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Moving house

• Message 1. 

  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:30 GMT
  
  I am moving next weekend. I hope the new house will suit the cats much better - away from any roads and very quiet (current house is on a busy road and very noisy). The cats are going to a cattery next weekend while the move is happening and everything will be in place when they finally come to the new house (well, that's the plan). I've identified a quiet place for litter trays (walk-in cupboard under stairs) and cat flap will be locked and blocked until they are ready to go out. How many days before they can go outside? A couple of weeks? The new garden is very secure - very high and thick hedge on one side, tall fence on the other and large back garden gate.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Sunny Clouds (U7606212) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  I'd take into account whether they can see the garden from indoors. If they can, I think they'll feel ok to go out sooner than if not. I think the convention is two weeks, but if you're not sure, leave it three.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:38 GMT, in reply to Sunny Clouds in message 2
  
  There are nice big window sills, so they will be able to see the garden. The cat flap is in the back door.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Schez (U2212013) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Poppy I can't give any advice about the cats but I would like to wish you much happiness in your new home.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:02 GMT, in reply to Scheherezade in message 4
  
  Thanks. I have to admit that I'm so tired at the moment (moving is coinciding with an incredibly busy time at work) that I can't quite get enthusiastic about it. Once I'm there, and the cats have settled, it will be great.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Schez (U2212013) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Poppy moving is so stressful, it's not good to come at such a busy time. I hope you have some help at least.

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• Message 7

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  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:14 GMT, in reply to Scheherezade in message 6
  
  Thanks, again - I hadn't really understood how stressful it would be. But OH is coming for the weekend and son is around with a couple of strong friends.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  I hope the move goes smoothly, poppy. It sounds a much more peaceful location than you are in now (though I pined for noisy central London after we moved to the sticks for a while, I have to say).
  
  As far as the cats are concerned, I think it depends very much on the cats, but I wouldn't let them out for at least two weeks anyway. In fact, when you first bring them in, they might better actually confined to one room at least for 24-48 hours or so, before exploring the rest of the home. Cats can squeeze out of the tiniest openings if they feel the need, so beware of slightly opened windows, however high up, and so on.
  
  I can recommend the liberal use of Feliway products in their new home too (plug in diffuser and aerosol):
  
  
  
  After the two weeks, I'd assess how they are in themselves: confident or insecure. I'd accompany them out on their first few outings till you are satisfied they are confident out there.
  
  Don't forget to update the company which holds their microchip details on their database (or get them microchipped before letting them out if they haven't already been chipped). Might be worth taking good pics of them too, just in case you need to go knocking on neighbours' doors if they go walkabout.
  
  Hope you've got a good vert lined up - we interviewed local vets before making an offer on our house (exc. mark).
  
  Good luck with everything.
  
  Rusty
  
  
  
  

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• Message 9

  , in reply to message 8.

  Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:32 GMT, in reply to Rusters in message 8
  
  After the two weeks, I'd assess how they are in themselves: confident or insecure. I'd accompany them out on their first few outings till you are satisfied they are confident out there. 
  
  That's what I was thinking when I read your OP - you'll know whether they are still at all stressed, and whether they think of your new house as "home".

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• Message 10

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  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:46 GMT, in reply to carrick-bend in message 9
  
  Have checked out the vets, Rusters, and also the local catteries. Strangely, I now live in a village and am moving to a town - an incredibly noisy village, however, whereas new town is small and much nearer south coast. Have got Feliway (wish they did it for humans). Cats are not microchipped but think I will get that done on first visit to new vet. I just hope they like their new home - their is a nice big airing cupboard for Winston (he sleeps in the one here) so will put all his favourite sheets in there (he has a little pile that we no longer use) and at least all their things will still be around.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by Rusters (U11225963) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  Doh! - I took from your first post that you were moving from a bustling city to a quiet village, perhaps a thatched cottage with roses round the door......
  
  Well, I suppose the closest things to Feliway for humans would be Rescue Remedy, which you can get in spray form now, or calming essential oils like lavender.
  
  It is pretty cold here at the moment, a snug bed in an airing cupboard sounds good to me.
  
  Rusty
  
  
  
  

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• Message 12

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by RosieT (U2224719) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  poppy the vegetable grower in message 1
  
  Wishing you happiness and ease in your new home, poppy.

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• Message 13

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  Posted by Lindfield (U11070610) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  How far are you moving Poppy?
  
  We moved with cats twice - the first time they were only about a year old and we moved across town. We kept them in a week and they were fine.
  
  However, the next time (5 years later) we had problems with one of the cats - the more confident one. We had only moved about a mile and even though we kept him in for a week, he went straight back to the old house. So we kept him in for two weeks but he went straight back as soon as we let him out. I think there were two issues - the main one being his old patch overlapped his new one so he could find his way back easily. The other issue was that some neighbours fed him.
  
  SO, IME, if you are moving more than a couple of miles as the crow flies, they will probably settle quite quickly but be more wary if you are only moving a few streets.
  
  Good luck with the move.

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• Message 14

  , in reply to message 13.

  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:19 GMT, in reply to Lindfield-Lady in message 13
  
  Thanks, all. Rusters, you would think moving from a village to a town would be going from quiet to bustle, wouldn't you? I think this must qualify as the noisiest village in the country and I'm always worrying about the cats, the road and the traffic from the little businesses at the back of my house (Winston is particularly scared of this). Town is on the edge of the South Downs and quite sleepy. New road is a cul de sac - front of the house is a green with no roads anbd back has only minimal traffic. I have checked for dogs etc. I just hope they like it - I did turn out a couple of houses that were not cat friendly.

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• Message 15

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by Lindfield (U11070610) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  They are very lucky to have such a caring owner.

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• Message 16

  , in reply to message 14.

  Posted by La Sharpissima (U1476061) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  Poppy, good luck with the move, I hope it all goes smoothly.
  
  I am not a cat person so don't know if this is a good idea but when some friends of mine moved a few years ago they bought a couple of leads and took the cats into the new garden, on long leads, after a day or so so the cats could get used to the garden but could not run off.

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• Message 17

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  Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  I like that idea, but it depends a lot on the cats. We had a lead for one of our cats after he had be in an accident, and with his expensive leg, wasn't yet allowed to roam too far or for too long. He didn't like it, but he would wear it. One of the other cats wouldn't even tolerate it. I know other people whose cats have been used to the lead from young, and don't seem to mind it - just like some cats are easier to get into cat boxes.
  
  2 weeks rings bells with me, too, but I think you'll have some idea of how the cats are feeling about things. My sister moved earlier this year, and her cat still likes to trek back to the old home once in a while, even months later, but he always roamed a fair way anyway (and lives somewhere that that isn't too much of a big deal). On the other hand, my mother's cats settled into their new home fairly quickly and haven't seemed at all curious to see beyond the garden of their new home at all. (They were some of the most uninteresting cats I've ever met - most have far more personality.)

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• Message 18

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  Posted by Dunlurkin NL (U2675855) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  poppy - if you pass this way, and have a moment to spare, do you have a link to your Darth Vader machine thread?
  
  
  
  Dunlurkin

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• Message 19

  , in reply to message 18.

  Posted by katsura (U13949689) on Monday, 19th October 2009

  Hi poppy, I've just moved house too, I found the easiest thing to do was to take her out a few times on a harness, just to sniff out and learn the layout of the new garden, alleyways, etc.
  
  Good to hear you had the forethought to use a cattery, a friend of mine was able to look after mine for a couple of days while did the actual move, but something I was watching on TV a couple of weeks back (probably Animal 24/7) they were saying how often people just end up abandoning their cats at their old house because they leave it right until last minute on moving day to try and find the cats, who of course, have disappeared off somewhere with all the commotion going on, so just go off and leave them.

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• Message 20

  , in reply to message 19.

  Posted by Sunny Clouds (U7606212) on Tuesday, 20th October 2009

  Further thoughts.
  
  When I moved house not long ago, Sunny Cat seemed ok, but I noticed that she was looking very manky. I concluded that being surrounded by ever-increasing mountains of boxes and disassembled furniture, she could eat, purr and sleep, but couldn't relax enough to wash properly.
  
  After we moved, I groomed her a lot and watched how she was. When her fur became soft and glossy again, fanning out evenly not sticking in clumps, I knew that she was fully settled.
  
  I'd suggest watching to see if a cat is settled in that way would help to give a clue as to how safe and confident they might feel to go out.

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• Message 21

  , in reply to message 20.

  Posted by poppy (U2220656) on Tuesday, 20th October 2009

  Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:44 GMT, in reply to Sunny Clouds in message 20
  
  Thanks, Sunny Clouds - a good point. My son suggested brushing them more as a special treat to relax them. I will definitely try it.

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• Message 22

  , in reply to message 21.

  Posted by carrick-bend (U2288869) on Tuesday, 20th October 2009

  Tue, 20 Oct 2009 08:26 GMT, in reply to poppy the vegetable grower in message 21
  
  Anything positive which encourages them to think of the new house as home is worthwhile; SC is quite right, also, if you have a cat which likes playing, some of that.
  
  These things would de-stress an established cat when you brought in a new one, as well.

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