Moving this weekend, worried about Lucas's health...

Hello everybody:

You all know what I've been through with my Lucas.  I was finally able to find out that all his health problems are due to his Lupus and stress. Well, he is doing better, but he is getting nervous because we are moving to a new house this weekend and we are moving things around and packing and he has been scratching his back more than usual, he causes his own injuries by bitting his body and he pulls his hair out, he looks so bad right now.  The Homeopatic anxiety medicine he is on is helping, but I think the stress is too much for him.

He is eating so well,  and his personality has improved, he doesn't look depressed anymore, but, I know once we move, he will get sick again and that makes me worry.

I was thinking of taking him to the new house tomorrow, you know, just to let him walk around and get used to the new environment.  I don't know whats going to happen with Lucas and all my kitties once I take them off the house they consider their only home and I"m afraid.

Tammy

Tammy, it is stressful, but they do adjust! When we moved, we took most of their things, and put them in our bedroom. We'd sprayed the room with Feliway before we moved. We moved all the stuff for the bedroom into it first, and put out the pile of UNWASHED bed stuff. We put the cat litter boxes in there, their beds, food, water, etc., and then released them in there. We closed the door, and put a big sign on it to NOT OPEN the door!

Then everything can be moved, you don't have to worry about them escaping, and all their familiar things and scents are there. :nod:

It will be stressful, but this helps minimize the stress.

I don't know that I'd take Lucas over there first... he won't necessarily understand, and if he stresses traveling, then it's just another source of stress.

I'm SURE they'll settle in, and Lucas will relax once you're unpacked!

I have most of my things over there already.  I think I will just go there by myself to get my room ready and put all their stuff there and then take them home the day we move.  He will have more space there and they will have an enclosure so they will be able to go out to the yard safely, but that hasn't been built yet, but it will be there soon.  I know the one who will  suffer the most will be Flaqui, she is such a nervous girl and she is still "part feral".   I hope she can adjust, it hasn't been easy for her to trust people, she only trusts me and now always.

Lucas is soo sensitive, right now he looks so sad, like the world is going to end because my room looks empty, I took my desk out today and he feels lost.  I know he will adjust, I just hope he doesn't get sick.

Thank you so much for your advice Laurie

Tammy

When I moved from Leeds to Scotland (200 miles) I took my cats up the week before and put them in an excellent cattery, and combined that with the legal stuff.  Then the removal men could pack up my old house with no worries about cats vanishing.  I collected them once I'd mostly sorted out the new house.  It was certainly far less stressful for me that way!

That is a good idea, but I can't put Lucas in a cattery, that is not an option for me, he has Lupus and he gets sick when he is stressed, and he  is also taking 3 medicines right now, he needs to be with me.  But no problem, I have everything figured out now.  I have been moving most of my stuff  to the new house gradually and I will have my room ready and organized before everything else, he will stay there until everything else is ready. 

Tammy

It is good that you have everything figured out now. One last piece of advice that I would have would be to try and arrange things similar to how you had them in your last home. Then Lucas and the rest of your kittens will have an easier time adjusting to everything. Cheers!

for ALL the babies - and you, Tammy! :heart3:

Thank you all so  much!  Yes, I will do that I will try to arrange everything similar to how I have it now.   Is not easy moving to a new house with a kitty, and I'm moving with four of them  Help me God, haha

Tammy