When we initially found out that we 'd be moving our two cats, Andy and Fiona, from Wyoming to Washington, we knew we were in for a wild ride. Getting her to flourish in a cage in the cabin of a moving truck was going to be a difficulty.
Traveling with cats is no easy accomplishment. They're delicate animals with a fondness for regular, and they have a propensity to 'hole up' if dislodged of their convenience zones. Keep in mind: when moving cross nation, your animals' primary sense of stability will originate from one location: you.
Feeling some stress and anxiety about the whole thing? Here are nine expert tips that will help smooth the process, both for you and for your felines.
Before the Move
1. Keep their routines, as long as possible.
In the middle of packaging moving boxes, resolving lists and handling that huge relocation spending plan, it can be easy to let seemingly unimportant things like scooping the litter box every day fall by the wayside. Don't let it happen!
Cats depend on consistent routines to make sense of the world around them. The last thing you want to do is let on to the major upset that's occurring the corner.
2. Provide consistent levels of affection.
Maintaining routine is about far more than keeping feeding schedules. It's also important that you continue providing lots of love and affection in the midst of the pre-move hustle.
Set aside meaningful playtime, chat with them like you would in normal life and ensure they're getting all the cuddles their used to. They will be grateful for the guarantee that you're still there for them.
3. Make a veterinarian check out.
If you're moving your feline throughout the nation, it's necessary that you check out the veterinarian prior to you go. In particular, you'll wish to ensure that:
Your felines depend on date on all vaccinations and, if they're on medication, that you have a refill or 2 useful.
You have copies of your animal's medical records (including an immunization passport). When it comes time to register with a new vet upon arrival, this will help.
You ask your vet about possible cat anti-anxiety medication. While I don't recommend this for every single pet, if you suspect they will be too frightened to cope on the trip, this might be sensible.
Throughout the Move
4. Stay calm and collected.
Your existence brings with it feelings of safety and stability, even in the middle of a stressful relocation. As you make the drive, focus on keeping yourself calm and collected so as not to pass any feelings of anxiety on to your cats.
If it helps you stay relaxed, I recommend downloading calming music or podcasts ahead of time. You'll both be grateful for this!
5. Communicate with them.
Whether your cats are communicative or not, it's a fantastic idea to talk with them in a relaxing manner. They may not get the nuances, but explaining what's going on, reassuring them with a soft voice and helping them know that you recognize their distress can be really practical.
6. Provide breaks occasionally.
When we embarked on the 1,000 mile plus drive to Washington, all we desired to do was go, go, go. Our cats, however, needed to be able to keep up.
We took purposeful breaks every few hours to let them extend and consume water outside their cages, ensuring to block off any potential escape routes in the vehicle first (this is crucial!) and kept a little travel bin website of toys and deals with helpful.
Note: Tension might trigger your felines to end up being less than thinking about food or utilizing the litter box. Don't stress it. They'll get there in their own time.
After the Move
7. Re-establish "normal" as quickly as possible.
As soon as you come to your location, take them to a designated space that has actually been secured and totally equipped with all their fundamentals like food, water, litter tray and toys.
Do not let them run more info loose in the new house until they have actually had a long time to change! You are likely to be unfamiliar with the place, and the last thing you wish to be doing is attempting to draw your feline out of a remote hiding spot you never understood existed.
8. Reward excellent habits.
When you feel that your cat has had adequate time to cool down, consume and use the potty, and adapt to brand-new smells, take them on a tour of the rest of the house. Communicate frequently, reveal them around, and reward their interest and calm with deals with!
9. Provide time to adjust.
Ideally, your feline will alleviate into his/her new living situation without problem. Provide lots of time to adjust, devoting as much quality time to them as possible, and keep your eyes peeled for any indication of anxiety.
Need to be away from home for a duration of time while you get settled? Think about employing a pet caretaker on a per hour basis to relieve the separation! They'll provide affection and care while you're away, increasing the sense of stability that your family pet so frantically needs at the close of the move.