Helping kitty move

[teddybears4ever2]

My husband and are about to move and I would love to know some ways to make the move less stressful.  Last time we moved she went and hid and no one could find her. I was wondering if I should lock her up for awhile and see how she does.  
She seems edgy and is going into every box to investigate what is in them and we have been letting her do this.  She is an only kitty.  

[swampcritter]

That is great news!

[teddybears4ever2]

She would always escape out of our old place. She has yet to run out the door here. She loves it here so much.

[nancyjac]

That's great!  Sounds like she really like her new digs.

[teddybears4ever2]

She did really well. She never hid and walked around meowing and checking out the new area.  She found the steps (we didn't have steps in our old place) and ran up and down them meowing.  She also loves the back door that has a ton of sun that pours into it and laid on her back and soaked up the sun.  She also found the front window and loves to lay in it.  She realized that our bed was there and spent all night sleeping with my husband the first night.  She will usually do this.  She will race you down the steps every time you go up and down.  She is still the same snugglebug she has always been.  She saw me out the sliding glass door yesterday when I was bringing in the groceries and meowed, I couldn't hear her, but I saw her.  

[swampcritter]

Its pretty normal for cats to hide after a move. Swampy thinks that when you first move her, select a closet for her to hide in. Let her out of the carrier in the way that if she wants to hide she'll run right in. But her food and litterbox near the closet where she can find it.

Wait.

10-12 hours later, when the sun goes down, a little movement...you'll hear the litter box being used, you'll hear some chomping at the food bowl, a little exploration...and back in the closet.

Give her a few days. She will explore and come out at her own pace. And sooner or later, she'll accept your new place as hers too.

[AnnieBrooke]

I think that (except for the question of boarding her overnight) we're all pretty much saying the same thing.  Give her a small, safe space that has her own stuff in it (by box I meant litter box, not just a box) and give her reassurance, and let her come out at her own pace to explore while still having this safe space to retreat to if she needs it.  

As for the day of the move, put her in a carrier at least, so you won't have her squirting out of the house right when you're looking for her in order to drive away the last time.  :)  

[Jade59]

Hi, just another idea.  Take your cats toys and scratching post (if you have one) cat bed or whatever special things she likes and set all this up in a corner of the house so she might have a place to hang out that seems familiar to her.  

Good luck with your move.  Gonna be a looong day :(

[teddybears4ever2]

We are not hiring movers, since we can't afford it.  She was playing in boxes all night last night, and she is going to be coming over tomorrow morning with us.  

[PrettyKitty1]

I agree with Annie. Some cats are easy going and will automatically want to explore the new environment. Others, like my cat, get traumatized and scared, and WILL stop eating in some cases. I went through that!!! So locking her up at the new place for some time is a great idea. Be sure to have her litter box, toys and objects she already is familiar with WITH her in the room. Keep the same food and feed her at the same time. In other words, keep everything the way it has always been. Reassurance is always important. When she is ready to come out she will come out. Pet her a lot, as this will let her know she is ok and nothing will happen to her. Talk to her just to calm her down a bit. This will help the moving process be a smooth one. Most cats do not like change. Let us know how it all went!

Good Luck!!

[nancyjac]

I guess I have a different view.  Cats are naturally very curious so her interest in the packing process is quite normal behavior.  Being "on guard" when her environment is changing dramatically is also normal behavior.  Locking her up deprives her of this normal behavior and conveys to her that this is a bad thing.  Hiding in a new environment is also normal behavior. Let her hide.  She will come out and start to investigate her new environment when she is ready.  Hiding is security for her.  Forcing her out of hiding or confining her is what is likely to cause stress.  Let her adjust on her own terms rather than yours.  I do agree with confining her for her own security while everything is being physically moved in and out, but why add the additional stress of an extra transport back and forth to board her overnight in an environment that you and your husband aren't even in.  She would be lock in a cage the size of a carrier and not let out for hours in a boarding facility anyway.

[AnnieBrooke]

She clearly knows something is going on.  It's OK to let her look in the boxes, cats love boxes!  Just be sure you know where she is when you begin sealing things up.

I'd suggest boarding her overnight on the day of the move, unless you are in fact leaving town.  Then bring her to the new place.  That way there is no risk she will run off when the movers are working.  Either that, or lock her in a carrier first thing, and don't let her out for hours, but that doesn't seem very kind.  

As for the new place, start with her in a very confined space, like a small bathroom or maybe a laundry room, give her her usual bed (don't wash it), a box, a scratching post, food and water, and spend time with her a bit every hour.  Then leave the door ajar.  She'll have a safe place from which to explore.