Moving to a new home can be one of the most stressful situations you can find yourself in. In fact, it ranks among the top 5 most disrupting experiences according to multiple surveys. There is a lot involved during a move and a whole lot of things you will be busy with. From finding a new home, to hiring a removal service and packing everything you want to take with you.
During these stressful times you have to take into account one more thing: your cat and how difficult it will be for it as well. Cats are highly territorial; they get used to a place and bond with it. That and also the fact that cats are not huge fans of change means that your pet is going to have a stressful time dealing with the relocation.
In order to deal with the situation you have to keep certain things in mind. Make sure you follow the outlined suggestions below so that you go through this period with your pet without any worries.
– Preparation for the moving – if your kitty has never been in a carrier, chances are it will not be very happy about the perspective of moving in one. You need to introduce this item to your pet long before moving day arrives. To get the cat comfortable place the carrier near the bed or the food bowls. The more time you give your pet to get used to this strange object, the better. Start by placing the bowl of food near the carrier and every day work towards placing it closer and closer. When you feel the pet is ok with the carrier, place the bowl inside. That way your pet will think of the carrier as a safe zone and will a lot better inside during the removal.
– Introduce your cat to boxes and other packing materials – the process of moving house involves a great deal of packing in boxes and other containers. Imagine how much stress your cat will experience when the house is literally filled with great number of those all of a sudden. What you have to do is introduce those to your pet early. Allow your cat to explore them, to play with them, to get comfortable around them. This will reduce its anxiety and not alter its behavior.
– Do not change the routine of your cat – maintain the same feeding and play times. Doing otherwise will result in your cat feeling anxious and stressed a lot. It may be difficult for you, with all of the packing and crossing things off your moving checklist, but you should try to spend more time with your pet. It is only by offering care and reassurance that your kitty will feel secure and fine with the whole process.
– Limit wandering on moving day – when the moving van arrives at your front door you will want to keep your cat out of the commotion of loading boxes and walking in and out all the time. For this reason you will do well to keep your cat closed in a room and visit there from time to time to show your pet you are still there. Do not leave your kitty ignored for too long and when the time comes to move make sure you are gentle and careful with the carrier.
– Arriving at the new place – once you arrive, the first thing you have to do is set a home base area for your cat. This means a single room where you will keep the pet while it gets used to the new environment. The best way to go about moving is to gradually introduce the new home to your cat. Let the animal explore one bit at a time and always be there to help it get used. If yours was an outdoor cat previously, you should try to keep it inside now, as the new neighborhood can be stressful and way too unfamiliar.
Moving with a cat is a challenge that you have to be prepared to face. For the sake of your loving cat, make sure you understand the outlined suggestions and implement them during the removal process for a truly stress-free experience. For more tips: Removal Van Services in Acton
