HOW TO HELP YOUR CAT SURVIVE A MOVE?

My cat is special. I've never seen one like him! He's really not like the others. He's... how can I describe him? Oh, and let's face it: he's terrible! I've never seen such a cunning, hypocritical, stubborn feline in my entire life! And I'm not saying that because it makes me angry. It's just a fact! I thought it was easy to make a cat adapt to our lives, to put it in our hands, and to mold its personality to suit our own tastes. Same owner, same animal. Well, I've learned my lesson! We can try to establish rules with a little discipline or behavior training, but we have to face this undeniable truth: a cat's personality is not easily molded.

That's why today I'd like to give you some tips to help your cat (and yourself) survive a move.

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I think I didn't expect to get a cat like this because we always had very docile cats at home during my childhood and adolescence (unless it was my parents who were fantastic trainers). We were able to teach them to obey and even to do tricks. And the cat my husband and I had just before this one was so docile that within minutes, my partner had taught him to roll over on his back. However, like humans, animals have their own personalities. Cats can be particularly difficult to train. And that was my reality with our new feline! Despite my best efforts, he refused to stay inside. No matter how much time or attention I gave him, he wanted to go outside.

It took us a while to figure out why he was always meowing. And every time I said "no" or stopped him from doing something, he would sneak into my suitcases or clothes to pee. When he was bored, he would go into the kitchen, open the closet, and throw everything on the floor! With such a cat (who, I admit, made me cry in despair more than once), you can imagine that when we were thinking about moving, I anticipated the project as a real nightmare!

Generally, cats aren't fans of change. They like stability and rule over their kingdom and its subjects (i.e., us). So, a significant change in their routine can really be a source of stress for them. (It's a bit like a reversal of their diet!) By moving, you may discover hidden facets of your cat's personality. And yet, when you move, you already have enough to manage between phone calls, planning, boxes, etc. Don't get me wrong! I'm not hoping you experience a feline revolution following your move... but, let's just say that a few suggestions gleaned here and there (and also based on my own experience since I've been through all sorts) will, I hope, help you prepare your cat for settling into his new kingdom.

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1. Go slowly

Don't rush. Take your time. In any case, your cat will have to get used to the new elements around him, but even before that, you can start letting him play in the empty boxes that will gradually fill up. You can prepare the boxes with him. He will get used to it and no longer see all this commotion as a threat since he will be part of it!

On moving day, put him in a closed room with a litter box, water and food so that he does not feel attacked by the new people who will come to help you and quietly "destroy" his world.

In the new home, also place him in a closed room that you will make as comfortable as possible. Place foods that he likes around the room so that it encourages him to explore this new place, which he will then find very interesting since it is associated with something positive!

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Let him explore the new home gradually, at his own pace, and ideally, after all the unpacking is complete. You can do it one room at a time so he doesn't feel overwhelmed or stressed. Let him play and run around.

2. Give him more affection than usual

Cats are very receptive to affection. In fact, they feel reassured if you pet them and play with them. Moving is stressful for you too, but when the tension mounts, you have ways to relieve it: a jog or dinner with a friend, for example. Your cat, on the other hand, cannot verbalize its stress and anxiety. This is why it may express its emotions through unusual reactions such as hiding, running away, peeing outside the litter box, etc.

To prevent this from happening, or at least mitigate these reactions, you need to reassure him. Let him sleep on your lap, cuddle him while you watch TV, play with him, scratch his throat. (I'm not the only one who's noticed that this makes them crack up, am I?) Your cat needs to feel that everything is okay, that you still love him, that you haven't abandoned him, and that there's no danger when he sees those terrifying, imposing boxes in the living room. This step can be repeated over and over again! Before, during, and after the move, give him even more love than usual.

3. Keep the same routine

As I mentioned before, cats don't jump for joy at the very thought of change. So, to keep yours from being too upset or unsettled, try to maintain his routine for as long as you can. To help him in this regard, you too should try to maintain the same habits as much as possible. Your daily comings and goings may seem trivial to you, but they are a significant reference point for him. If you neglect him because you have a lot to do before going out, if you come back at three o'clock and forget to feed him, if new people suddenly come to your house, your cat will feel obvious stress. Try to feed him at regular times, go to bed at the same time every night, and make sure you give him attention consistently.

4. Move the litter little by little

If your cat starts peeing outside of the litter box, it's probably due to stress, but it could also be due to the new location being unsuitable. Your cat may be disoriented and simply unable to find it, beyond the fact that they may be upset and want you to know! If you created a room for your cat when they arrived at your new home, don't suddenly move their litter box to another location. Take it gradually, moving it a few meters each day until it reaches its final destination. This way, they will gradually get used to it.

5. If your cat goes outside, wait before letting it out.

Every cat is different, but one thing is certain: you want him to understand that this new “kingdom” is his and that his “subjects” are still the same!

I have a friend whose cat was smart enough to go outside on the first day he arrived and quietly return at night through the back window after exploring his new domain. You can take that risk if you like, but I don't think all cats will be able to find their way home on day one. Let him explore the house first, at least for a few days. Many people wait three or four weeks before letting their cat outside. That's what most of the sites I've looked at advise... and it's what I wanted to do too.

The first day wasn't too bad, the second was tolerable. But the following days were complete torture! My cat scratched everything, meowed incessantly, peed on everything (clothes, suitcases, backpacks, piles of paper, underwear). And I won't tell you everything! He ran like crazy. (I really thought he had become one!) So, to ease my suffering (and especially his), I let him go outside, since he seemed to desperately need fresh air. I took the risk. I was especially afraid that he would go far, get lost or worse, cross the road near the house. But I trusted him, because he is very intelligent. He went around, explored the neighborhood, found new places to walk and new mice to eat and came back fulfilled and so tired that he came to lounge on my lap and seek the love that all the new environments in the world could not offer him.

You understand what I mean: if your cat can tolerate being inside, despite his habit, so much the better. Let time pass and, after a few weeks, let him go outside. But if he's like mine and everyone (including him) is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, you can choose to trust him and let him wander a little, calling him from time to time with treats so that he doesn't go too far and comes back to you.

Do your best to take things gradually, give him love, keep a regular schedule, move the litter box gradually, and wait a while before letting him out.

You don't have to do all of this. It's up to you to choose the tips that can help you make the transition easier. And who knows? Maybe your favorite feline will take back the reins of power in their new kingdom sooner than you thought!

My cat is special. I've never seen a cat like him. He's really not like the others. He's... how can I describe him? Oh, let's face it: my cat is THE MOST WONDERFUL CAT ON EARTH! I've never loved an animal so much in my life. He needs tons of love, likes to curl up in the afternoon on our bed, and he's adorable when he's asleep. And when I look at him like that, I forget all his nonsense and think, no one has a better cat than me!

But that's probably what you're thinking too!