How To Move Home with a Cat
November 8th, 2007
My wife and I are getting ready to move to our new home. We have a domestic cat - would it be a good idea or a bad, if not cruel, to put our kitty in a cage for a while at the new house with the kitty litter with him? He does not get to go outside and we definitely don't want him to soil our new home. He has been fixed and front paw declawed for 1 yr. and is a very good cat....never once has he soiled our existing home......what to do?
Comments
Kitty will do just fine in
Kitty will do just fine in his/her new home. The best thing to do is block off a certain room eg: hallway,basement,bathroom to introduce kitty to his/her new digs. This will introduce a sense of comfort with smells and sounds of the family. I do not like the cage issue unless the kitty is use to sleeping in a crate or cage, this could scare the animal being dislodged from the family. Most animals will find a hiding place in a new area until a comfort level is abtained.
I hope this transition goes smooth.
I've moved my cat many
I've moved my cat many times.
Pick a place in your new house that you won't mind the cat claiming as his "safe place". (Like a certain closet, or a specific room.) When you bring your cat to the new place, lock him in that closet/room while you finish the move. Once you're done hauling stuff in (and doors are safely shut), let him out of that locked area to explore. He'll be just fine after getting over the initial "trauma" of moving.
However, choose that "safe place" carefully, because it'll probably stand as his safe place for the rest of his time in that home. (I don't recommend a bathroom or guest room - especially if your cat is a bit territorial or unfriendly towards guests. Your guests will never be able to use that room if he feels they are invading his "safe place".