It is generally accepted that a dog gets used to its owners, and a cat gets used to the place where it lives. I have had many cats and moved with them many times, but they always adapted well to the new place, perhaps because we tried to make their move as comfortable as possible.
I will try to outline my experience of moving with cats in this article.
It's true that cats don't like change very much, so moving day can be extra stressful for both you and your cat if you don't prepare in advance.
When it's time to pack up your house and make the transition, you can take steps to make the transition easier for your kitten. The goal is to keep them calm and comfortable. This will help you avoid disturbances, meowing, aggression and escape attempts.
Preparing a cat for moving
Update cat information
Make sure your cat's ID collar is secure and up-to-date. It's best to have your cat microchipped before moving, in case she gets scared in the new place and runs away. Reunions are much more likely if microchip information is always up to date.
Make a "new normal"
In anticipation of the move, try to keep your cat as normal as possible. The sudden appearance of new people and moving materials, as well as the disappearance of favorite furniture or objects, can cause stress in cats.
To reduce this stress, bring boxes home before you start packing. This will help create a new normal landscape for your cat. This also reduces the number of new stressors on moving day.
Introduce your cat to the carrier in advance
Introducing your cat to a good carrier a few weeks before moving can make it easier. Choose a carrier that is durable, comfortable, and comfortable.
Before packing, set up the carrier in a safe, quiet area of your home. Include treats, a favorite blanket, and familiar toys in the carrier to create positive associations.
Allow your cat to freely enter and leave the carrier at any time in the days and weeks leading up to the move. Placing the carrier in a quiet area will encourage the cat to seek refuge there as packing and moving becomes more hectic.
Why does your pet need help?
The harmful effects of stress on a cat’s body cannot be underestimated. External events provoke overstrain of the nervous system, which affects not only the cat’s behavior, but also its health. Internal organs begin to fail.
There is a distinction between long-term and short-term stress. The latter is caused by minor changes in the animal’s life and often goes away without consequences. Long-term stress is more dangerous, as it gradually damages the body more and more, and the cat gets sick. The immune system suffers, the pet can easily catch an infectious disease. The consequences of stress are the appearance of skin diseases, hypertension, and increased blood sugar. This will be noticeable in the tests if you go to the veterinarian for examination.
There are three stages in the development of stress:
- in the first stage you usually don't notice anything. But you can see how the pet has become apathetic or, on the contrary, overly excitable. Changes may also affect nutrition: the cat eats much more than usual or refuses food altogether. This stage is characterized by a decrease in pressure and temperature, a decrease in body tone, and rapid breathing;
- at the second stage, the cat adapts to the situation, recovers and calms down, the condition returns to normal in the absence of stimuli;
- in the third stage, exhaustion occurs if you do not eliminate the stress factor. The animal is no longer able to recover, calming down, and stops eating, sometimes even to the point of death.
To prevent something irreparable, be attentive to the cat and help on your own. If this does not work and the situation is serious, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Settling your cat in a new home
When you arrive, keep your cat in a secure carrier to protect her from the pitfalls of a new home. Close all windows and doors and remove all electrical cords and plugs where your cat might get stuck.
First introduce her to one room
Choose one room with familiar objects and furniture. Once the room is safe, release your cat from the carrier to explore. It is safest to keep your cat in one designated room while there is a lot of activity in the new home.
Make sure there is a litter box, food and water in a designated room. Take time to spend quiet time with your cat in a temporary room to help her feel comfortable in her new home.
If your cat is nervous, you can leave her in one room for a few days to give her enough time to adjust to her new place.
How not to behave
Of course, when it seems that you have taken all the measures - fed, watered, caressed, survived the sterilization period, and the cat still screams at night, then even the calmest owner will lose his nerve. But under no circumstances should you use violent measures against an animal or shout at it. After all, a cat is a very smart creature; it has a sense of revenge. And how she will take revenge is unknown.
In addition, cats are also proud animals, they will not tolerate any violence against themselves, it is impossible to achieve anything with the help of force, you just need to try to show patience and attention. Only in this case is it possible to obtain a positive result.
What to pay attention to
The cat might want to come back
When moving to a new place, cats often try to return to their old places. It is safest to keep your cat indoors at all times. Even if you plan to eventually let your cat outside, keep her indoors until you are sure she is bonded to her new space.
It is best to keep your cat indoors for at least two weeks. You can encourage positive associations with your new home by feeding your cat small meals more often and adding more treats and games to your cat's daily routine.
When you do let your cat outside, keep it short at first and keep an eye on it. Call your cat after 10 minutes to get started and continue the time outside.
Neighborhood cats are a source of danger
If you do start allowing your cat to roam the area, remain vigilant and listen for sounds of cat fighting. Keep a close eye on your cat until you both become familiar with other cats in the area.
Stressful events
Even after you and your cat have settled in, stressors such as thunderstorms or fireworks can throw her off balance in the first days of her new home. Take extra precautions to keep your cat indoors, safe and secure in her new home.
If you follow our advice, then problems such as your cat's lack of appetite or reluctance to go to the toilet will be eliminated.
If you have anything to add or tell about how you moved with a cat, please write your stories in the comments.
Introducing the kitten to other pets
This is a very important issue that needs to be given special attention, since the presence of other animals in the house can have a very positive effect on the kitten’s adaptation, as well as extremely aggravate the baby’s psychological state. If you already have an adult cat, then both parties need to be given the opportunity to get used to the presence of a new roommate without direct contact
Namely, limit the recruit to “your” room, to which access to the “old-timer” will be closed for a certain time, in which there will be a smell to let the kitten know that an older comrade will live with him
If you already have an adult cat, then both parties need to be given the opportunity to get used to the presence of a new roommate without direct contact. Namely, limit the new recruit to “his” room, to which access to the “old-timer” will be closed for a certain time, in which there will be a smell to let the kitten know that an older comrade will live with him.
From time to time, an adult cat should be allowed into the baby's room so that it can become familiar with the baby's smell and get used to it. Naturally, at this time you should hold the kitten in your arms. At first, the pets may growl and hiss at each other, which usually should stop after a few days as soon as both become accustomed to each other’s smells.
Your task is to prevent aggression, which can lead to injury to animals; in other cases, they need to be given the opportunity to “scream” at each other in order to establish relationships.
If you have a dog, then before getting a cat you should make sure that the dog is friendly towards other animals. Otherwise, you may cause psychological trauma to the dog and not achieve the desired mutual understanding between your pets, and there is nothing you can do about it; animals, like people, can be extremely jealous and selfish.
The principle of introducing a dog to a kitten is similar to introducing an adult cat to a baby. The only thing is that the period of adaptation to each other may take a longer time.
Dogs are more susceptible to all kinds of changes, so let your pet understand that you love him as always and pay equal attention to both animals
It will be interesting:
- how to distinguish the sex of kittens from a photo;
- feeding diet for kittens to gain weight and be healthy;
- how to properly train a kitten to use the litter box.
If you have birds, hamsters and the like in your house, then do not forget that your kitten, despite its small age, is first and foremost a predator! And if not today, then tomorrow he will pose a real threat to his smaller comrades. Therefore, ensure the safety of both parties.
Taking into account all the above factors, we can conclude that there can be no clear recommendations for accelerating a kitten’s adaptation. You can only optimize and make this period more comfortable.
And let me repeat myself, but this is the main thing - be patient and boundless love! Let friendship and mutual understanding reign in your home.
Screaming cat: behavioral characteristics or a sign of illness?
Some cats have an amazing talent: to scream in a voice that is not their own for days and nights. Sometimes this behavior seems strange and unreasonable to the owners. Indeed, it is not always possible to understand why a cat yells, especially a healthy and neutered one. But you still have to try to figure this issue out.
Why can a cat yell?
Your pet's loud cries can be heard at any time: in the middle of the night or in the morning. Some vocalize during the day. And there are also those who are able to scream around the clock. For animals of the Oriental breed this is the norm, but for other pussies there is always a good reason for such behavior.
During the period of heat, all non-sterilized cats scream without exception. The desire to have offspring is so strong that it causes the animal not only psychological, but also physical torment. The same fate awaits a cat if it is not neutered.
In addition, during mating, a loud cry is a signal for an individual of the opposite sex. The cat reports that he is full of strength, energy and longs for love. Of course, a constantly screaming animal causes discomfort to the owners, especially if concerts take place in the morning or at night. But this is a natural phenomenon that cannot be fought. All you have to do is wait patiently for the difficult period to end.
If an old cat constantly yells, he may have Alzheimer's disease or a nervous disorder. This is a consequence of irreversible age-related changes in the animal’s body. The owner should consult a veterinarian. There are a number of medications that can alleviate your pet’s condition and help him calm down, at least for a while.
The heart-rending cry of a young cat may indicate some kind of injury or severe pain. Perhaps the animal is experiencing acute pain in the abdomen. The owner will be able to determine this by carefully palpating the cat. Normally, the stomach should be soft and bear
You should not use physical punishment, this will only intimidate your pet. But this isn't the kind of relationship you're looking for, is it? If your cat scratches at your bedroom door at night, try wrapping it in aluminum foil, or installing a motion- or sound-triggered automatic spray bottle near the door. You can try locking the cat in the back room at night, providing him with food, a bed and a tray.
