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Moving tips?

post #1 of 8
1/12/11 at 2:04pm
Thread Starter 
We're going to be moving 600+ miles away in the middle of March. We are moving ourselves, no moving company, so DH has to drive the U-haul truck. Since I can't drive, we are pulling it behind the U-haul. All three of us will be crammed into the cab of the U-haul, so the cats in their carriers will have to either be in the back of the truck, next to the door, or inside the car that is being pulled. Either way it will be cool (shouldn't be TOO cold, but you never know) so we are getting them heat packs. Walter and Thomas will be in a carrier together, and Nora will be alone.

Do you think it will be better to get a third carrier and have each in their own?? Which place do you think would be best/safest for them to ride? According to the houses we are going to look at, the ride could be anywhere from 5.5 to 7.5 hours, if we drive without stopping. Of course the two favorite houses of ours are the least distance and the furthest distance away, respectively. LOL

Also, we'll feed them before we leave (correct??) and then I'm assuming we should wait to feed them again until we get down there. What about the potty? Will they be able to hold it that entire time? We really won't have anywhere to safely let them out to go.

Any other tips and/or suggestions for us?
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post #2 of 8
1/13/11 at 12:45pm
Thread Starter 
Anyone?? Bueller?? lol
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post #3 of 8
1/13/11 at 1:00pm
Last time I moved a cat across country, it was a loooong time ago. I think she slept the whole time, and went potty in the box when we stopped for the night. I'm pretty sure the boys would want to be together, but you could always have the third as a backup...
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post #4 of 8
1/13/11 at 1:08pm
They should be fine in the carriers for the trip, just have food and a litter box ready to set up first thing when you reach your destination. The longest trip I took with my cats was 9 hours (supposed to be 7 ), and none of them had any problems with not eating or using the litter box for that length of time.

You might want to try doing some short drives with the kitties in their carriers. Find out how well they travel. I have two who scream at me the whole way unless they're together in one carrier. I have another who beats up on anybody else in the same carrier with her. You just need to find out ahead of time how it works for yours.

I would put them in the car rather than inside the truck. At least that way they can see something outside their carriers.

Good luck with the move, and with getting the house you want.
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post #5 of 8
1/13/11 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 
I just took Walter and Thomas to the vet a couple weeks ago, and they both rode in the same carrier. They sat silent for the most part the entire way. No problems. I know Nora is a crier.

I don't know how much more they will see in the car, b/c if I put them in there I plan to put them on the floorboard in the back seat, and kind of lightly press them between the front and back seats, so in case we do get in an accident they won't go flying around. I'll have them face each other, though.
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post #6 of 8
1/13/11 at 1:32pm
At least there will be light coming through the car windows. I assume the truck is totally enclosed and would be pitch black once you close the door.
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post #7 of 8
1/13/11 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, it will be. That's true.

Do you think that the boys will grow much more in the next two months? I know it's hard to tell, but at the moment they fit about perfect with room to stretch together in one carrier. Do you think by the time we move we'll need separate carriers for both of them??

We already have to buy Nora a new one b/c her's is WAY too small for that long of a trip. In an emergency or a quick trip to the vet is okay, but I don't want her cooped up in it for 5+ hours. She can't even really lay down in it. I'm getting her one like we already have, but with the door on the top so we just just set her in it b/c she's near impossible to get into a carrier from the front door. lol
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post #8 of 8
1/14/11 at 4:40pm
I would put them in the car with a battery operated radio playing. Remember to partially drape the carriers with a towel to provide shade and to crack the windows a tad for fresh air and air circulation.
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