Moving house with a cat

[honestjoe69]

When you move into a new house what is the best way to introduce a cat to the new environment?

 

I have been advised to place butter on the soles of a cats feet before letting him go outside, does this work or is it an old wives tale?

[Titian]

My cats have moved house 3 times and I've always just kept them close for a day, showed them their food regularly then let them out. they've always come home and settled.

[medusa]

The butter is an old wives' tale.

 

All you need to do is to keep them away from the stress on the moving day then keep them in for a while to be sure that they're settled in (the Shelter recommends 3 weeks) then let them out for an explore the first time when you can be with them and a few minutes before dinner time. All you have to do then is to be sure to call them in properly for their food.

 

That should be the job done. If you're at all worried then extend the period of being with them when they're outdoors up to a week and make it just before dinner hits their bowls. You could also dig some of their dirty cat litter into the soil in the garden to mark their territory for them.

[laurajill]

I agree with Medusa. Butter they just lick straight off. I moved all my stuff in first then made an area for my cats sleeping stuff and food bowls. Give them treats, let them explore your new house. It took mine 2weeks before they were clawing the windows to go out. I went out with them with some biscuits and when they'd had 10minutes exploring I rattled the biscuits and brought them in and did it in stages from then on.

[katkin]

The butter is def an old wives tale. Take your time, let them get used to their new indoors and introduce them gradually to the great outdoors. Cats Protection reccommends 5 weeks with any cats they rehome. The rattling biscuit tin is always a great way of getting curious cats back indoors. Oh and get a catflap installed as soon as they are ready to go out.

[lisalee]

We're moving house soon, luckily my cat, Baby is a house cat as shes scared of anything to do with outside (unless shes meowing at the birds through the window!)

Im going to keep her in her cat basket until the moving madness has calmed down, then let her explore the nooks and crannies!

[fakefreak]

don't worry, my cat has moved with me about 6 times and she's always been okay.

keep your kitties away from stress and when you moved, the first thing you do it put their food and water bowls somewhere and litter tray (if they use it) somewhere not too far. then take them and show them their food, water and litter tray. it makes cats feel a lot safer to know that they still have their needs met.

 

My cat has never been shy but some cats may spend the first two or three days under the sink or under your bed. don't worry, it will pass in time. make sure your cat is chipped or has a collar with an address on just in case it goes out and gets lost.

 

good luck, it will be fine!

[fyy123]

My cats has moved house 3 times from Eyam to Grindleford then Grindleford to where I am now. Only a few miles between villages so I was worried my 2 boys that used to go out would beable to find there way back to the old house. We kept them in until they had got used to the house then let them out in the garden while we were there to look after them. After they had got used to the smell of the garden we just left the gate open as we were taking out dog awalk in the field behind our house, they followed us on our walk which must have looked strange to those watching, a big black Newf with 2 cats running along side. After that we would leave the gate open and let them come and go but about a week or 2 after that they both went missing for a few days which we thought was very strange. But they did turn up eventually I'm glad to say.

[katkin]

make sure your cat is chipped or has a collar with an address on just in case it goes out and gets lost.

 

good luck, it will be fine!

 

 

I'd say get them chipped anyway AND make sure they have collars too, to be on the safe side. Cats can and do losew their collars so if they are handed over to a vet or rescue agency, the microchip will enable them to be reunited with their owner. There's a free microchipping day coming up soon at Winn Gardens- there was a forum thread about it recently- mid April?