By Cheryl Burns

I’ve often compared having a cat to having a young child—there’s so much love, unbelievable amounts, but also a LOT of work. You feed them, get rid of the waste that results, try to keep them out of trouble, and hear them protest if you dare to close the bathroom door. Most frustratingly, you can’t explain things to them; I’ve tried to tell mine that vet visits and nail trims are for their own good, but they never do seem to understand. Oh, and they often like the boxes better than any gift inside!

Moving is among the most stressful events a person faces (says one who has moved at least nine times as an adult and considers herself something of an expert). Even accounting for their love for boxes, can you imagine how stressful it must be for a cat? Often, home is their entire world.

This article will provide some tips to help your cats (and all the humans who serve them) cope with a move.

Preparing for the Move

• A few weeks beforehand, get your cat a collar that lists your cell phone number. Update the address when you move. Even if you keep them indoors, a little caution can save a world of tears. If your cat has a microchip, update the information.
• Talk to your vet. Whenever we travel with our cats, including for a move, we give them gabapentin to help them relax. Several vets have agreed that it’s perfectly safe, though you might want to do a trial run to see how your cat responds to the medication.
• Identify a vet and an emergency care clinic near your new home so you’re prepared if you need them.
• If you’ve got a long drive and your cat isn’t used to travel, consider a few test trips. It was only because she’d been in the car before (beyond the annual vet visit) that we knew the late, great Smoky Tiggs Burns got carsick. It wasn’t pleasant for any of us, but the right medication did wonders—for all of us.
• Stock up on supplies and make sure they’ll be accessible before, during, and after the move. A pro tip: Set aside a laundry basket for last-to-pack, first-to-open things including litter and food (and toilet paper, sheets, and towels for the humans!).

Moving Day

• Identify a room in your old home where your cat can stay while your old home is being cleared out. Prepare the room with food, water, a litter box, and a few comfort items. Make sure all doors and windows are closed. You may hear some loud protests, but this keeps your pet safe during a chaotic time.
• Use a cat carrier during the drive. It’s tempting to let them wander or put them on a lap, but the carrier is the safest option for all. You might want to put a small litter box in the carrier—ours do use it during car trips! A pheromone spray can help too.
• If you’re staying in a hotel near your destination, consider planning to leave your cat there while your things are unloaded (that was our solution last time, but our cats had some familiarity with travel and hotels). If there’s a nearby home they know, such as a friend’s place they visit when you’re away, consider leaving them there.
• If staying away during the move in process isn’t an option, once again pick a room where the cat can stay during the chaos. In addition to the litter, food, and water, leave the open carrier in that room—cats hate it when they’re in it, but many cats find access to their carrier comforting amid change. Consider using the pheromone spray here too. Visit them to reassure them you’re there and all will be OK.
• Before letting the cat explore the whole home, make sure to give it a good look. Kitty-proofing is a real thing! Close up or block any small spots that might prove tempting but become a trap. Watch out for blind cords and other things that might look like a toy from the cat’s perspective.
• Spread some toys around or even use a clean towel to rub down your cat and then spread their scent around the home. You know it’s home, and you want to help them identify it as their new territory.

Settling In

• Keep up old habits. Cats love routine. If there were times for food and times for play in the old home, keep them the same. Remember: Cats, like small children, don’t understand time zones! Adjust slowly if needed.
• Be understanding. Miss Sweet Potato Bailey Burns spent some time hiding out in a bathroom cabinet. Eventually, that cabinet would be closed and off-limits, but she picked it so we let it be hers for a couple of days. Small spaces can ease feline stress.
• If you allow your cat to go outdoors, consider keeping them inside for a couple of weeks while they get familiar with the new place and begin to understand that it is home. Supervise early outings. If possible, give your contact details to the new occupants of your old home in case your cat tries to return.

As always, give your cat some extra love! It’ll reduce their stress and yours!

Sources:

“Cats and Moving to a New Home: Making the Transition,” WebMD (July 23, 2023)

“Moving & Relocation with Your Cat: Tips & Suggestions,” Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. (Oct. 1, 2015)

About the Author: Cheryl Burns is a Legal Editor and Subject Matter Expert with BARBRI, a legal education company. After stops ranging from Atlanta to Boston, including several years in Northern Virginia, she now resides in quiet Central Pennsylvania, but she’s still a proud King Street Cats supporter (and not just because Sweet Potato Bailey Burns (f/k/a just Bailey)) is an alum!