How did you handle moving with your cat(s)?

Skiddaw1

@oniongirl, don't panic. I really know how you're feeling. Like @pinkteapot we moved over 300 miles with a highly strung (rescue) cat. We did all we could to reduce the trauma (Feliway, covered his carrier with his favourite blanket, etc) but he did throw a wobbler for the first couple of hours (full hyperventilation mode whilst trying to claw his way out of the carrier- picture me literally lying on top of the carrier to prevent him from doing himself an injury whilst simultaneously manning two mobile phones to check for calls from our solictior and EA as Mr S tried to concentrate on driving up the M6 ) before he wore himself out and went to sleep. We shut him in a room with his water, igloo, and litter tray when we arrived but much to my amazement, he was raring to explore the new house and by later that evening he was sitting next to us, purring and eating a bowl of tuna.

I doubt your vet will be up for even mild sedation unless there's a real risk to the cats - they really don't like to chance it (I asked about it before we moved) but they really do soon get over it honestly!

Incidentally, I know yours are indoor cats, but I'd reitterate what has been said in case anyone else is reading this post- if your cat/s are outdoor cats please, please do all you can to keep them in for at least 4-6 weeks following the move. If you don't you're asking for problems....

Good luck!! Let us know how it pans out won't you?

annetheman

oniongirl said:

steampowered said:

My cat yells at me all the time anyway, and that's just for dinner !

There's a massive difference between whining for dinner (at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm...) and the howls they make in the boxes. They do recover quickly afterwards though. Perhaps it's all a ploy for treats when they're out.

Lol! Mine makes those soul wrenching howls whenever in a car.

I have a plan which might not work for you but hope it might help (also not tested so take as you will!):
-Get keys on completion day, go in and plug in Feliway
-The next day, put cat in carrier in my car, help removals team load up, give directions and drive ahead of them to new place with food bowls, litter box, toys and treats.
-Lock cat in bathroom in new place with food, litter box, toys and treats, stay with him for about an hour then help removals put things in new place, keep bathroom locked.
-Once everything's loaded out, let cat out and gently encourage exploring everywhere etc. Don't unpack.
-Go back to previous place and do the usual making sure anything forgotten is taken/binned, final clean, inventory (it's rented) checklist and leave keys.
-Go back (quickly as possible) to new place and keep cat company!

My cat is really nervous, he's indoor only and terrible with new people he is so scared. But new places he adapts very well to, likes to explore, just hates the car bit. 

I hope you give Feliway a try, I've heard great things! I wouldn't bother if it weren't for the noise etc and the random men that'll be in the house but if that's what your cat(s) are afraid of, see if you can minimise that.

Skiddaw1

Our boy (Ollie Boppet)

steampowered

Skiddaw1 said:

Our boy (Ollie Boppet)

Awwwww love him! Beautiful cat! Bet he gets up to plenty of trouble though ...

FreeBear

We need more cats !

Skiddaw1

steampowered said:

Skiddaw1 said:

Our boy (Ollie Boppet)

Awwwww love him! Beautiful cat! Bet he gets up to plenty of trouble though ...

Yep!!

Skiddaw1

FreeBear said:

We need more cats !

Agreed!!!

oniongirl

I love that this might turn in to a thread of pics of cats who cause their humans great stress on moving day. Please go ahead. I have a plan now. 

FreeBear

oniongirl said: I have a plan now. 

No. You can not have all the cats.

Seashell517

oniongirl said:

Seashell517 said:

oniongirl said:

Ahhh... I just remembered I can't use a cattery as one cat isn't up to date with vaccinations. She missed her jab when the first lockdown was happening, so needed to restart vaccinations. We got the first one done, but then she randomly scratched open her entire chin (she was bald, scabby and oozing! so gross!) so we had to stop to do antibiotics and stuff. I'd completely forgotten about it, but you've reminded me, thank you!

Crap. This is going to have me over too. They couldn't get their jabs on time because of Covid and now it's too close to moving day. Off to google dog crates...

Sorry! But at least you know ahead of time rather than remembering on the day.

Now that I've remembered I'm just deciding whether I'm better off getting her jabbed now and again after move, or just waiting til after the move. The house we're going to had a dog, so I have flea treated, but I don't want to cause her even MORE stress by taking her off to the vets to be jabbed right before and right after moving.

Looks like the cattery will be alright with them just having the first of the new set of 'series' of jabs (guessing they're not very busy and need the business!) so we're in for a fun afternoon tomorrow getting kitties in boxes... They're indoor cats too, and nearly 10, so I suspect the boosters aren't doing all that much anymore anyway...