Moving house is a big change for anyone, but it can be genuinely frightening for pets. Cats take it hardest of all. Every year cats go missing after a move simply because the preparation was left too late or the routine slipped on the day.
Before moving day
- Leave the carrier out at home with treats and a blanket inside so it stops being a threat
- Update the microchip database and check your phone numbers are current
- Book a cattery for a day or two either side of the move if you can
- Plan the cat space at the new house. A spare room is ideal and a large dog crate works if you have no spare room
- Buy a fresh litter tray and litter for the new house
Moving day
- Take the cat to the cattery first thing, before the crew arrives
- If the cat travels with you, make sure the carrier is secured in the car
- Do not feed them before you set off. Travel sickness is common
- Set up a cat zone at the new house away from windows and outside doors
- Put a large sign on that door so nobody opens it while the lorry is unloading
Setting up the safe room
Moving day is loud and every door is propped open, which is exactly how cats escape. Many owners put the cat into cattery care the day before and collect them once the vans have gone. If that is not an option, one closed room or a large crate is the safest alternative.
Give them food, water, a clean litter tray, a blanket that smells of home and some catnip. When you arrive, carry the box into the room, open the door and walk away. Never tip a cat out of the carrier. Let them come out when they are ready. That room is their whole world for the first few days.
How long does it take a cat to settle in a new home?
Settling is slow. Your cat does not understand what has happened and spooks easily even with you nearby. After a couple of days let them explore the rest of the house, but keep every window and outside door shut.
The biggest mistake owners make is letting the cat out too soon. Put up with the meowing and pacing. A frightened cat that bolts in unfamiliar territory keeps running away from home rather than back to it.
When can your cat go outside?
Keep your cat indoors for two to three weeks. Everyone in the house needs to know the rule, which can be tricky with children running into a new garden. If there is any risk of an open door, keep the cat in the safe room longer and let them out into the house in the evenings when things are calm.
For that first trip outside, remove food the night before and let them out first thing in the morning so they are hungry. Fit a collar and ID tag and confirm the microchip record is updated. Put the used litter tray near the back door because the scent helps them find their way back. Even with a cat flap, leave the door open at first so the route home is obvious.
Final thoughts
A little planning and buy in from the whole family turns a move into a mild inconvenience for your cat rather than a trauma. Keep doors shut, keep them in for the full two to three weeks and they will settle without roaming.
Planning a move in Reading or anywhere in Berkshire? Speak to our team for a fixed written quote and a calm, well planned moving day.
FAQs
Questions people ask us about this
01Should my cat go to a cattery on moving day?
If you can, yes. A cattery for the night before and the night of the move removes every escape risk while doors are open, and your cat comes home to a quiet house with the furniture already in place.
02How long should I keep my cat indoors after moving house?
Two to three weeks. Less than that and the cat has not yet mapped the house as home, which is when cats bolt and get lost in unfamiliar streets.
03Can removals crews move pets?
No. Pets always travel with you in your own car for their own safety. We can plan the loading order so your cat's safe room is unloaded first at the new house.