HOW TO MOVE 9(!) FERALS 2200 MILES

help! i'm looking for ideas about moving my ferals across the u.s. well, actually, the moving isn't the problem ... the problem is how to get the little guys into dog crates or other kinds of big carriers.

when we moved into this house, we discovered we had a feral colony in the back yard. after trapping and neutering/spaying everyone, we released them into our home. two of them have become domesticated enough that i'll be able to pick them up and put them into carriers. but we have no idea how to get the others into dog crates or other carrier things suitable for travel. my dh is freaking out over this. i keep telling him we'll figure this out, but secretly, i don't have the answer.

we are moving in a month. we have one very large dog crate, and i have begun putting some of their food and water in there to get them used to the crate. however, i don't know how i'll get them into such carriers and keep them there while i close the door.

oh, please ... any ideas will be so very welcome! thanks so much.

Oh wow!.  You really do have a job ahead of you.  You may have to resort to humane traps, just as you did (I'm thinking) for the spay/neuter process.  You might also call the Humane Society or the ASPCA and ask for advice.  Check around on this forum for those with lots of experience, and PM them, if necessary.  There's a group of really, really nice folks here who want to help any way they can.

BTW...your dedication to this group of ferals who share your home is remarkable.

Use a pool net, or any other large net with small mesh openings.. I suggest this as a last resor because it is stressful.. but catch said kitty in the net, have your husband or someone else hold the pillow over the net opening once kitty is in as you move to the carrier. Have food already waiting in the carrier to help entice kitty out of the net. Place the net in front of the cage opening, right up tight..the only way out of the net is into the cage. Have whoever is helping you hold the net handle as you help push/manuever kitty into the cage. Then once kitty is in, shut the door over the net leaving only enough room to pull the net up. Have your helper remove the net and you quickly shut the door. The kitty may end up with a door slammed in his face at the worst. If you are putting more than one cat in each carrier this method will also prevent one escaping as one is going in.


If there is already a caught kitty in the cage.. open the door slowly and not very much while sliding the net into the opening gradually until the door is open and the net is over it.. any would be escapees are back in the net with the newest capture. Close the door the same way, as stated above. If the cats are fighting you, instead of using your bare hands to push them from the net, you can use a hot pan holder glove thing oven mit? ... I hope this helps, good luck.

Havahart traps and pool nets. I had to trap 2 of my indoor ferals when we moved. I didn't have a net though. . .wish I did. It would have been easier. But if all the food is removed except in the trap, they'll go in eventually. . .

We recently moved eight cats from NJ to NC.  We trapped some, netted one and got the rest into carriers.  It was like a rodeo!  Our vet came out and gave them each a shot for twilight sleep (very light, so there was no danger of them choking while unconscious).  We hired a pet mover (Cosmopolitan Canine Carriers), who drove them the entire way in a day.

Everyone arrived just fine, although a couple are still made about being trapped.  Good luck with this!  God bless you for taking them with you.  Do you have a place to confine them in the new place?  They will need that - to make sure they learn to recognize their new territory.

The pet mover also makes arrangements to fly pets.  Maybe you can look into that?

Tuna fish!

You may want to take a look at this thread:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/276982/moving-house-taking-the-colony-with-me

i really, really appreciate all of you taking the time to help me with this whopper of a move. everyone has such good ideas, and my dh and i will begin working to implement them all.

we will be hiring a pet mover for this move. when we get to the new home everyone will remain indoors forever. we're planning to keep everyone in the basement for a little while, where they'll have their litter boxes on one end of the basement, and their food on the other end. i think we should give them some fancy feast canned food at first to get them eating again because this will be such a huge adjustment.

we're moving from las vegas, nv, to my wonderful hometown of cleveland, ohio. i look forward to watching the kitties glued to the window seeing snowflakes for the first time. we also have a dog, and i'm not sure how he'll react to having to go potty outside in the cold and snow!

thanks so much!

Two of our cats were outside-only before the move.  They have happily adjusted to being indoors

Kudos to you and your husband for taking them and offering them such a great life!