Moving with Your Cat: How to Make It Less Stressful for Your Cat
The change of residence is always associated with a lot of stress and work. This is especially true when it comes to a move with a cat. After all, in this case it is not only necessary to take care of various things, but also to keep the needs of the four-legged friend in mind.
What you as a cat owner have to pay attention to when moving and how you can make it easier for your cat to settle in, you will learn in the following.
This is important during the preparation of the move
It is very likely that your cat will notice that something is strange long before you move. For this reason it is very important that you take good care of your cat during this phase, despite all the planning and errands.
Don't let your cat miss out in the days and weeks before the move and make sure that your four-legged friend feels comfortable by stroking him extensively and playing together.
When planning the furnishing, take the preferences and habits of your cat into account. The more of her usual objects such as the feeding bowl and litter tray are placed in the same place in her new home, the easier it will be for your cat to find her way around once she has moved.
Immediately before the move with your cat
When the hot phase of the move begins and boxes are packed and furniture is taken down, it may be useful to place your cat temporarily with friends.
Even if some of your four-legged friends are interested in what is going on, the hectic pace of life can cause uncertainty and make it difficult to settle in after the move.
Although the temporary change of home during the move is also associated with stress for your cat. However, compared to the restlessness at home, this is usually the lesser evil.
If you don't have the possibility to use a friend or family member as a cat sitter, we recommend that you set up a room in your old apartment as a place to withdraw your cat for the duration of the move.
This is how to make the move as stress-free as possible for your cat
Before your cat moves, you should have your new home as much as possible ready and at least the worst of the chaos should be removed. Ideally your quadruped will find as many familiar things as possible when he moves into his new home.
Because even though we humans are happy about new furniture when moving, cats prefer familiar furnishings. If you are planning a new furnishing, it is therefore advisable to do this gradually.
On the other hand, you should generally avoid buying new cat equipment. Moving with your cat is the worst possible time to buy a new scratching post or litter tray.
What you need to look out for after moving with your cat
Pick up your cat personally for the move together and explore your new home together with her. Also give your four-legged friend some time to discover everything and find his way around. A cosy retreat helps your cat to acclimatise, especially after long journeys.
On the day you move in, you should keep the amount of food your cat is given low so as not to overtax her digestion. Of course, this does not apply to fresh drinking water. This should always be available to her in sufficient quantities.
In the first days after moving in, it is advisable not to leave the cat alone for too long. Therefore, try to take a lot of time for your four-legged friend despite stress and give him enough attention.
Temporary house arrest for persons on leave
If a cat is used to outdoor activities, a move is a special challenge for animal and owner. Especially if the new home is nearby, many cats try to return to their old home after moving.
For this reason it is necessary that you deny your four-legged friend access to the outdoor area during the first weeks after moving in. By doing so, you ensure that your cat internalises its new territory and knows where it belongs in the future.
It may well be four or five weeks before this happens. Ideally, you should take the first walks together, so that you can keep an eye on your four-legged friend.
When your cat finally goes out on her own, we recommend that you limit feeding to one meal a day for the time being. Your cat will receive this meal each time he returns home. In this way, your cat will learn to link her new home with her food.
Shiimun Calm as support for the move with cat
It doesn't matter how hard you try. In the end, moving is still a stressful experience for your cat. In order to help your four-legged friend relax, we recommend that you take a natural food supplement containing Shiimun Calm in the days before and after the move.
This is an easily digestible product that we have developed especially for anxious and stressed pets such as cats. Shiimun Calm contains only well-tolerated natural ingredients and can make an important contribution to ensuring that your cat copes well with the move.
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