When moving home how do you introduce cats to new environment?

sterl1ng

Whilst i'm looking for my first home (2 bed garden flat) its occurred to me that on day 1 I won't be able to just let my cats out into their new garden/room.

So question is how long should I give them before letting my 3 ickle ones outside? 6mths?

arbroath_lass

My house would be destroyed after six days never mind months! I've only ever kept mine in a few days and I've never had a problem. The recommendation is longer but my cats were going nuts after a few days.

ETA the answer is probably as long as you can!

princeofpounds

I've moved with cats twice. I put them in a quiet out-of-the way room with water, litter, bedding and some food whilst moving in is going on.

Then when there is no more tramping around I let them out, and give them time to explore.

I kept them in for three days, and when it was clear they knew where food, water and litter were and we had established a routine, then I took them outside daily

The first couple of times I put them on a harness and lead. Then I just let them go a couple of times but kept an eye on them.

All in all, it took me a week, and to be honest I think I could have let them out in half that time. They key is that they don't get startled and lose their bearings, plus they know where to come back to for food and shelter.

6 months is a long time, unless they have just been born or something!

zzzLazyDaisy

I have never kept cats in more than a few days, a week at the most, and I have had a few cats and moved a few times.

It is much easier if the new home has furniture/bedding/rugs from the old home as these have scents that smell like 'home' to them. But the main thing is that they feel happy in the new place and know it is their territory. So if you are able to spend time with them that will make the transition easier.

When you do let them out, do it before they have been fed, so they are hungry. Also if there is a call that they recognise for food, that helps (mine comes to the whistle, or rattling a spoon on a tin).

The real problem is when they run off after something or get scared and run away, and then don't know the smells in the area to find their way back, so it is good to limit them to the garden for a few days so they get chance to suss out their territory.

Having said all that, I looked after my mum's cat years ago for a week, she didn't know my house and she escaped the first day, but thankfully came back when I called her in for food.

aloise

Put them in a quiet room with things they know, furniture and their bows and baskets, while you finish the move. Let them explore the house for a couple of days and then leave window open just wide enough so they can get the scent of the surrounding area.
A week to 10 days should do it. Years ago we just spread their paws with butter and after they had cleaned it off they were ready to go.

sterl1ng

I wouldn't want to leave my putty cats in for 6mths, they truly are outdoor cats and have been since kittens, hence my really needing garden to go with flat otherwise i'd have bought any ole flat by now.

My cats would not be best pleased if I put them on leads as I have always let them loose as and when, so much so they have me trained!

I suppose I'll gradually let them around the flat then as suggested open windows with little gap so they smell new environment. Their activity tree is very tatty and I was going to throw that away but maybe I'll bring that with us so cats have things they are use to smell wise.

My plan is to get the flat fully sorted and then ready for cats to move in so its not chaotic for them but gives them time to get use to their own abode.

tizerbelle

I've moved 3 times with one of my cats and twice with two of the others and to be honest they've never been kept in more than 24 hours or restricted to a specific room in the house.

In fact on last move it was less than 6 hours before they were let out although they weren't fed before I let them out and it was later on in the evening so it was quiet. Possibly easier for me in that I was moving house to house with direct access to a garden area rather than a flat and possibly odd access routes depending on whether you are on ground floor or not

So I guess its down to what feels right for your cats and how quickly they "do your head in" screaming at the injustice and lack of dignity you are inflicting on them by not letting them do what they want and when they want it.

spookylukey

Cats Protection recommend three weeks...

http://www.cats.org.uk/uploads/documents/cat_care_leaflets/EG09-Movinghome.pdf

I'd personally go as long as possible with two weeks being my absolute minimum. This gives them time to well and truly acclimatise to the house and feel settled. When you do let them out for the first time don't feed them beforehand so they have an incentive to find their way back, also best to do it in the morning so you have plenty of daylight hours left to look for them in case they wander off and get lost on the first outing.

Mayflower10cat

I think we've attempted a month, but after a few escapes it's been more like three weeks. On first official 'outings' I've wandered round with the beasties and I only let them out in the morning before food. My lot will come when I rattle a box of treats and call their names, they're all very good like that. If you can start training yours (now) to come to a clicker or a similar noise, then it'll be a great advantage when you move. I've also found that the cats settle pretty quickly into a strange house as they recognise all the furniture/rugs etc. And you are there, of course!

sterl1ng

Mayflower10cat wrote: »

I think we've attempted a month, but after a few escapes it's been more like three weeks. On first official 'outings' I've wandered round with the beasties and I only let them out in the morning before food. My lot will come when I rattle a box of treats and call their names, they're all very good like that. If you can start training yours (now) to come to a clicker or a similar noise, then it'll be a great advantage when you move. I've also found that the cats settle pretty quickly into a strange house as they recognise all the furniture/rugs etc. And you are there, of course!

Its ok I have a code too for when the cats should come in but sometimes my black cat can be stubborn as he thinks i'm tricking him into going to the vets (bless him)

Usually tapping of place or calling out with kisses usually does job with other two...or better yet when I shake their dreamies bag, which they go mad for

clarabelle41

We adopted 2 cats on 17/2 after our house move. The advice from the cat rescue was a min of 3 weeks indoors but we kept them in for 6 wks & they went out on harnesses over the Easter weekend. It is a semi rural area so no nearby cats to spook them, a bonus as one is particularly nervous after a previous bad experience.