Moving house with a cat
Discussion
Any tips for how to get our cat accustomed to our new house. It's very much an outdoor cat and we want it to be able to have the run of the garden as soon as practical.
It's a 2 hour journey to the new place and we don't know yet if he is a good traveller, I huess we will have to take for a quick run round the block to see.
It's a 2 hour journey to the new place and we don't know yet if he is a good traveller, I huess we will have to take for a quick run round the block to see.
garycat said:
Any tips for how to get our cat accustomed to our new house. It's very much an outdoor cat and we want it to be able to have the run of the garden as soon as practical.
It's a 2 hour journey to the new place and we don't know yet if he is a good traveller, I huess we will have to take for a quick run round the block to see.
Get him there when hungry and feed him as soon as you get there. Always a good start.It's a 2 hour journey to the new place and we don't know yet if he is a good traveller, I huess we will have to take for a quick run round the block to see.
I wouldnt bother running him around the block.
I wouldnt be letting the cat out at the new place for a couple of weeks whilst he leaves his scent around the place and learns the new gaff. Therefore, I'd also put him in a catery or with friends/neighbours whilst you move as the front door will be open and closed every 2 seconds so trying to keep the cat in will be fun and games.
Once you are moved in, bring the cat to the house, leave him in for a few weeks, feed him by hand. Slowly introduce him to the garden as you would have done when he first went outside.
I wouldnt be letting the cat out at the new place for a couple of weeks whilst he leaves his scent around the place and learns the new gaff. Therefore, I'd also put him in a catery or with friends/neighbours whilst you move as the front door will be open and closed every 2 seconds so trying to keep the cat in will be fun and games.
Once you are moved in, bring the cat to the house, leave him in for a few weeks, feed him by hand. Slowly introduce him to the garden as you would have done when he first went outside.
Edited by Shnozz on Tuesday 12th August 17:46
Shnozz said:
Once you are moved in, bring the cat to the house, leave him in for a few weeks, feed him by hand. Slowly introduce him to the garden as you would have done when he first went outside.
We acquired him from a neighbour when they moved out and just abandoned him so he was already used to our area outside.I want to see if he is a good traveller so we can get a sedative from the vet if not.
minimax said:
errrr my grandmother used to put butter on the paws of the cat, they'd lick it off and tread their smell through the house making them feel at home..
..divvent knaa if it works though, like
Ha ha ha...I probably shouldn't admit to this but I've heard this as a method too and have never known that was the reason why you did it, ie the licking off and treading their smell. Whether it's true or not it's waaaay better than what I believed up until about 30 seconds ago...that they slid about and/or stuck to the floor and spazzed out so never went outside.....divvent knaa if it works though, like
Sort of like when you stick sellotape to their back and they constantly think they're walking underneath something so cat-crawl everywhere....
garycat said:
Shnozz said:
Once you are moved in, bring the cat to the house, leave him in for a few weeks, feed him by hand. Slowly introduce him to the garden as you would have done when he first went outside.
We acquired him from a neighbour when they moved out and just abandoned him so he was already used to our area outside.I want to see if he is a good traveller so we can get a sedative from the vet if not.
I cant believe I am spending my time advising someone called Gary Cat about this subject matter.
DrTre said:
minimax said:
errrr my grandmother used to put butter on the paws of the cat, they'd lick it off and tread their smell through the house making them feel at home..
..divvent knaa if it works though, like
Ha ha ha...I probably shouldn't admit to this but I've heard this as a method too and have never known that was the reason why you did it, ie the licking off and treading their smell. Whether it's true or not it's waaaay better than what I believed up until about 30 seconds ago...that they slid about and/or stuck to the floor and spazzed out so never went outside...[/DreTre]..divvent knaa if it works though, like
DrTre said:
Sort of like when you stick sellotape to their back and they constantly think they're walking underneath something so cat-crawl everywhere....
On the subject of journeys, one of ours used to do no's 1, 2 and 3 when travelling, until we found that if he sat on Mrs SC's lap, and could see out of the window, he was OK.
Obviously some care is needed when opening doors etc. We also found that keeping the temperature down helped as well.
When moving in, shut him in a room on his own with cat litter and water and something he can hide under. Make sure everybody knows not to open that door.
Couple of weeks will probably be enough, question of whether 'probably' is good enough, it wouldn't be for me, but then our cats don't go out anyway.
Obviously some care is needed when opening doors etc. We also found that keeping the temperature down helped as well.
When moving in, shut him in a room on his own with cat litter and water and something he can hide under. Make sure everybody knows not to open that door.
Couple of weeks will probably be enough, question of whether 'probably' is good enough, it wouldn't be for me, but then our cats don't go out anyway.
The cat sitting on someones knee seems to help. Mine used to sit on the gf's knee and he used to travel quite a bit with me. When I was driving by myself (except the cat) he used to sleep on the back seat and occasionally sleep on my knee curled up (probably not reccomended - especially when BiB are about). Occasionally he'd sleep on the rear parcel shelf and attract strange looks from other drivers. Then once the bloody thing decided to look out of the rear side window and in doing so stood on the window switch and opened the damn window for a better look. Not the best thing to do at 70 on the motorway! Scared the life out of me and the cat was not so impressed either! Since then he travels in his box and cries from start to finish if I am by myself. Fortunately he does not need to travel so much any more.
Oh... also he once 'gruntied' on the rear seat right in the seat belt clasp. The car was only a week old the little b
d! Another nail in the coffin of his free-range travelling!
Oh... also he once 'gruntied' on the rear seat right in the seat belt clasp. The car was only a week old the little b
d! Another nail in the coffin of his free-range travelling!Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff