Just Moved Home with a Cat – They Need Some Help Settling In

Anyone who has a cat will know there is nothing more soothing than that sound of a contented purr. However, if you’ve just moved home the chances are this is the last thing your kitty has been doing lately! We all know that moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience, and when you throw animals or children into the mix this can make things way more complicated.
 

You see it’s much easier (sorry if that sounds harsh) for you to feel more settled because you know what makes you feel comfortable. It could be putting out a few familiar pictures, adding some of your favourite scatter cushions on your sofa or bed. It could even be as simple as lighting one of your favourite scented candles.

Now, that’s where I want to start – Scent!

Cats and Smells

A great deal of a cat’s life and how comfortable he feels is based on the smells around him (and that doesn’t include the litter tray)! When you first move home, there will be nothing and I mean nothing! In the way of familiar smells (namely their own scent) in the house and it will take a little time for your pet to be confident enough to go about marking their territory. 

Cats have scent glands around their faces and when you see them rubbing various bits of furniture or door frames, they’re actually leaving a little bit of themselves behind. Of course, you may not see this happen right away which is where you can help. 

Try taking a dry, soft cloth and gently rubbing it around your cat’s face. If you get lucky, they might just give it a good old rub anyway. You can then wipe the cloth at cat height on parts of your furniture and entrances to your home. You can also buy various “pheromones” from your local vet if you don’t like the idea of taking a cloth to your cat’s face.

Outdoor Cats

It won’t be long before your furry friend decides he has made enough of a mark on his new home, and wants to extend his territory to the great outdoors. But, (and this is particularly important if you’ve only moved a short distance away from your previous house) you can run the risk of them picking up their own scent from a previous haunt.

It might not be easy, but attempt to keep your pet indoors for at least one week (especially boys because they wander more). When you’re happy to let them take that leap, keep trips into the garden supervised and only for a short time. You can also use food as a way of keeping your cat close for the time being. Little and often helps and if you can, also get them used to the sound of a fork being tapped on a dish or a bag of biscuits being shaken.

In Summary

The above information is based on the fact you have moved home with a pet in your own country. If you would like to find out more information on moving abroad with pets, feel free to take a look at this link: http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/post/2013/04/19/Moving-Your-Pets-to-a-New-Country.aspx