Please take some precautions AFTER the move. It's so stressful there's often the urge to just get back to normal as soon as possible, but for the cat, this new place is not normal, and they need some time and steps to keep them safe in their new place.
Here's some tips I always pass along:
*After two or three days in your new house, let your cat explore the rooms; one at a time, mind, otherwise your cat will be overwhelmed, and might try to run away. (So true! Remember, cats are very situation oriented. We intellectually know what has happened, but cats do not. If the cat shows any signs of distress like wailing or apprehension, keep them in a single room and let them explore very slowly until these signs go away. My boss just lost her cat this way, terribly sad, and I had told her to keep the cats indoors for a few weeks. But they were so used to going outside and seemed okay... until one didn't come back.)
*If your cat likes to go outside, let him/her do so after two/ three weeks in your new house. Try and fit him with a clip-on collar and/or microchip. Spend time outdoors with your cat, making reassuring conversation. Place bowls and favorite food around. (This two or three week thing is VERY important. Cats have an internal compass that takes this long to be reset. Otherwise, even a short trip outside will result in them following their OLD compass, trying to get back to the old home, but they often can't manage that and wind up thoroughly lost.)
*It may also be helpful to try a time-tested trick of placing butter on the cat's paws. Being fastidious, cats feel compelled to lick all the butter off, while they are rooted to the spot. If you do this, think about placing your cat on the front or back doorstep, so that as they lick they are taking in the smells, atmosphere and general feel of their new neighborhood. (This is a great idea and I'm adding it to my mental file.)
They are from this website:
http://www.wikihow.com/Move-With-a-Cat
Here's some tips I always pass along:
*After two or three days in your new house, let your cat explore the rooms; one at a time, mind, otherwise your cat will be overwhelmed, and might try to run away. (So true! Remember, cats are very situation oriented. We intellectually know what has happened, but cats do not. If the cat shows any signs of distress like wailing or apprehension, keep them in a single room and let them explore very slowly until these signs go away. My boss just lost her cat this way, terribly sad, and I had told her to keep the cats indoors for a few weeks. But they were so used to going outside and seemed okay... until one didn't come back.)
*If your cat likes to go outside, let him/her do so after two/ three weeks in your new house. Try and fit him with a clip-on collar and/or microchip. Spend time outdoors with your cat, making reassuring conversation. Place bowls and favorite food around. (This two or three week thing is VERY important. Cats have an internal compass that takes this long to be reset. Otherwise, even a short trip outside will result in them following their OLD compass, trying to get back to the old home, but they often can't manage that and wind up thoroughly lost.)
*It may also be helpful to try a time-tested trick of placing butter on the cat's paws. Being fastidious, cats feel compelled to lick all the butter off, while they are rooted to the spot. If you do this, think about placing your cat on the front or back doorstep, so that as they lick they are taking in the smells, atmosphere and general feel of their new neighborhood. (This is a great idea and I'm adding it to my mental file.)
They are from this website:
http://www.wikihow.com/Move-With-a-Cat
