Tips on making moving less traumatic for a kitteh?

[Withywindle]

I'm moving out of the 1-BR place I lived in when I adopted my tortie girl. I'm moving into a shared 2-level flat with 4 roommates and one other cat (and a CAT PLAYGROUND on the walls, with scritching rugs and climbing platforms.) I know cats are territorial as hell, and even mild redecorating has noticeably upset her.

I just want to help her get comfy in the new space as soon as possible. I know photos help, so here are a few. She's an opinionated, picky, feisty girl:

[DeadEyeDyck]

1. 1st order of business is some Foster Grants

[Withywindle]

2. For her or for me?

Seriously, her eyes are always like that. Especially when I'm reading in bed late at night and I see THAT REFLECTIVE STARE. :scared:

[LisaL]

3. I'd be much more worried about the other cat.

It's not easy to introduce two adult cats.

[Withywindle]

4. Well, Figaro's a mellow guy.

And he lives mostly on the 2nd floor with his person. I'll be taking my Madimi mostly into my room on the 3rd floor. I plan to keep her in there until she knows there is turf that's hers. (I have this idea in my head that it's easier if they're different genders, and both are fixed.)

That's what i've done with introducing cats in the past. Keeping the new cat confined to one room for a while. That way the new cat feels like she has a safe home, and the old cat doesn't feel that his turf is threatened. At least for a while.

[siligut]

5. Yes, pics of kittehs always help

She is a pretty girl too. Can you take time off to spend a few days with her after the move? The more stressed you are, the harder it will be on her, so make time and plan. I have heard it takes two weeks for cats to adapt to each other. It also takes some time for them to know they have a new home, that the change is permanent. Looks like she has a favorite red pillow, that will help her feel at home. Do you know if there has been animals in your new place? It would help to thoroughly shampoo carpets if so. Good luck.

[Withywindle]

9. I want to take time off.

I know I can do about 48 hours, but not much beyond that. I will definitely bring her favorite pillow, as well as all the blankets on my bed where she likes to sleep with me. I have a big bedroom with a door I can shut, and I'm planning to keep her and her food bowl and litterbox in there until she starts expressing a desire to explore beyond.

There is another cat there. My hope is that they will get to be friends. The place is definitely big enough that they can ignore each other if they don't hit it off, but I really kind of hope they do.

[MiddleFingerMom]

6. My drummer, Happy Sweaty Jimmy... had several tanks of African cichlid fish.

.
.
.
Several dozen per HUGE tank -- 4 tanks in all. VERY wildly- and
variedly-colored fish. EXTREMELY aggressive and OUTRAGEOUSLY
territorial. He taught me that if you added one fish to an existing
tank, it would have to fight ALL the other fish for its place in the
tank hierarchy... and would most likely die from stress, exhaustion
or injuries.
.
However, if he seriously rearranged the environment of the tank
when adding a new fish, ALL the fish had to fight ALL the other fish
for their place -- and everybody survived, if a little worse for wear.
.
.
.
Those tanks were AMAZING -- giant living kaleidoscopes. We would
all go up to his room after band rehearsal and turn off all the lights
and just sit there silently absorbing those beautiful shifting patterns.
.
An incredible way to ease down from our rehearsal intensities and highs.
.
.
.
Though I don't know if that would really help you. I introduced Graycat
into my GF's household of four long-term mellow buddy cats. She didn't
seem overly stressed -- but stayed aloof for the first week or so. After
that, they were a committed herd of five (as much as cats could be a
herd).
.
.
.

[grasswire]

8. we solved one major cat problem by moving

Once we were in a new place, no more territorial issues among the four!

[Withywindle]

11. I think the proper collective noun for cats is "clowder"

I've always wanted a clowder.

[grasswire]

7. feliway

A synthetic hormone that is calming to cats in tense situations and territorial problems. You can get a spray bottle or a plug-in. You can get it at an animal clinic and most pet stores.

It works.

[Withywindle]

10. does it really work?

I've seen it in stores. It's expensive. Do you really trust it? I'd be totally willing to try it.

[grasswire]

13. I think it works.

Here's a message board where a whole lot of people have commented on it:

http://itchmoforums.com/write-a-pet-product-review/does-feliway-work-t1055.0.html

I think I paid $25 for it last time. But it lasts a really long time.

[kedrys]

34. We used it with the horde when we moved up here

It really seemed to help. After the first bottle, which lasted about a month, we didn't need it anymore.

[snagglepuss]

12. I hope this may help. A friend found it helpful but I think so much depends

on temperment.

http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_pages/introducing_cats.html

[Withywindle]

21. That's what I"m thinking.

Especially the part about isolating her for a little while and giving her a space of her own. I just don't know how long that should last.

[jobycom]

14. In all my years of kitty experience, I finally learned it just doesn't matter.

I'm not saying kitty won't be traumatized. I'm just saying it doesn't matter much what you plan in advance. I even think that the more attention I paid to making the moves stress free the more my various kitties sensed my concern and worked themselves up. With my last move I did nothing special at all. I grabbed Amber when I jumped in the truck and dumped her off in the new pad when I got there. My kids helped keep her in the appropriate areas to keep from getting trodden on or escaping, but really I did nothing else. She immediately began exploring every nook and cranny as if on a jungle exploration, and seemed to love finding our stuff slowly emerging in the new environs.

Had a weird half hour or so when she just disappeared. All the doors were closed, very little furniture was in place, and she just vanished, last seen somewhere around the kitchen. We searched frantically, looking in cabinets and toilets and any other place we could find. We ran around outside... You get the idea. Half an hour later she suddenly appeared in the kitchen. There is a hole under the facings of the cabinet in the corner, and she had found it immediately. It quickly became her favorite place, until she got a little too well fed to use it anymore. No telling what socks and other play toys are stashed in there now.

Anyway, some of my cats have done well, others have stressed. I had a really timid Persian who would hide in a cabinet for three days before finally coming out. Worst time was when he he tried to jump on the toilet in the new bathroom and fell in. Wet kitties are not happy kitties. Took five days before he would even talk to me again. Oddly, though, that same cat, who hated moving across town, loved it when we moved from Dallas to Austin. Normally terrified of cars, he suddenly climbed out when we were a few miles from the new place and stood up to look out the windows. He was wildly excited about something, and loved the new place--and every place we moved in Austin--immediately. The only thing we could figure is he may have been born here, and recognized something in the air.

Anyway, I love kitty stories, but my point is, really, you can't tell how The Royal Beastie will respond, and you may do all the wrong things to prepare her. Bring her over with the furniture, let her meet the new roomies and new kitty, and see how she reacts. She'll be cautious at first, but if the roomies are nice to her maybe she'll be curled up on the couch happy and resting before you are.

If not, then take it from there. Give her her own space, let her hunker in a corner, and let her adjust. Keep food and water and litter nearby. Get her out into the community while you are there, without forcing her. Leave the door to her room open, let the two kitties get to know each other--she'll sense the other, and the unknown will make it worse than them growling and spitting at each other for a couple of days. At my ex's house the cats routinely form alliances and battle each other, hissing and chasing each other. They set boundaries, and protect them, so let that happen. Just watch for bullying, where the other cat won't let her eat or use her box or go anywhere.

And good luck with the box. That's the thing that's hardest to integrate, and of course it's the thing the roomies will have the least patience with. If you set up a separate area for her, it will be harder to integrate the longer you keep them separate. You may not want full integration.

Anyway, just my two (or maybe ten) cents. :) I think I wrote shorter term papers in college.

[Withywindle]

18. When I adopted Madimi fron the shelter, the volunteers were all like, I dunno...

She hissed and yowled a lot whenever people expressed an interest in her. She'd been at the shelter for months. She was difficult.

I thought that when I got her home, she'd be a scaredy-cat and I was prepared for her to spend months hiding under things. Nope. She didn't. As soon as I opened the carrier and she realized she was in an apartment, not a cage, she started purring and exploring.

I just want her to know, not all that much as changed. She still has turf to explore (even bigger than before) and she is certainly still welcome to sleep on my bed with me and to demand that I play with her.

I really appreciate your long essay. Thank you! It's very helpful. In my heart, I know, they're cats, they'll work it out, and it's not for us to decide. Even if they really don't like each other, the space is big enough that they can avoid each other.

[May Hamm]

28. Thank You

That was very helpful. I may have to move soon and am really worried about how my cat will adjust. Your post helps.

[Withywindle]

35. Bookmarking this thread mostly for your post.

Thanks again!

[alarimer]

39. That's pretty much the approach I use.

Of course, there are no other cats, which made it easier. I just left him at the old place while we moved everything (he was freaked and hid). Then the next day I brought him to the new place. He was quiet for a day but then started exploring, even went up the stairs even though he had no previous experience with them.

[flying rabbit]

15. This has been posted here before,

and it's about moving dogs... but it's f'in hilarious.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/11/dogs-dont-understand-basic-concepts.html

[Withywindle]

22. OMG

LOL! :rofl:

I'm a cat person now, but I grew up with dogs. That rings totally true!

[Submariner]

26. Throwing up so much = Creating infinite food

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Got a stomach ache laughing so hard at that one.

[WilliamPitt]

31. That almost killed me.

:rofl:

[Arugula Latte]

16. By law, all torties and calicos are required to be feisty and have a 'tude

and that makes them even more lovable. :loveya:

[Withywindle]

19. I fell in love with the Bad Girl at the shelter.

She plays rough. I have scratch and bite marks all over my hands and arms to show it.

But that's just who she is. She's like a sweet-voiced Ronnie Spector girl-group gangbanger with a switchblade and great eyeliner. :loveya:

[Arugula Latte]

23. I understand completely.

Your description reminded me of the REM song "Crush with Eyeliner"

I know you
I know you've seen her
She's a sad tomato
She's three miles of bad road
Walking down the street
Will I never meet her?
She's a real woman-child
Oh, my kiss breath turpentine

I am smitten
I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
Have you seen her come around?
My crush with eyeliner

I'm in like
I'm infatuated
It's all too much - the pressure
She's all that I can take
What position should I wear?
Cop an attitude? (you fake her)
How can I convince her? (fake her)
That I'm invented too, yeah

I am smitten
I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
We all invent ourselves
And, uh, you know me

Yeah, she's a sad tomato
She's three miles of bad road
She's her own invention (she's her own invention)
That gets me in the throat
What can I make myself be?
Life is strange, yeah (life is strange)
What can I make myself be? (fake her)
To make her mine?

I am smitten
I'll do anything (I'll do anything)
A kiss breath turpentine,
My crush with eyeliner

I am smitten
You know me (yeah, you know me)
I could be your Frankenstein
My crush with eyeliner
I am smitten
I'm the real thing (I'm the real thing)
Won't you be my valentine?
My crush with eyeliner

[Withywindle]

25. I like that song a lot.

But I think my cat's theme song is this:

(Bad Reputation, Joan Jett)

I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
You're living in the past it's a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that's
What I'm gonna do
An' I don't give a damn ' bout my bad reputation

Oh no
No no no no no
Not me me me me me

An' I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An' I'm only doin' good
When I'm havin' fun
An' I don't have to please no one
An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

I don't give a damn
'Bout my reputation
I've never been afraid of any deviation
An' I don't really care
If ya think I'm strange
I ain't gonna change
An' I'm never gonna care
'Bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not me

Hello boys!

An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my reputation
The world's in trouble
There's no communication
An' everyone can say
What they want to say
It never gets better anyway
So why should I care
'Bout a bad reputation anyway
Oh no, not me
No no, not me

I don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation
You're living in the past
It's a new generation
An' I only feel good
When I got no pain
An' that's how I'm gonna stay
An' I don't give a damn
'Bout my bad reputation

Oh no, not me
Oh no, not
Not me, not me

[applegrove]

17. I've moved a lot of times and my cats are fine. Sure they need a little attention

when they first arrive at the new abode but everything smells like you and them so they must know more than we think. It usually takes my cats about an hour to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings. Then I give them so TLC and a cat treat or a meal. When they relax you know they have hit the acceptance stage.

[Withywindle]

20. I just want to make sure she feels at home.

I'll wash my sheets and blankets tomorrow, but no longer after that, so they smell right. I want her to feel free to cuddle.

[valerief]

24. Kitalin should help her. nt

[Withywindle]

27. What is it?

I googled it, and just got a lot of hits about some singer. :shrug:

[valerief]

29. Just wordplay on Ritalin. Just wordplay.

:hi:

[Withywindle]

32. Heh!

Got me. :hi:

[WilliamPitt]

30. A large carry case and haste

I went through this in September, and sadly, there isn't much you can do to lessen the flip-out to come. Just get it done quickly and have catnip on hand when you finally arrive.

They are resilient creatures. My guy screamed and yelled, but once we got him to the new place, he was pretty much back to normal in a day.

[Withywindle]

36. My cat is one of those freaks who's indifferent to catnip.

She goes nuts for Fancy Feast junk food and corrugated-cardboard scratching pads, though. I'll make sure they're both prominently featured.

[Gormy Cuss]

33. Set up your new bedroom with a corner for her BEFORE you move her from the old place.

In fact, move as much of your bedroom stuff as possible before bringing her to the new home. Make sure some of her favorite toys or places to sleep are obvious in the new corner too.

Consider buying a cat pheromone like Feliway to reduce her stress both while you're moving out and after you've moved in to the new place.

It's best to plan on keeping her segregated from the other cat for a week or two. Cats do better with each other once they recognize each other's smells. I'd also suggest introducing her to the other cat when you're planning to be home all day, just in case things don't go well.

Other than that, I agree with jobycom. Each cat handles change differently and you're just going to have to watch her for signals for a bit.

As a last resort, you can mail her to me. :D

[Withywindle]

37. That's a really good idea.

I know she likes cuddling under my legs while I surf the internet on my laptop in bed at night (as she's doing right now, in fact).

I know she likes batting her toy mice and random milk cap rings across the floors (my new place has hardwood floors all over, perfect for skittering).

I will definitely get some Feliway. Thank you!

And I have high hopes that she'll lose a little weight, having so much room to play in.

Seriously, I love this place. They built a CAT PLAYGROUND in the living room: carpet on the walls for skritching, climbing pole all the way to the ceiling, shelves and platforms to jump up on...!

[haele]

38. I've moved twice with house cats -

First thing to do is pack out one room first - even if it means someone has to sleep on a sofa for a few days - and set up a "safe spot" with the kennels/carriers open in the room and filled with blankies or cushions for the kitties to hang out in that will be the last area to be moved out. Have the food, water, litter boxes, toys, etc there with perhaps only a folding or plastic chair that can be left behind in for you to hang out with them in. This keeps escapes and stress hiding to a minimum - and helps them think of their carriers as safety caves.
Keep a little of the old litter, about a quart zip-lock bag for each litter box. This helps them "remember" their litter box in the new place when you get there..
During the transportation, sprinkle the carriers with catnip if they react to it - a vet that was recommended by a lot of breeders who shipped their kittens told me that was preferable to sedating kitties on short, one-day moves. They'll still be crazy at first, but they will settle down and sleep more quickly.
When you get to the new place, handle the move in the reverse order; set aside a small room for the kitties as a safe room and bring them (and any other pets that might need to be taken care of before furniture comes in - like caged birds, fish, pocket pets, etc,,,.
Move all the furniture and boxes in, then transfer the kitties to another room that has already been set up while you move the furniture into the "safe room".
When you set up their kitty litter boxes in the final locations, add a bag of the "old" litter into each box to "mark" the boxes and make them less "new" to your cats.
Make sure your cats remain indoors for a couple months at least; if they're used to being outdoors and you still believe in letting them be indoor/outdoors, only let them out on leashes until they can be familiar with the smells and confines of the new house. They usually won't travel very far if they have already set up their territory; you need to be the one to control where their territory is going to be.

If they're old, don't let them out at all. They'll definitely get lost.

Good luck on your move.

Haele

[hedgehog]

40. My daughter had a cat that was perfectly happy in her studio apartment.

This cat objected to ever leaving the apartment, whether by leash cat carrier.
When my daughter moved, the cat spent a week at my son's house, hiding behind his dryer. When my daughter settled in her room at a co-op and retrieved her cat, Selena took off very quickly. After a few days of anxious searching, it turned out that Selena had moved in with a fellow down the street who did a lot of cat rescues. Since Selena seemed to like his house, my daughter ended up coming home with a new kitten he'd just rescued. Wolvie enjoyed living at the co-op and spent a lot of time sneaking out on to the porch roof.

My daughter had to move for her new job. Wolvie is now enjoying my daughter's new quarters in her new city.