Top tips for moving home with a cat

If you have a cat, you’ll know how territorial they can be. They get very used to their own space, not just in the house but also in the gardens around your property. That means when you move with a cat, there are a few things you need to consider to minimise your pet’s stress, keep them safe and help them settle into your new home.

At Removals Unlimited, we can help you manage every aspect of your home move. This will take some of the stress off your shoulders and give you a bit more time to dedicate to your cat on and around moving day.

Vets4Pets has some really useful advice about moving home with a pet. Moving day can be stressful and we all know that cats are great escape artists. If you’re planning to keep your cat with you, make sure they are confined to one room in your old home. Make sure you tell our professional movers which room the cat is in too.

Leave your cat with its bedding, food and water. Make sure that you pack these things last, as having familiar items around will help reduce your cat’s stress. These should also be some of the first things you unpack in your new home to help your cat settle in.

You can also use cat pheromones to help keep your cat calm. These can be bought from pet stores as sprays or plug-in diffusers. Start using the pheromones at least 24 hours before you begin packing.

However, if you can afford to spend the money on a cattery, or have friends or relatives who can look after your cat on moving day, that will make the process a little easier.

When you’re transporting your cat from your old property to your new home, make sure it’s in a secure cat carrier. Otherwise it’s easy for your feline friend to escape. This is what happened to Percy the cat, who escaped from a car 60 miles from his new home.

Earlier this year the Hereford Times shared Percy’s story. After his escape midway between Stockport and Hereford, he spent four weeks living wild before he was caught and reunited with his owners. It’s the perfect example of why it’s so important to use a secure cat carrier when transporting your cat on moving day.

It’s also important to make sure that your cat’s microchip is updated with your new address so that they can be returned to you if they do get lost during or shortly after your move.

Using an experienced and reliable local removals company in Christchurch will help minimise your stress on the day of the move and mean you’re able to spend time calming your cat and keeping an eye on them.

Once we get to your new home, it’s important to keep your cat safe and indoors. Our team will be bringing furniture and boxes in from the removal vans and trucks, so make sure your cat is confined to one room. Tell us which room you put your cat in and our professional team will make sure we don’t open the door.

Don’t be tempted to let your cat out to go exploring too soon. According to Vets4Pets, you should keep your cat inside for at least three weeks after you move to give them time to settle in and adjust to their new territory.

If you’re looking for professional movers to take some of the stress out of your move, get in touch with us today for a free, no obligation quote.