Advice on moving house with cats

[joshR]

Hi, we're due to move house in a few weeks to somewhere quite local and I just wanted to ask for some advice on how best to move our cats so that they stay happy and safe. I know that once we are moved in, we need to keep them in for at least 2 weeks so they get familiar with their new surroundings but I'm more worried about the move day itself. We've already got some plug-in feliway in the current house we live in to keep them calm while all the packing and boxes are coming out and will be putting feliway in the new house too. They are both a bit nervy in their own ways and don't like change.

On the move day itself, my plan was to put them in their cat box before anything is loaded into the van and take them across last in our car. I don't have a room in my current place to lock them in as it's a one bed flat so all rooms will be in use and I also don't want them running out of the front door while we load boxes. So keeping them confined in their cat box, even if it is for several hours, seems the most sensible option. Or the alternative is to take them across first and lock them in the second bedroom of the new house so that we can unload and unpack and just avoid that room until the very end. However, that means they will probably be there on their own in strange surroundings with lots of banging and unloading going on. Also I would be worried about them accidentally escaping from that room (for animals with non-opposable thumbs, they are very good at opening doors!) and getting terrified in their new surroundings.

Does anyone have any advice? My best scenario would be to have them stay at a friends for a couple of days but I don't really know anyone suitable locally as they have allergies or little babies or very small houses.

Thanks for your help!

[Pickle]

I would book them into a cattery for a few days so you can get yourselves sorted without having to worry. Locally there's a brilliant private cattery (very small, in a house) run by Gloria, who has looked after our cat a number of times. She treats them like part of her family and our normally shy cat loves her.

I don't have my phone to hand, but a search should bring up her number.

[joshR]

Thanks pickle, I would like to only do that as a last resort because they hated going to a cattery last time, but if that one comes recommended I will certainly bear it in mind.

[pommie]

contact deptforddiva on here, she will be able to give you good advice on this

[Pickle]

It's not your standard cattery - she only takes a few cats and is a true cat lover. Our cat came home with a goodie bag containing his favourite treats last time... Cooked chicken and prawns! I don't think he wanted to come home :)

[DJKillaQueen]

I think you've got it all about right josh. I'd move them last and when they get to the new place make sure their water and food bowls are already out. Litter tray too and any bedding they like to sleep on. They'll be fine in their boxes for a few hours - just give them lots of attention - and they'll be absolutely fine.

[DJKillaQueen]

Pickle Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's not your standard cattery - she only takes a

> few cats and is a true cat lover. Our cat came

> home with a goodie bag containing his favourite

> treats last time... Cooked chicken and prawns! I

> don't think he wanted to come home :)

LOL...Gloria sounds fab. Will search her details if ever I need to use her services too.

[siousxiesue]

I helped a mate move house with her 4 cats. The plan was I sat with them in a secure room in the old house while everything was moved out-gave them mild tranq and played games or just tried to reassure them. Then when everyting was done, they took me and the 'boys' to the new house and settled us all in another secure room, it kept them calm and meant they were not trodden on in the chaos. Also meant I did less heavy lifting lol! All four are settled and happy and funny enough a lot closer to each other-they bonded in their dislike for me!

[joshR]

Thanks for all your advice. We've actually now got a couple of weeks overlap between the move and the end of our current tenancy which will make the process a bit easier as we can do it in small bits.