Relocating

I'm not sure where this could be posted, but it could be termed "behavior". We expect to move within the next few months. Mr. Grimsby and Bertha have never lived anywhere else with us.

Our new location will be just a few hours away from where we are now, so I don't think the move itself will be too traumatic for them. If things go according to plan, we'll be moving over a few weekends and the new place will be set up before they arrive. But, part of me wonders if this would be more traumatic for them than one big move? What about boarding them for a few days? Would that increase their stress?

I'm looking for advice to 1) keep the move itself as stress-free as possible for them (they've never been in the car together before, either); and 2) help our cats get comfortable in the new home. Someone suggested locking them in a room while the move is happening, then letting them out to explore when everything is in place. Is that a good plan?

I will be using the pheremone spray that I use when I take them to the vet, so I hope they'll be calm enough in the car. And I'll be playing classical music because that seems to sedate them. Do you guys have any other suggestions to make this a happy time for everyone? I'd appreciate your input.

Best regards,

PHarber-Murphy

I just wanted to say that someone else posted about moving from FL to WI and the person who answered him had some great advice. I'll be following her guidelines when Mr. Grimsby and Bertha get relocated.

Best regards,

PHarber-Murphy

I'm not sure which thread you found; but I know it's a question we see a few times a year and the advice is probably similar.

When we moved we did the "big move" with some help in one day and finished up with smaller car loads over the next day or two.  Early the first morning we packed up Mooch & Noodles and some of their things and set them up in a bedroom here.  They had their cubbies and beds to hide in; their litter box (same litter, we just moved it carefully), food and water.  Toys too.  I can't remember right now if we brought the cat tree at the same time.  

They spent most of the day hiding in one cubby together from all the noise.  We were fortunate to have a nice group of people from our church come help us with the move; so it was pretty loud.  I locked them in and checked a few times during the day.  

It took them a day or so to get interested in eating and drinking like normal.  I worried over that.  Since then I have heard it can be beneficial to bring a few jugs of water from your old place to the new if you use tap water.  Water can smell and taste different so bringing the familiar can help the transition.  

We didn't let them out of the room right away; but for some cats it's fine to open the door and let them explore at their own pace.  It just helps to have a good safe "base camp" if you will.  Before long our 2 discovered we had crickets in the house and that really got them exploring and enjoying their new space!

Good luck with your move!   

Thank you so much for these great tips! I'll definitely move their "dirty" litter with them and take a couple of jugs of our tap water with us. Bertha sleeps on this terrific cat condo we got for them. Mr. Grimsby's favorite perch is a love seat - too big to move in the car. I'll have to figure out something else for him - maybe just a blanket on the floor. They both love our blankets.

Thanks again. This has been a great help :-)

Best regards,

PHarber-Murphy

What about a cushion from the love seat?  Blankets and towels are also great and easy to move!  We actually leave out a couple T-shirts we have worn recently (like one I've slept in for a couple nights) when we travel.  It can be calming to them to have that familiar scent there while we are not physically with them.  The same would work for your moving adjustments.  

An extra box on it's side with a familiar blanket or towel would be a great hiding place for them to go to.  Most cats enjoy those anyway; but a scared cat will like to hide somewhere dark and "cave like."