Moving and Don't Want to Lose Cat

I moved to Oklahoma three years ago....my new vet told me my three cats would try to go back to my former home in Texas. They didnt! I suspect it is because they smell familiar items in my new home...i.e., furniture, clothes, family, litter box, etc. Not to worry.

LJ, you simply keep her in the house for about 2 weeks. You leave shades open or up so that she can get onto the window sills to see the new surroundings. YOu make her "in house" routine as normal as possible. After about 2 weeks open the front door and just leave it open for a while. SHe'll probably go out on the porch...she may sit there a while or she may go explore or she may stay in the house and watch out the door.....if you can, just leave it open while she's out, that way she can come in when she's ready. Cats are very smart people, it won't take her long to adjust. Keep you're eyes open to any dangers that your new neighborhood might have...as in dogs roaming around, etc. i've moved MANY cats over the years. I did lose 1 one time, never did find her but it only happened that once. I believe you'll be just fine. good luck. R>

I think if you keep your cat in for the first few days, then perhaps go outside with her for about an hour the first time out, she will be fine. We moved with our cats multiple times, and our roamer simply adjusted. He never got lost (though we did take it gradually). Good luck!

You're so fortunate to have lived in one place so long! I have moved around all of my life and have never had a problem with my cats (or dogs) in the moves. Usually, I keep them in for a day or so to get them accustomed to their new surroundings and then let them out. They've always come back!

Before we moved to our current home (5 years ago), we had (and still have) an indoor/outdoor cat. I had the same concern. We didn't let him roam as much for the first few days at the new place, letting him get used to the inside first and realize it's a different place, but he is the kind of cat who will meow very loudly over and over for hours at the door until you let him out. So we had to let him go out. We made sure there was food and water outside on the patio to lure him back to the house or to hopefully keep him close by, and at first I hung out in the backyard with him petting him and stuff in the hopes he wouldn't want to go far from the yard. Anyway, he adjusted just fine, never got lost, and always stayed pretty close to the house, never strayed far. Cats are smart and I think IF they are used to being outside sometimes (like yours and this one of mine) they know how to keep from getting lost. (The same cannot be said for indoor cats who normally don't go out). And I'm a SAHM so I'm home most of the time and I notice he never goes far, he usually stays in the yard. I also started giving him canned cat food instead of just dry at mealtimes so maybe that kept him closer because cats loooooooooove getting canned food. All I have to do to get him to come inside is to open a can of food and he will hear it and come running.

Even though you and the cat really don't want to, it would be best to keep the cat in the house for about a week or so. Then she will hopefully realize this is her new home and settle back in to the old routine.

Hi LJ!
Very good idea from Brandi. You may also want to try using a leash for a couple of weeks and walk with her.
~V~

We moved two cats from California to Oklahoma. They were 16 years old and had lived in the same house for their entire lives. I was very worried about how they would adjust. I kept them indoors for the first two weeks. Then I would let them out and stay with them for a few days. After that they went out and came back in with no problem. I worried mostly because they were city cats that we moved to the country but they adjusted very well. Sadly they both died when they were 18 but they lived good long lives and I think they really enjoyed the country life.

When we moved a little over a year ago, I had the same concerns about one of my cats. I just made her stay in for a couple of weeks until she was more familiar with her surroundings then started letting her out. She never wanders farther than our yard and comes right back when she's ready to come in.

I agree with Brandi also. Keep your cat in for the first few weeks, taking her outside when you are out with the kids playing. Don't let her out at night at first. It won't take long for her to adjust - we moved last summer, and my cat is strictly outside. I kept him in the carport for a week or so, going out with him. He adjusted fine.

I've had cats my entire life and moved around quite a bit (9 times with in 13 years). Each time we would move, I would take our cat outside as soon as possible once we were in the new house. I would stay outside with the cat at first and let it explore. Then after a little while, I'd take the cat back in. We'd repeat this several times each day and after a few days, I'd let it explore on it's own. Cats are extremely intelligent and can find their way around and make it back home. Good Luck!

We have two cats, one 17 years old and the other 2.5 years. I was worried they'd run away, so I made sure we got collars with our new phone number for them each before we moved. We have a cat door, too. They made the transition rather easily. I think the cats will likely stick around if they know where they can get three squares and a warm place to sleep. (Now, last month I accidentally locked one of our cats out during a terrible thunderstorm, and he didn't come home for 24 hours and I was worried sick; but he DID come back and he went straight for the food bowl!)

Temporary confinement is the best thing. We have moved several times with our cats, and we make them stay indoors for the first couple of weeks in the new place. They don't like it, but it's for their own good. When we first let them out after a couple of weeks, they generally explore the yard, and don't go much further until they get their bearings. We have never had one get lost using this method.

LJ,

I have moved several times and each time took a number of cats with me. Since my husband is from a farming/ranching background he has no use for cats being inside all the time...ours can come in but he prefers for them to be outside.

What I have always done is make sure the cats are shut up in either an outbuilding (shed or barn) or the garage for as long as I or they can take it. It usually happens that the cats tear out a window or slip out a door. They often disappear for a day or two (the more skittish ones) but come back around when their tummies get empty.

If your cat is accustomed to being inside most of the time it should be much easier. You can set her outside in a carrier or on a screened-in porch if you have it. She won't like it but you could also tether her out on with a harness and light rope. This process shouldn't take more than a week.

K.