How to move house with a cat

Moving is one of the most stressful events in a cat’s life. Moving day brings open doors and people coming and going, then a car ride and a home your cat has never seen.

A little planning keeps your cat safe and helps them settle much faster. Most of the work happens before moving day, so start a few weeks ahead if you can.

Start carrier training a few weeks before

For most cats, the carrier only appears right before something frightening, so it’s no surprise they vanish when they see it. Cats can learn to see the carrier as a safe, ordinary bed instead, which makes moving day much easier.

• Make it furniture. Put the carrier, with the top off or the door removed, in a room your cat likes. Line it with a blanket your cat already sleeps on, and leave it out permanently.
• Add treats and meals. Toss treats near it and into it now and then, without watching your cat. Then feed meals next to it, and gradually inside it.
• Build up slowly. Train in short sessions of about 5 to 10 minutes, several times a week. Move on only when your cat is relaxed. Many cats need several weeks in total.
• Finish with the car. Once your cat rests in the carrier, put the top back on, close the door for a second at a time, then practice lifting and carrying it. Sit in the car with the engine off before you try short drives.

Training works. In a study at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna (Pratsch et al., 2018), cats trained with rewards over six weeks had significantly lower stress scores during car travel and a mock vet exam than untrained cats.

Get the carrier and the details ready

A few jobs are easy to forget in the rush of a move:

• Update your cat’s microchip details with the registry, your vet and on their ID tag. RSPCA Australia stresses this, so a lost cat can be returned.
• Put your new address on the ID tag, and find a new local vet before you move.
• Check the carrier. The best choice is a sturdy, hard plastic carrier with a top half that comes off, big enough for your cat to stand up and turn around. Each cat should have their own carrier, even cats who get along. Skip backpack-style carriers. If you use a soft carrier, the AAFP advises one with a large opening on top and one or, preferably, two doors on the front and side that don’t collapse when open.

Moving day: keep your cat safe

With doors open and people coming and going, keep your cat out of the activity completely:

• Before the movers arrive, put your cat in a quiet room with their carrier, bed, litter box, food and water. Put a “Do not open” sign on the door.
• Shut doors and windows, and block any other escape routes.
• Travel with your cat in their carrier, with familiar bedding inside. Pack food, water and litter for the trip.
• Carry the carrier from underneath with both hands, held against your body, not swinging by the handle.

Make the car ride calmer

The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends these steps for every car trip:

• Cover the carrier before you leave the house. A towel or blanket from home reduces what your cat sees and hears. Leave a small gap for air.
• Secure it on the floor between the front and back seats, where it can’t slide or tip.
• Keep it quiet and comfortable: good ventilation, a comfortable temperature, the radio off and quiet voices.
• Never open the carrier in the car, even if your cat cries. Talk calmly instead. A frightened cat loose in a car is dangerous for everyone.

Some cats vomit or drool in the car. If yours does, ask your vet about anti-nausea medication.

Settle in one room first

Don’t give your cat the whole new home at once. Start with one room and open up more space as your cat settles.

1. One room first. Set up one room with a bed, a favorite blanket, toys, a scratching post, a litter box, food and water. RSPCA Australia suggests keeping your cat there for a couple of days.
2. Explore when it’s quiet. Let your cat explore the rest of the home when the household is calm, and sit with them. Hiding small amounts of dry food encourages exploring.
3. Expand gradually. Over the next few days, give access to more areas. Keep meals and play as close to your old routine as possible.
4. Keep them contained. A cat in a new area doesn’t know the territory. RSPCA Australia recommends keeping cats contained to your property, especially after a move.

When to get extra help

For some cats, training and good handling aren’t enough on their own, and that’s OK. If your cat stays very stressed despite these steps, ask your vet about medication before travel. According to the AAFP’s owner advice, gabapentin is the most commonly used option.

If your cat is so frightened that they can’t be handled safely, talk to your vet about a plan. It might include medication before travel or a veterinary behaviorist’s help with training.