Feliway

I’m moving house. How will my cat cope?

The moving process and the changes and challenges that result (removal men, boxes, unusual noises, removed furniture, decoration work …) can be very disturbing for your cat.

New research shows that 43% of cats will take over a week to adjust to new surroundings with 65% of pet owners believing that a house move is equally or more stressful for our pet than for us..

Moreover, while your previous home was full of signals deposited by your cat that marked it as familiar and safe, there are no such signals in the new home and everything is new and different. This can cause your cat to feel very unsettled and you may notice changes in his/her behaviour. Your cat my choose to hide and appear to shun interaction with the family. He/she may lose his/her appetite and/or begin urine marking or scratching…

Feliway^® can ease the whole process by giving a sense of familiarity and security to your cat, helping then cope during the moving period and adjust to your new home.

“Moving house is a mentally challenging time for all concerned, but particularly for cats. After all, they will find themselves in unfamiliar territory with lots of strange smells, wondering what on earth has happened! This is something that can be extremely stressful for territorial animals like cats,” explains pet behaviour counsellor Vicky Halls.

Top five tips for moving house with your cat – by Vicky Halls

To help your house move go smoothly, follow these top tips:

1. On the day of the move, shut your cat or cats into one room that has been cleared, leaving food, bedding, a litter tray, one piece of furniture in / under which he/she can hide and the travel box. Make sure that the removal team knows that the door to the room must be kept shut to avoid him/her going missing at the last moment

2. If you have access to the property before the removal van arrives it is helpful to plug in a Feliway Diffuser to make your cat feel more comfortable when he/she arrives

3. Try to unload one room first. Here the cat can be shut to rest and recover from the car journey while you sort out the rest of the house

4. When you first allow your cat outside, it is best to choose a weekend when you are at home and let him/her out just before meal time

5. Ensure your cat is micro-chipped in case he/she gets lost

More information about how Feliway^® can help your cat during the moving process