedroom when you first bring the cat to its new home. Not only does this take away the chance it might sneak out, but it also gives it a chance to get to know its knew home gradually. Exposing it to them all at once is too much for their finicky and fragile psyche. Give it food, water, litter and any familiar things like a cat bed or toys, and let them absorb things a bit in solitary confinement for a while. This gives them a chance to get to know the sounds and smells of their new home gradually.

After they're had a chance to sit and think about things for a bit, and after things have settled down a it, let them out to explore at their own pace. Stay with them and soothe them while they explore ... they seem to need that reassurance from you that all is well.

As for how long to wait before introducing them the their entire new home, that all depends on how adventurous your cat is. I've had cats that were ready after a couple hours of being locked up in a spare bedroom, but in one extreme case it took two weeks. The cat that took two weeks though was psychologically messed up.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

If you want to be able to re-sell your place - get rid of the cat. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, but it's the truth.

Why? I've always had cats and I've sold two houses that cats had lived in. It was never an issue. What's your rationale?

[Torture]

We brought my cat from Manitoba to Alberta without too much of problem.

He was also an outdoor cat and became an indoor cat when we moved to Alberta.

[InTheSlot]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

It depends on the cat, I was able to move my cat a few times over the years and she always took the move fairly well.

Same. My girl's cat moved to the house we're renting just two years ago, and he didn't miss a beat. We're going to be moving again in about another week or two because we just bought a house, and I'm sure he'll take this move just as well.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

If you want to be able to re-sell your place - get rid of the cat. Sorry, that's a bit harsh, but that just the ridiculous opinion of somebody who doesn't understand cats or real estate.

Sorry, you had a spelling mistake there ... I hope you don't mind that I went ahead and fixed it for you.

[burn_this_city]

We had to torch our rental property when the cat people moved out.