Moving with cats without stress

A move comes with feelings of uncertainty, nervousness, and stress. When moving with cats we must understand that we have the advantage of knowing where we are going and why we are moving. On the other hand, our feline cannot understand this situation, which can transform him to such an extent that he not only suffers momentary consequences, such as an unstable mood and aggressiveness, but can also make him sick. Fortunately, we can help them make it a smooth process. To do this, below we will provide you with the best tips to make your cat’s move as smooth as possible.

Preparing for moving with felines

Leaving everything to the last minute is the worst thing we can do, so we must prepare our move with cats in advance. The cat is a routine and territorial animal, so any drastic change in its environment is experienced dramatically. Let’s see how and when to start acting so that the move affects you as little as possible.

Pack little by little: If our cat begins to see a maelstrom of movement around him, it is most likely that stress will begin to invade him because he does not understand the situation. Therefore, we recommend that you start packaging as soon as possible. As these are slight changes, we are talking about an average of three boxes a day, the feline will perceive the dynamics as part of daily life. This is one of the main keys to moving with cats without creating stress.

Another option they bring to the moving process is to place their carrier in sight of our cat so that it begins to adapt, managing to enter and leave as many times as it wants, so that at the time of the move it associates it and reduces stress.

Feliway: They are the ideal solution for the cat to feel calm and confident at all times. They can be purchased in any veterinary store and also online. There is a vaporizer format that connects to any power outlet. For example, on the Petsfarma website you will find it. We will connect them at the beginning of the entire moving process and disconnect them a few days after we have settled into the new home.

Productos para tu mudanza con gatos

Fabric with your scent: If your cat doesn’t already have a piece of cloth just for them, now is the time to start creating one. We will leave a cloth for him to lie down on and sleep on so that he acquires his smell. This will be key to giving you peace of mind on the day of the move and to facilitate the adaptation to the new environment.

Transport: The most efficient way for our cat to be safe and safe to carry out our move is to have a rigid carrier. It is necessary to have enough openings and grilles to guarantee ventilation. It is recommended to cover it during transfer with a thin cloth to avoid disorientation with movements and noises.

Toys: You cannot miss your favorite toy to make it feel more comfortable inside its carrier, it is recommended that this object contains catnip, better known as Catnip.

Cat grass: Another method for our feline to have a quiet transfer is to add a little grass, or catnip, so that it has a physical and mental stimulation enriching the environment through its smell. This product can be obtained in small packages at any local pet store. Or also bridges consider cultivating it yourself. If you dare, we leave you an explanatory video on Youtube to make the best grass for your cats.

How to act on the day of the move

It’s time to move, but our cat is still roaming around the house. How to proceed? Appealing to tranquility as the main state of mind and following these tips:

Close all windows and closet doors: The way a cat acts in the face of an event as drastic as a move can be unpredictable. To prevent it from going out of the window or hiding in hard-to-reach places, the first thing we will do when we get up is to close all doors and windows, including those that give access to the closets.

Play quiet music: The sound frequency has a direct impact on our cat’s mood, also on ours. We can leave a mobile device or a small speaker unpackaged, with which we can play relaxing music. The trick is that it is quiet music, as much as possible exclusive for cats, and that it is broadcast at a very low volume.

Placing the cat in the carrier: This maneuver may sound easier said than done, but we’ll give you the necessary tricks so you can get your cat into the carrier and survive the attempt. For now, we anticipate that the fundamental thing is that you put inside the fabric that during the previous days has been impregnated with the smell of the cat.

To sedate or not to sedate the cat?: Depends on. If our feline is skittish, suspicious and tends to hide when visitors come, then it may be the best way, but it is not the one we like the most, without a doubt. In such a case, it is necessary to administer the correct dose according to their weight and also weigh it together with our trusted veterinarian, as this must be an extreme measure if we have no other solution. In cats that are calm or that have a good acceptance with strangers, this measure will not be necessary.

Convince the cat to put it in the carrier: Few cats will let us carry them inside without unfolding their body in the best flying squirrel style so that it is impossible to put them in the cabin. Knowing your cat well, you will surely come up with some way to “convince” him to enter on his own feet. No one said moving in with cats was easy.

We recommend you practice beforehand and in case you find yourself with difficulties, consult your veterinarian, who knowing your partner will know how to recommend you better.

Moving with lots of cats

If there are several felines, the first thing to consider is the logistics of the move: Who will go with whom and which will go alone? It is not necessary to have a carrier for each of them, but it is essential that if one of them is more unruly or especially territorial, it travels in an individual space for it.

So days before moving with cats we will already have to decide the means of transport for each of them and we will think about how we will move the feline population. We will have to plan in advance if we can take more than one together in the same carrier or if we will have to buy an additional one. Another option is to borrow one from acquaintances who also have cats, although it will require intensive cleaning both before and after. We must ensure that both the previous owner and our cat feel comfortable and not interfered with by other people’s smells.

The pets that are more nervous and elusive will be the first to be placed in their respective carriers, if possible first thing in the day before the moving team arrives. Although it will make us very sad, it is not advisable to release them until we reach the new home. The calmer felines can be arranged in their means of transport later, when the time comes to leave the old home.

Arrival at the new home

Our feline friend will need a few days to adapt to the new home. Therefore, when we arrive we will close all the doors and windows to prevent him from escaping moved by so many strange feelings. The first explorations will always be inside the house and your first outings will be accompanied by our supervision. Thus, once settled in the new home, they will also be able to get used to the outside environment.

Finally, being less important, but also necessary, we recommend hiring a professional moving company to help us with the process. It is also advisable to review some of our tips for packing boxes in an orderly manner and ensuring that fragile objects arrive intact. Although it is not directly related, it is true that an organized move will always bring less stress to our felines.