However stressful and difficult moving may be, arriving in your new home and starting a brand new life in a brand new world is certain to bring you a lot of excitement and joy. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about your cat – your feline friend is likely to be as stressed in the new home as they were during the move, if not more so.
Cats are territorial creatures and being in unfamiliar surroundings makes them anxious and fearful. The new sights and smells can be quite overwhelming and the unknown may hide many dangers to your animal companion. The kitty may be confused and scared and upset – you need to introduce them to the new environment very carefully and help them adjust to the new surroundings.
But how to help a cat settle into a new home? How to make your little friend happy and comfortable after the move? The answer lies in patience and loving care.
Here’s how to get a cat used to a new home and provide a sense of safety and belonging that will restore your kitty’s calm and encourage them to explore their new world.
How to introduce a cat to a new home
In order to feel at ease in your new place, your cat needs to get to know it well. To get excited about exploring their new surroundings, however, your little friend needs to feel safe and secure (and safety should be your top priority too when moving with cats, of course). So, when moving a cat to a new home, you’re advised to:
1. Prepare a sanctuary room for your pet:
- Choose a small, quiet room in your new home where to take your cat immediately after arrival – it will be easier for your little friend to acclimate to a smaller area (a whole new house can be truly overwhelming) and they will feel safer (and actually be safer) within a confined space;
- Make sure there are no potential hazards in the area, all windows and doors are securely closed (to prevent escape attempts), and the room is free of residual scents of previous pets;
- Set up the room with familiar items – your cat’s litter box, bed, scratching post, water bowl, food dish, and favorite toys; the blankets, pillows, and chairs your kitty used to nap on in your old home; etc. These items will provide a sense of security and will help your cat adjust to the new surroundings;
- Provide a hiding place – Cats deal with fear by hiding, so it’s important that they have a safe place to hide in the traumatic post-relocation period. You can leave an empty cardboard box (with an old towel or blanket that smells like your old home inside) in the sanctuary room, put a throw blanket over a chair or a sofa, leave a closet door ajar, etc.
2. Let your cat get comfortable in the safe room:
- Keep your cat in the carrier they traveled in until the sanctuary room is ready;
- Take the carrier to the designated room, close the door behind you, place the container on the floor, and open it. Let your cat step out when they’re ready – the carrier is a safe place for your pet so they may choose to remain inside for some time. Once they feel secure, they’ll venture out and explore;
- Provide fresh water, quality food, and some special treats and show your pet the location of the litter box;
- If your cat hides as soon as they get out of the carrier, let them be. Put some food and one of their favorite toys out in the open from where they’re hiding and keep the area quiet. The kitty will come out when they feel it’s safe;
- Don’t let your cat out of the room for a couple of days – until your furry companion has calmed down and you’ve unpacked most of your items and pet-proofed your home. It may take up to a week before the kitty is ready to explore outside of the safe room.
3. Carefully introduce your cat to the rest of the home
When your cat gets comfortable in the sanctuary room, you can let them discover the rest of your home – the kitty can always retreat to their refuge if they feel uncertain or scared.
Allow your cat to roam freely and explore at their own pace. Just make sure all outdoor exits are blocked (as it’s too early to let your feline friend outside yet) and your home is as cat-friendly as possible (double-check for dangerous packing materials like plastic wrap and packing tape and sharp objects like scissors or box cutters).
Good to know: How long to keep your cat inside after moving? It depends on how fast your cat recovers from the moving stress, but you’re advised to keep your animal companion indoors for at least two weeks after the relocation – until they get used to your new home. After that initial acclimatization period, you can take your cat outside with you and let them explore a bit. Take the kitty back in the house after fifteen minutes or so. You can slowly increase the time outside until your cat gets to know the area and feels safe in the new surroundings. Just make sure your pet wears a collar with your phone number and don’t forget to update their microchip information – so your little friend can be returned to you in case they get lost in the new area.
See also: What to do after moving into a new home
How to make a cat feel comfortable in a new home
Your first step when trying to get your cat comfortable in the new home is to reassure them that everything is fine and they have nothing to fear. You need to help them shake off the stress and relax. Here is how to calm down a cat after moving:
Unpack your cat’s essentials box
Take your cat’s essential items (their old water bowl and food dish, cat bed and scratching post, favorite toys, etc.) out of the box as soon as you arrive in your new home – not only will you need these things to tend to your pet’s needs after the move, but they will also provide comfort and security to your frightened friend.
Your stressed out cat may not be interested in eating or playing at first but the familiar items will still be comforting and reassuring. When your feline friend calms down a bit, their appetite and playfulness will return.
It’s important to take things slowly at the beginning and allow your pet as much time as they need to overcome their fear and adjust to the new environment.
Related: What to unpack first after moving
Re-introduce your cat’s old routine
Having their usual daily routine back in place will give your cat a sense of normalcy and security. So, be sure to feed your pet at the same time as you did in your old house, turn off the lights at the same hour, etc. The predictable routine will help your cat acclimate to the new home quickly and easily.
Spend as much time as possible with your feline friend
There is no better way to make a cat comfortable and happy in a new home than to surround them with love and care. There is no doubt that you’ll be very busy with urgent post-relocation tasks in the first weeks in your new area, but you still need to find some time for your cat – talk to them, caress them, brush them, play with them, encourage them to explore the new space, etc. Find a way to show your little friend how much you love them, to reassure them that the house move has not changed anything.
Your presence, attention, and loving care will restore your kitty’s confidence and sense of security and will strengthen the special bond you share.
Related: How to adjust after moving
Watch out for signs of depression
Similarly to humans, cats are very vulnerable when taken out of their comfort zone – your feline friend may be very stressed by the abrupt change in their surroundings and get down with depression. It is, therefore, important to closely monitor your cat’s behavior after the move and watch out for worrisome signs – loss of appetite, lack of enthusiasm, lethargy, excessive meowing, excessive scratching, hiding and withdrawal from interactions, aggression, etc. If your cat’s unusual behavior persists, take them to a good vet in your new area without delay.
See also: How to overcome relocation depression
To sum it all up: How to help a cat adjust to a new home? Introduce your feline friend to your new home gradually, give them plenty of time for each acclimatization step, and be there for them in the stressful post-relocation period. Soon enough your cat will feel at home in the new place – and so will you.
