How can I de-stress my cat?

[annavc]

Just moved house last weekend and obviously Sam the cat came too. He seems ok in the new place most of the time and is spending a fair amount of time lying around near me and purring. He's eating fine and using his litter tray - he's even had a few supervised trips out into the garden.

But despite all this he keeps having periods of half an hour or so when he walks about crying, mioawing constantly and he seems to be pulling lumps of hair out too - I keep finding big clumps on the floor. He's long haired so he's got plenty of it but I'm worried that its a sign of stress.

Is there anything I can do to help him settle in better and calm down?

[what..the?]

Making sure the cat has all it familiar things around it and you take the cat around the house with you and play with it in each room so to provide new 'familiar' memories.

And of course lots of love!

[eyeshade]

You could try "rescue remedy" from health food shops, pet shops and some vets. Some people swear by this for their animals, you can put a few drops in their water or food (check the label), its worth a try!

[WendyS]

the hair pulling out may be a combination of stress at the strange surroundings and heat exhausion following the recent heatwave which must have been very exhausting for him.

I'd suggest plenty of fuss and attention and lots of gentle grooming with a very soft brush. He may, of course, have picked up some kind of skin infection or fleas which are biting and irritating him, so probably a check-up with the vet would be in order.

[puddycat]

You can get soemthing from the vet called Feliway. It's comes as either a spray form or a plug-in. Feliway produces a smell that, to cats is like their pheromones and it puts them at ease. It doesn't really smell of anything to humans.

I used it when I first moved and the cats were fine. I've also suggested it to friends when their cats were stressed by building work and it solved their problem.

[annavc]

Thanks everyone. He's certainly getting lots of love and attention and in the last 12 hours or so actually seems to have calmed down quite a bit - also finding fewer clumps of hair around the place too. Yesterday evening he fell asleep on the back of the sofa with both his front paws resting on my shoulders and couldn't have looked more relaxed so hopefully he's settling down.

He's actually due at the vets in a week anyway for his annual boosters so unless it gets worse again before then I'll get him checked over next week.

Thanks again.

[The Big Gill]

Sounds like he's OK while you're around, but perhaps less happy in other areas without your presence. If this is what it is, maybe you could just spend a little time with him in places you wouldn't normally linger - hallways, landings, spare room etc.
When I got my cat, the rescue recommended keeping him in one room for the first week, but it sounds like your cat has had the run of the place - once he gets the idea that the house is a safe place he should be fine.