Long-distance move with an anxious cat

I moved my then two cats about 100 Miles (2 hours) a few years back. They weren't used to catteries so I went for the "least worst" option which was to take them with me in the car on the day.

The way I reasoned it was that I'd have to transport them sooner or later and it would be less stressful for them (and me) to get it over and done with in one day. They were a bit wary the day before when everything was packed and I shut them in the bathroom when I got here (fortunately have a downstairs loo so no inconvenience (!) for me or the removal men). When they came out they were like all other cats in a new home but soon settled.

I made the mistake of feeding them before leaving and number two cat did throw up in his box half way. Just had to stick that out till we got here. He did cry a bit so you might want the stereo on!

I can't comment on sedatives as I wouldn't be overkeen myself.

I did, also, drive my ex when she moved a distance more like that you are undertaking (she had 2/3 cats at the time) and that went fine. Cats slept most of the journey

When my mum had to go live with family when she was at the end of her battle with cancer we moved them from Inverness to Nottingham by train



We got a sediative from the vet made them a little sleepy but they were still a bit vocal lol Didnt suffer any ill effects and settled straight back in.



We did London to inverness with 2 kittens no medication and they were fine. Also did London to Birmingham a couple of times too. We had a tray with us and we let them out of their boxes on harnesses whenever we stopped and then just threw the litter away they didnt mind a bit. Did this on several occasions when they were too tiny to leave at home on their own. One of them now loves going in the car.



Have you used a cattery near you before? Just thinking if you have might be less stressful for him to stay with someone he at least knows then make the journey once you are settled

I'd avoid the cattery options if you can,as he is anxious, being in a cattery with strange people and other cats would probably be more stressful than being shut in a room with lots of strangers in the house.

Ahead of the move, talk to your vet about whether any sedatives might be helpful and consider getting a feliway diffuser .

If he normally has access to the outside then spend a few weeks running up to the move getting him used to using a litter tray.

For the journey, don't feed him in the morning (unless you know for sure he doesn't get carsick) Most cats are incredibly good at holding it in and tend not to like to use the litter tray unless they feel safe, so you may well be able to leave him in the carrier for the full journey. If you don't think that will be the case, consider putting a harness on him when he goes into the carrier, you can then clip a lead to it before you open any of the car doors, if you are stopping to offer him a comfort break, and you reduce the risk of losing him.
Also, take bin bags, spare newspaper, wetwipes etc so that it he does have an accident you can clean it up easily!

Having a light cloth over the carrier so he can't see out may make him feel safer during the trip

Before you go, put towels /small blankets into all his favourite places so that by the time you move you have 5 or 6 which smell of him and feel safe.

When you arrive at the new house, shut him in a room until you have unpacked. A bathroom, where you can put a litter tray, food and water and a box with one of his homely blankets in is good.

Once you are unpacked and the removal men have left, move him into a room where you can close the door. Make sure that he has food, water and litter tray, and try to ensure that there are things he can hide in/under , and ways for him to getup high if he feels safer like that. Put the blankets that smell of him in that room in places he is likely to sit (if it is a spare bedroom, consider making up the bed with your 'dirty' bedding, rather than washing it, so it smells familiar to him.

Depending on how he seems, let him get used to the new house at his own pace. Spend time in the room he is in, just sitting reading / working / whatever, so you are there but not trying to touch him, then open the door and let him come out and explore the rest of the hosue at his own pace.

Use the feliway diffuser and if he likes catnip, get one of the sprays and use that, too.

We had a cat when I was younger who spent about a month under a bed every time we moved. She didn't eat at all for about 3 days each time (she was the same on the very rare occasions she had to go to a cattery) and then went through a period when she would come out long enough to eat and pee, but that was all.

However, by the time we'd been in the new house for a couple of months she would be settled.
(by contrast, my last cat, who was very nervy, was totally unfazed by travel. He would cry when we first set off, but after 15 minutes or so would stop, and go to sleep, and was totally fine with new places. He came with me to the homes of various friends and family members with no problem at all. I would always take him in his carrier to whichever room I was going to be sleeping in, put my bag and something like a worn t-short on the bed, then open the carrier. He would have a look round, 'note' that this was 'my' space and be fine. (I'd then normally go and set up litter tray and food, and show him where those were)

The Ex and I moved four cats 400 miles to Scotland. We got sedatives from the vet, which we gave about an hour before the journey, when they started to take effect, the cats were easy to get into their individual carriers. They then just slept through the entire journey, beginning to wake as we waited on the pier for the passenger ferry, and then woke up in their new home. They weren't bothered at all, familiar furniture, familiar smells, ooh look - food