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Moving House

jazabelle
Posts: 1,707 Forumite
I posted here some time ago about adopting a tabby and white cat called Button.
We are now moving into a bungalow - yay! (I've been struggling with the stairs for years.)
Button is quite nervous and shy, he's okay with us - although will get scared if we get up suddenly, and will have nothing at all to do with men.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or hints with how to settle a cat into a new home? I'm just worried he's going to wander off to try and find 'home'.
I think we're going to put him into a cattery the day of the move, so he doesn't run away in terror as people dare to come into his home.
Do we keep him in for sometime so he knows it's his home? He will now have a nice enclosed garden to keep him safe, away from the neighbour's cat who keeps attacking him.
We are now moving into a bungalow - yay! (I've been struggling with the stairs for years.)
Button is quite nervous and shy, he's okay with us - although will get scared if we get up suddenly, and will have nothing at all to do with men.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or hints with how to settle a cat into a new home? I'm just worried he's going to wander off to try and find 'home'.
I think we're going to put him into a cattery the day of the move, so he doesn't run away in terror as people dare to come into his home.
Do we keep him in for sometime so he knows it's his home? He will now have a nice enclosed garden to keep him safe, away from the neighbour's cat who keeps attacking him.
"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." - Orison Swett Marden
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I would keep him indoors for a couple of days to settle in the new home and then only let him out for short intervals and when hungry.
We successfully moved our rescue cat 3 times. The cattery is a good place before removals come in.Cabot (0%) left to pay £2455 let the overpayments commence!0 -
I posted here some time ago about adopting a tabby and white cat called Button.
We are now moving into a bungalow - yay! (I've been struggling with the stairs for years.)
Button is quite nervous and shy, he's okay with us - although will get scared if we get up suddenly, and will have nothing at all to do with men.
Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had any tips or hints with how to settle a cat into a new home? I'm just worried he's going to wander off to try and find 'home'.
I think we're going to put him into a cattery the day of the move, so he doesn't run away in terror as people dare to come into his home.
Do we keep him in for sometime so he knows it's his home? He will now have a nice enclosed garden to keep him safe, away from the neighbour's cat who keeps attacking him.
Good idea to put him in the cattery on the day of the move.
Once you bring him to your new home, you definitely need to keep him in for a few days for him to get used to the new place and feel safe there. Although the house will be new, there will obviously be the scent of the old place on furniture etc.
When you let him out for the first time, do it gradually and just let him out for a few minutes with you accompanying him to superviseDo it just before meal times so that he is happy to come back in for his food. Then see how he goes and gradually increase the amount of time and reduce the amount of supervision.
A couple of things to think about: Is he microchipped? Would be a good idea to get him done if he isn't.
How far are you moving from your old place? Is it likely/feasible that puss might try and get back there? If so, I would ask your current neighbours just to keep an eye for him and to give you a call if they see him hanging around your old house / street.0 -
Yes, he is microchipped, and has a collar with my number on. (Although I know they wriggle out of those!)
It's the other side of town. One neighbour is empty, the other we've never spoken to, so not sure. I will ask the new tenant perhaps if I see her, but we were never mean to have a cat at this house - we fell in love with him, and was too scared to ask in case they said no, and what were we meant to do with him? (The shelter had already said they were full.) But at the new house we do have permission.
Okay, will keep him in for as long as we can. We are sadly losing a cat flap. Has anyone had success at being allowed to put a catflap into a rental property?"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." - Orison Swett Marden0 -
I've been owned by cats for nearly 20 years and have had 8 in that time - 5 are very much alive and 3 are at the Rainbow Bridge. I have never had a cat flap as (a) I like to control when my cats go out (e.g. not at night) and (b) not have any neighbourhood cats coming into our house which causes all sorts of issues.
So, I can't answer your question about the rental bit and cat flaps etc, but what I am trying to say is that it's not the end of the world if you can't have one0 -
I'm with Friday on the cat-flap issue. However, I've lived in several rental properties (and have had several problems being allowed to take the pets) - it's very unlikely that a landlord would let you put a cat flap in unless you agreed to replace the door when you left (which would cost a fair bit).
Depending on where you're going, it may be possible to leave a downstairs window open that he can get in/out of during the day.
Def keep him in for as long as possible and then short periods outside building up gradually.Grocery Challenge £211/£455 (01/01-31/03)
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Yeah, true. It's just he got used to one I suppose! And he likes to pop out in the evening only for about half an hour, then he comes back. And sometimes on a sunny day he goes and sits under the bush. So he doesn't go out loads.
Thinking about it, there isn't really a suitable door - and one is the front door, the other is a conservatory - so I doubt we could fit one anyway!
Thanks for your help everyone. Must remember to phone the cattery!"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." - Orison Swett Marden0 -
Two of mine spent a fortnight under my bed when I moved last year. Had to feed them upstairs for a week before they even considered walking down the stairs into the kitchen. The scardiest one of all was outside in the garden on the afternoon of the first full day I was here, a bit skittish, but happy to sit outside and watch me put the washing out. By the end of the week she had fallen asleep inside an IKEA bag left on the lawn whilst we sat out in our new garden. She slept for a good 3 hours in her first ever direct sunshine and fresh air.
It's a year now, and they're all quite happy to wander about day or night.
All you need to do is accept that the cat will be afraid, and let them know that there is nothing to be worried about - the disinterested yawn sitting out in the garden is good for that.I could dream to wide extremes, I could do or die: I could yawn and be withdrawn and watch the world go by.Yup you are officially Rock n Roll0 -
Hehe, thank you.
Yeah, I've now booked him the day at the cattery when the main stuff will be moved across. Will just take it slowly and let him hide and explore the house. May even have room for a cat bed now, although he seems quite happy on the top bit of the sofa."There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow." - Orison Swett Marden0 -
Hehe, thank you.
Yeah, I've now booked him the day at the cattery when the main stuff will be moved across. Will just take it slowly and let him hide and explore the house. May even have room for a cat bed now, although he seems quite happy on the top bit of the sofa.
Are you moving yet, Jazabelle? Was wondering how you're both getting on.I could dream to wide extremes, I could do or die: I could yawn and be withdrawn and watch the world go by.Yup you are officially Rock n Roll0 -
Great thread as i'm moving house soon myself.
Once we move, I want to keep my kitty inside for as much as possible so he can get a feel of his new home and area. I'm taking his old scratching post with us for some familiarity/stress release but i will be purchasing a new one afterwards to hault any unwanted behaviour as ours will be private rented too. A spray bottle will be on the shopping list as well - just in case. He's a cheeky character so i am being prepared!
I won't have a cat flap as it was a struggle getting them to accept pets in the first place but he uses the windows atm anyway so it shouldn't be much difference for him.
I can't put him in a cattery unfortunately so i may let him out during moving day and once most things are packed, i'll call him in and get him into his pet carrier and off we go.
He is chipped but what is worrying is that our new house is just a 15 minute walk away and between it is a busy main road! That's why i want to keep him indoors for as long as possible. I'll have to stock up on treats for the first couple of weeks i think!
It may turn out to be a busy month for him because we move and he has his health check-up...not to mention silly fireworks night coming up, grr! I'm hoping extra TLC will help this month
Let me know how your move goes and if you have any tips from your experience please!!0
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