Moving houses is a big change for you and your cat. As cat’s are naturally animals of habit, they can sometimes be overwhelmed by big changes such as moving. There are a lot of things you need to consider when moving a cat, including transportation, adjustment period, and when to let your cat outside.
When should you let your cat outside after moving?
You should let your cat outside one to two weeks after moving. This is because you should first let your cat get adjusted to the new indoor environment. Additionally, a cat can be very stressed and anxious during a move, and letting them out early may cause them to run away or get lost. During the first week that your cat is inside, it is important that you keep an eye on your property for other animals. If you happen to see other cats or dogs on your property, you should chase them away. If there are aggressive dogs, it might be best to build some sort of fence around your property.
When you take your cat outside for the first time after moving, we strongly recommend supervising him/her. Your cat will like this because you will give it a sense of security in the new foreign environment. You should not let your cat wander off too far the first time you let it out. It is also very important that you have a collar for your cat with your phone number and address. Make sure that the collar has the address of your new location, as this is something that a lot of cat owners forget to do when they move. If you are worried about your cat wandering off and getting lost, you can go to the vet and get a gps chip put inside your cat. This can give you peace of mind when you move to a new location.
Other recommendations for moving a cat
While moving to a new house is an avoidable change, you should try your best to keep as many things the same. For example, you should try to keep using the same cat food, toys, etc. If possible, you should try to arrange the furniture in a similar fashion as it was at your previous house.
Once you get to the new house, it is very important that you always close the door to outside. Cat’s that are stressed out might try to slip away at any moment, which can be very dangerous if your cat is in a new environment.
You should keep a close eye on your cat the first couple of times it comes back from outside. You should inspect your cat for any signs of fighting or stress. Also, if you made a move to a different climate, you may need to look into different kinds of flea and tick medications.
