moving house with my cat

[DONNA1458]

How do i introduce her to the new house and make sure she doesnt get lost. I also want her to go to the back of the house rather than the front as there is a quiet road in front. TIA

[sara3]

you have to treat her like a new cat again, and keep her in for at least a couple of weeks until she gets used to the new smells in the house. then start letting her out the back while you're around.. but she will end up out the front at some stage!

[ganesh]

I have moved twice in two years with my young cats and so far they have survived! I put mine in a cattery for a few days while we moved then when I brought them into the house with all the familiar smells of the furniture,people etc.
I suppose it depends on your cats and how dangerous the area is but there was no way I could keep mine in for 2 weeks! They were going stir crazy after 2 days and both times we let them outside on the third day. Let them out when they are hungry so that when you call them back they will hopefully come back for food.
Can you put a cat flap in the back door to sort of direct them into the back first?

[jack daniels]

have a look

http://www.wikihow.com/Keep-a-Cat-from-Running -Away-when-It-Is-Moved

[Nosha123]

It may help just to allocate her one room to start with - with her bedding and food and a litter tray etc - maybe your bedroom so she has you for company at night - just for a day or two as a whole new house may be too overwhelming. Unless she is the curious type.
If she is well behaved and comes when you call her - let her out after 1-2 weeks and make sure she is hungry so she is more likely to come back when you call her..
I didnt let mine out on their own to start with either - or at night.... they settled down just fine.

[Sqad]

We have made 3 moves with 2cats within 5yrs.

I have read about keeping them in for varying periods of time, but ours when let out of the boxes, disappeared and reappeared again in 10mins and they have been disappearing, but reappearing in intervals varying from 1hour to 12 hours.

[ganesh]

I agree with Squad.Let them go as soon as you are comfortable with it,advice of 3 weeks is just ridiculous unless they are really dumb cats or you have only moved a half a mile away and they may prefer their last pad to the new one! My cats were miaowing at the door after exploring the house for a couple of hours. Think of it from their point of view,not only have you uprooted them from everything they knew but you've also imprisoned them!
The traffic would be my only concern but the sooner they work out where the roads are the better.
I read the web-link (cream cheese on their paws? What rubbish!)

[Fairie]

I have moved house twice with my cat and was frightened to let her out when i first moved and tried to keep her in but after 3-4 days i had to give in. The second house move she was out on day 2!!! firstly just in the back garden and in the wooded area at the back of the house, but now i dont know how far she goes, she's sometimes gone for hours!! I guess you'll know when to let her out and like another post has suggested, stay close to her the first few times, if you want to encourage her to stay at the back, only use this way to put her out and call her in. Good luck

[LindyLouLou]

Hi Donna
Funny to read your post as I moved house 2 and a half weeks ago and only let my 2 cats out yesterday for the first time!
When we got to our new house, we just let them wander around at their own pace. I put something like a towel or blanket in each room so they had familiar scents they could lie on. I was really surprised that they stayed in so long without protesting as they were used to a cat flap and coming and going as they pleased.
Yesterday, for the first time, I left the back door open and they both had a good sniff around outside but they kept coming back to the back door though and I think the idea of keeping them in for the 2 weeks or so is to make them realise they have a new home and allow them to feel it is a refuge.
I also put butter on the front of their paws (I dont care if its an old wives tale or not - I'd do anything if I thought it would help) and they sat outside washing themselves so I it did something.
Good luck