Tips on Transferring a Cat to a New Home

Cats love familiarity. Sudden changes in environment, like during a move from one home to another home, can stress the cat and can cause various stress-related problems like urine spraying, excessive grooming or hiding. Keep your cat calm and reduce the risk of stress-related problems for a more enjoyable moving experience for both you and your feline companion.

  1. Create A Refuge

    • Setup a cat refuge--a quiet, secluded area with everything your cat needs, like food, a litter box and a scratching post--in your old home before you begin packing. This gives your cat somewhere to escape as you rearrange its once-familiar territory. Setup a similar refuge in your new home with some of your cat's old toys and objects. The new refuge should be in a room or area that can be closed to contain your cat while you're moving in.

    Containment

    • Keep your cat contained in its refuge while you're away from your new home until it's comfortable with the new setting, according to Ohio State University. When you're home, open up access to and from the refuge area to allow the cat time to explore the house at its own pace. It may take several weeks, or even months, before the cat feels comfortable in the home.

    Home Inspection

    • Inspect your new home before you let your cat explore, according to Stanford University. Look for doors or windows that are open--if your cat escapes in a new neighborhood, it won't be able to find its way back to you--and clear away unsafe items that may have been left out during the move.

    Medications

    • Cats stressed by the move can be calmed with a variety of products. The University of California and Stanford University both recommend using a synthetic feline pheromone spray, which may help make the home smell welcoming and can calm a cat's senses. Prescription medications can also help calm an excessively stressed cat. Consult your cat's veterinarian for further information on what's appropriate for your specific cat.