Post-Moving Issues

As some of you may know, we moved houses on Saturday. Today, the cats seemed eager to get out of their "cat room" that we had been keeping them in (a small bedroom) to explore the house. We opened the door, and Oliver, our oldest, came bounding out and eagerly explored the house. Emma seemed a bit more reticent initially but did venture out of the room a little on her own.
Later this evening we returned home from dinner, and the cats were continuing to explore their surroundings peacefully, until at one point in the evening Emma got a bit overwhelmed, apparently, and began screaming and hissing at Oliver. Now, Olievr doesn't have the common sense that God gave a rock, so he didn't quite seem to get that she didn't, at that moment, want him anywhere near her. She basically just snapped, all of a sudden, and starting throwing a fit in his general direction, even though she has been getting along with him just fine since we moved, it was like all of a sudden she decided HE was the reason she was unhappy.
She eventually darted back into the cat room and is in there growling up a storm. We can't put Oliver back in the cat room, as she growls, hisses and screams if he even comes near the door.
I understand her being stressed about the move but DON'T quite understand her taking her agressions out on him--she's being more agressive and hostile to him now than when we first introduced them in March.
We went into the cat room to retrieve one of the two litterboxes for Oliver, who we're going to continue to let roam the house freely as he seems quite well adjusted.
We'll, I guess, leave Emma in the cat room for a few more days, or until she can't bear to be in there any longer. I'm just afraid that she's going to continue to be mad at Oliver for no apparent reason.

Any thoughts or suggestions on this would be MOST helpful.
Thanks!

Being a military wife and always moving alot, it took our cats awhile to get used to new places. They will adapt, just give them time. And yes, my cats always did get grumpy with each other whenever we moved into a new place. They get nervous and don't want to be bothered sometimes and take their frustration out on their buddies.

One time when we moved, I swear one of my cats got taped up in a box and shipped off to our next duty station. I was so scared! Turned out I found him up in a kitchen cupboard, scared of all the commotion going on. Thank god I found him!

I would invest in a black light- and shine it at midnight around your new place and prepare to be amazed at all the old pet stains you will find. Use a good enzyme cleaner to remove all the stains, buy a couple feliway comfort zone room diffusers and plug them in and peace will slowly come back to your home. But most times, it is old pet stains that set off the new cats and they wonder where in the world the enemy is hiding, because by golly they can smell them

Originally Posted by hissy

I would invest in a black light- and shine it at midnight around your new place and prepare to be amazed at all the old pet stains you will find. Use a good enzyme cleaner to remove all the stains, buy a couple feliway comfort zone room diffusers and plug them in and peace will slowly come back to your home. But most times, it is old pet stains that set off the new cats and they wonder where in the world the enemy is hiding, because by golly they can smell them

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Would it matter that we had all the carpets professionally steam-cleaned before we moved in? Wouldn't that have taken care of any residual "other pet" smells? And I don't quite understand why she would confuse the "old pet" smells with his scent, since they've been living together for several months now.

Basically, I'm just worried that she's never going to tolerate his presence ever again! Which would certainly not be good. And, the weird thing is, she was fine with him for the past two days and just all of a sudden started screaming at him--much worse than when we first introduced them.

I just moved over the weekend as well. Lightning seams to be fine, he isn't eating as much as he used to but that could be due to the change in temperature. I moved from a basement apartment to a 2nd floor apartment. It seams like he is drinking a little bit more water though.

I hope Emma & Oliver sort out their issues. I am sure Emma will come around. And congrats on your move!

:bump:

Originally Posted by OllyExtra05

Would it matter that we had all the carpets professionally steam-cleaned before we moved in? Wouldn't that have taken care of any residual "other pet" smells? And I don't quite understand why she would confuse the "old pet" smells with his scent, since they've been living together for several months now.

Basically, I'm just worried that she's never going to tolerate his presence ever again! Which would certainly not be good. And, the weird thing is, she was fine with him for the past two days and just all of a sudden started screaming at him--much worse than when we first introduced them.

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Hi, I don't think it's a good idea to keep her locked up - it's just prolonging things, and she'll never get used to the new environment that way. They may fight a bit, but remember with cats the noise and fuss is usually way worse than they end up. But do stick around to supervise.