Moving with a cat. Moving with a cat: make yourself at home

Preparing for the appearance of a cat in the house begins with the purchase of things necessary for it:

• Food It
  is important to choose food that is familiar to the cat, that is, it should be the brand that the previous owners fed it. If you purchase a purebred kitten, breeders may offer a small amount of food as a gift. Don't forget to check the serving size and feeding time for your pet;
• Tray with filler
  It is also advisable to clarify what kind of filler the previous owners used. However, be prepared for the fact that the cat may refuse it in a new place. Be patient while searching for the best option;
• House or bed
  To reduce the stress of being in a new place, ask the breeder for a bedding or rug from the cat’s previous habitat. Place it inside the lounger or hutch;
• Scratching post
  Its purchase is especially important for adult animals. By the way, if you wish, you can make this accessory yourself;
• Toys
  It is better to have a lot of them and they are different. Read in advance about how to choose the right toys so that they do not harm your pet.

Moving with a cat to a new apartment: preparation

• Train your cat to be carried. Most indoor cats are familiar with carriers, but if your pet is seeing one for the first time, show him that there is nothing dangerous about the strange plastic thing. Start feeding your cat next to the container, gradually moving the bowl deeper until the animal has to enter it completely. Animals associate food with safety.

Tip: the best carriers are plastic ones with a steel lattice door. They keep their shape, do not tear and are easy to clean.

• Follow your daily routine. Feed your cat at the same time, play, socialize and go to bed at the same time. If you have problems with feeding, buy an automatic feeder with a timer that pours food into the bowl at a certain time. A very convenient thing - you will need it in the future.

Visit your veterinarian. Some cats are extremely excitable, fearful and nervous. Safe sedatives, which your veterinarian will recommend, will help alleviate the stress of moving your cat to a new apartment. For example, drops or tablets “Cat Bayun” based on herbs. Before use, be sure to consult your doctor!

About moving

It is best to transport pets in a car. A cat or small dog should be placed in a carrier cage or picked up (but only if it tolerates the trip calmly). You should not let her move freely around the cabin - this is very dangerous.

If you travel home by bus or train, it is advisable to carry a cat or small dog in a carrier, and a medium or large dog on a leash and muzzle. By the way, you must have a veterinary passport with you, which contains vaccination marks.

It is not advisable to feed animals before the trip - they may get motion sickness. And if you know that your pet does not tolerate travel well even on an empty stomach, you can purchase special anti-motion sickness medications at the pet store.

Article on the topic

Sleeping area. Which house to choose for your pet?

With a cat - to a new home: the moving process

• Lock your cat in the bathroom while the movers are working. Bring a tray, bowls of water and food, and a house to the bathroom. You can hang a sign on the door to prevent movers from accidentally opening the door and letting the “prisoner” out.
• Provide your pet with a light breakfast. On the morning of the move, feed the cat a third of its usual amount. On the way, the animal may get sick. But don’t leave the beast completely hungry either.

• Do not open the carrier on the way. Cats are extremely nimble creatures. The slightest gap is enough for them to jump out of the car. By the way, you need to transport your animal to a new home in the same car in which you yourself are traveling, and not in a truck with luggage.
• Bring duct tape or duct tape with you. They will come in handy in case the cat’s desire for freedom outweighs the “holding” ability of the carrier.

Things you can prepare before moving

Feed

If you adopt an animal from a nursery, be sure to ask the breeder about the brand of food so that you can feed the cat the usual food for the first time.

In addition to the brand of food, find out the meal times and portion sizes.

Tray and filler

In addition to the brand of food, it is important to find out the type of filler. This is important because the pet is accustomed to a certain type and may not accept a new one due to a different consistency or smell.

On a note!

Even with new litter, the cat may not go into the litter box. The reason may be either in the tray itself (wrong depth, shape, location) or in the stress of moving. Be patient and understanding.

Bed\house

For the first time, the cat must have a corner where she can retire and feel safe.

To make her as comfortable as possible, ask her previous place of residence for a handkerchief or cloth, rug/bedding. Placing him in a house or bed in a new place will help your pet reduce stress and feel comfortable.

scratching post

You won't need it if you're taking a kitten. But for adults it is mandatory if you don’t want problems with wallpaper and furniture.

Toys

It’s good when they are different and in large quantities.

In a special store or from a breeder, ask what safe and educational toys you can buy for your breed.

The most important thing: how to help your cat adapt to a new home

• Make your home safe for your cat. Hide electrical cables, install screens on windows, place poisonous indoor flowers higher. In a word, do everything that you did in the old apartment.
• Place the cat carrier in a quiet room. Before opening the door, place a tray, bowls of food and water, and a bed nearby. To interest and calm your pet, place treats and cat toys from your old apartment around the room.
• Keep the cat in a quiet room for several days. Animals explore the territory gradually, get used to new sounds and smells, calm down, and become bolder. As soon as the cat gets used to one room and the unpacking is finished, open the door and let him explore the rest of the apartment.
• Spend time with the animal. You don’t have to communicate or play, you can just be nearby, for example, reading or watching TV. To a cat, you are just another big cat. Looking at you and your behavior, the pet will understand that there is no reason to worry.

• Buy a second tray. Place it where it will remain permanently. Don’t remove the old litter box just yet; let it remain for a couple of weeks after the move. Another option: gradually move the tray from the first room to the place where it should be.

That's it - the cat's move to a new apartment is complete!

According to the old Russian tradition, a cat is the first to enter a new house, but throwing an animal in front of you into someone else’s territory is a bad idea. Therefore, you can enter the house with a carrier on outstretched arms: technically, the omen will be observed, and peace and tranquility will reign in your family.

Cat and newborn baby

If there's anything worse than moving, it's moving with your cat. However, with proper planning of this process, everything should go smoothly. Cats develop strong attachments to their environment, so moving is a potentially stressful situation. Planning ahead will ensure that the move from your previous home to your new one goes smoothly. After all, it's stressful for you first and foremost, so it's good to have one less thing to worry about.

Moving day

· Before the van arrives, it is recommended to lock the cat in a room - preferably in the bedroom.

· Bring the cat carrier, bed, food and water bowls, and litter box into this room and make sure all windows and door are tightly closed.

· Post a notice on the room door warning movers and family members not to leave the door open.

· Furniture and belongings from the bedroom should be loaded into the van last, after everything has been removed from other rooms. Before moving furniture out of the bedroom, place your cat in a carrier and carry it to the car. The journey to a new home has begun!

When transporting your pet, follow the tips below:

· First of all, you need to move the furniture from the bedroom to your new home.

· In the room where your pet will temporarily stay, place an automatic cat pheromone sprayer at floor level (you can buy Feliway replacement units at your veterinary clinic). Once the room is ready, you can place the cat, her bed, food and water bowls and a litter box there, and then close the door tightly. If possible, have one of your family members stay in the room with your pet while he explores the new area.

· Offer your cat some food.

· Once the move is complete, you can let your pet explore the new home little by little, room by room.

· It is important to remain as calm as possible yourself so that your cat feels safe.

· Make sure all exterior windows and doors are closed.

· Make sure that your cat does not sneak into the kitchen or utility room unnoticed - especially impressionable animals seek refuge in narrow crevices behind household appliances.

· If your cat is particularly sensitive, it is recommended that you place her in a cat hotel the day before moving and pick her up the day after you have settled into her new home.

How to transport your cat

· If your cat is not prone to travel, talk to your veterinarian in advance - they may prescribe a mild sedative.

· Feed your pet as usual, but make sure he eats at least three hours before travel on the day of your move.

· Transport your cat in a secure container - a basket or a special carrier.

· Spray the inside of the carrier with synthetic cat pheromones (Feliway, Ceva - you can get these from your veterinarian) half an hour before placing the cat in it.

· Place the carrier on the seat and secure it with the seat belt, behind the seat or in the back seat, securing it securely so that it cannot tip over.

· Do not transport your cat in a cargo van or car trunk.

· If the journey is long, you can stop and offer your pet water or the opportunity to use the litter box, although most cats will not need this.

· If you are traveling on a hot day, make sure the car is well ventilated, and never leave your cat inside a hot car while stopping along the way.

How to Help Your Cat Get Accustomed to a New Home

· Keep your cat indoors for at least two weeks until she gets used to her new environment.

· Feed your pet small, frequent meals.

· Maintain your previous daily routine to ensure your pet is comfortable in his new home.

· Try to make your cat feel safe in her new home. This can be achieved by spreading its scent throughout the house: take a soft cotton towel (or thin cotton gloves) and rub it on the cat's cheeks and head - this will increase the activity of the glands located on the face. Use this towel or gloves to rub the corners of door frames, walls, and furniture at your cat's height to help her learn new territory faster. Do this daily until you notice that the cat is rubbing itself against objects in the house.

· Continue using synthetic cat ferromone by placing the sprayer in different corners of the house, room by room.

· Indoor cats need extra attention as new surroundings will make them anxious.

Letting the cat go outside

· Keep your cat indoors for a couple of weeks to allow her to adapt to her new surroundings.

· Make sure that your cat has some kind of identification tag (a collar with an easily detachable part so that your pet cannot get caught) that contains information about the animal's name, as well as your address and telephone number.

· Instead (or in addition to this), you can purchase a microchip, which will ensure that if your cat gets lost, it can always be found. If your pet is already microchipped, notify the registrar company promptly of any changes in address or phone number.

· Make sure your vaccinations have not expired.

· As your cat adapts to its new surroundings, you can install a special small cat door on the door so that it can go outside in your absence. Make sure that this device is equipped with an electronic or magnetic system that controls entry into the house - it will not allow stray cats to enter the house.

· Drive away all cats that enter your garden - your pet needs your help to secure its territory, because it is a “newbie”.

· Let your pet gradually master the space outside the house. First, open the door for him yourself and go out into the yard with him.

· If your cat is used to being on a leash, it can be helpful to take her for a walk around the garden while leading her on a leash.

· Do not carry your pet outside in your arms - let him decide for himself whether he wants to explore the territory.

· Always keep the door open at first so that your cat can return to the house if something scares her.

· Cats that are used to living outdoors and have a lot of experience with changes in life usually cope well with any situation; Shy cats may need some time to adapt to new surroundings; they should be accompanied outside until they feel confident.

How to prevent your cat from returning to its previous home

If your new home is not far from the previous one, your pet, while exploring the territory, may stumble upon familiar travel routes that will lead him straight to his previous home. You should warn new residents that your cat may return to the previous home and ask them to contact you if they see her. It is important that new residents do not feed or reward your pet in any way - this will confuse him. If you are not far from your previous place of residence, it is better to keep the cat at home for as long as possible. However, this is rarely possible because cats, which tend to return to their previous hunting grounds, will not tolerate confinement in the house for such a long time. Follow the tips above to help your cat adjust to his new environment. Synthetic and natural aromas will also help you cope with this task, which will make the environment more familiar. It may take several months after leaving the previous home for your pet to fully get used to the new home. If this process causes a lot of stress for your cat, if she keeps returning to her previous home or crosses busy roads to get there, it may be more humane and safer for her to ask new residents or neighbors you are friends with to take her in.

Lifestyle changes

It is not recommended to accustom a cat, accustomed to a free life, to live exclusively at home. However, sometimes it is necessary, and moving to a new home is exactly such a case. If your cat spends most of its time outside, it may be wiser to find another home for it. If, on the other hand, your pet spends little time outside, he can safely be kept indoors in the future. Indoor cats require more effort from the owner to provide adequate exercise and prevent your pet from becoming bored. Below are some tips on how to improve your pet cat's environment:

· Hide portions of dry food in different corners of the house so that your cat can “hunt.”

· Provide several places for your pet to sit high off the floor and provide scratching posts for him to climb on.

· Regularly, at least once a day, play games with your cat that stimulate its hunting instinct.

Sometimes cat owners are so successful in choosing a new home that they can immediately allow their pet to go outside. Changing your cat's lifestyle from indoor to outdoor, if done smoothly, can improve her emotional well-being and provide a more natural life.

Follow our tips when training your cat to be outdoors, but remember that this should happen gradually. Many cats, under such circumstances, will prefer to go outside only if accompanied by you in order to feel safe.

Moving to a smaller home

If you have several cats, you need to keep in mind that each of them is used to having a certain living space in their previous home. Moving to a smaller home can cause conflict between animals. You must reduce the risk of confrontation between your pets by ensuring sufficient resources:

· Beds

· Trays

· Scratching posts

· Food bowls

Water bowls

· Highly located places for rest (cabinets, cupboards, shelves)

· Secluded corners where each animal could hide (under the bed or closet).

Moving to a new home is perhaps one of the most stressful situations in life. help your cat quickly get used to new living conditions, make sure that this period passes more calmly and with a minimum of problems - and peace and harmony will come to your home faster.

Old new place

Well, here you are at home. Pets can react differently to a sudden change in environment. As a rule, cats are the most nervous. They can mark “their” territory and hide in secluded corners. Due to stress, they sometimes even get sick! If your pet has a hard time with a change of environment, a few days before the trip you should prescribe him a course of herbal sedatives. They are sold at any pet store.

Dogs usually behave calmer, but only if the owner is nearby. The first time after moving, it is better to devote more time to them, otherwise, out of nervousness, when alone, they can cause mischief, for example, chew on things dear to your heart.

It's time to hit the road. What drug will calm your pet while traveling?

More details

Why do cats give birth prematurely?

Premature lambing in domestic, well-groomed cats is extremely rare . The reason may be one of the following factors :

1. The animal was injured (fell, hit, accidentally got under the foot of someone in the household).
2. If your pet goes outside, it can pick up an infection there. The disease will provoke early labor.
3. The cat was stressed (she was very frightened, a child appeared in the house, renovations began, her beloved owner left for a long time).
4. One kitten died in the womb. Here everything happens at the level of functions inherent in nature - the animal’s body spontaneously gets rid of the dead fetus.
5. The cat feels a threat to its offspring. This happens very rarely. For example, if a pet lives in a private house and walks in the yard, the appearance of an aggressive dog among neighbors can cause the cat to give birth prematurely - she feels that she will not be able to protect the kittens and gets rid of the litter.

© shutterstock

These are the most likely causes of premature birth in a cat. If the animal is already old (the cat is 7-8 years old or more), then the risk of premature pregnancy increases significantly.

Pedigree and selective breeds of cats may not bear their first litter. Their natural instincts are less developed, and pregnancy often occurs with complications.

How to choose a cat carrier

Protect yourself and your pet from unnecessary stress and choose a carrier. There are various designs:

• Wicker baskets are distinguished by the naturalness of the raw materials, light weight and durability of the device. But pay attention to the locks, doors and fastenings, because... they may be unstable;
• Plastic containers are easy to clean, strong and durable. Choose designs only with a metal door, not a plastic one;
• The bags are lightweight and easy to store, as well as practical handles and a long strap. The bag is easy to carry in your hands or over your shoulder. Please note that this option is not suitable for long-term transportation. However, it is convenient for trips to the veterinarian or to the country, moving within the city.

Regardless of your preferences, consider 4 main parameters:

1. Hard and hard bottom;
2. Reliable locks and fastenings. Before purchasing, open and close the door several times;
3. Durable design - avoid carrying soft plastics;
4. Spacious - inside the carrier you can easily fit not only a pet, but also a tray with a bowl of food and drink.