Moving Home with our Feline Friends

When moving home, it is easy to overlook arrangements for our pets, and for cats this can be especially unsettling. On the day of the move, we always recommend that owners put their cat in a cat carrier, with a little food, in the smallest bedroom in the house with a notice on the door telling the crew to leave this room until last. Some cats can be of a nervous disposition and we sometimes suggest using a plug in pheromone diffuser in the room to help them relax.

It is best to avoid feeding your cat just before you leave the house and then put the cat carrier in your car – not the removal van – for the journey. If it is a local move, there is the possibility that your cat will return to its old hunting ground so it’s always wise to warn the new occupants! And, of course, they should not feed the cat either.

Our advice is not to let your cat outside for at least two weeks. Help your cat to feel secure by rubbing a soft cloth around his face and spread this around the house by rubbing the cloth on the doorways and furniture. When you first let him out, it’s best to keep him feeling hungry so he will come back for food.

Obviously make sure he can easily get back in by leaving the door open. Ensure your cat is fitted with an identification collar and if he is not microchipped, now is the time to do it! And if he is already microchipped, then remember to change your microchip details if you move house. You can do this by contacting your microchip database – find the phone number on your microchip paperwork. Our team at Britannia Squab can provide expert advice on moving your animals with the best possible care.