If you’re moving house with a cat, the safety and comfort of your feline friend will be among your primary concerns. It won’t be easy to ensure Fluffy’s happiness and well-being during the hectic relocation process, but the challenge will be especially great on the day of your move.
The relocation chaos will be at its peak on moving day, causing great stress and creating multiple hazards for your pet. You will need to find a way to keep the kitty calm and out of harm’s way while your belongings are being loaded on the moving truck – and then, to somehow get your fluffy friend to your new home. A cat carrier for moving will be of big help in both cases.
On the Big day, your dear pet will be safe and comfortable in their carrier, away from the moving activity. And when you set off for your new place, the kitty will travel snugly and securely in their crate.
All in all, a pet carrier is indispensable when moving with a cat – you won’t be allowed to take your feline friend on the plane unless they’re in a crate and transporting your kitty in your car without a carrier will be extremely dangerous (an anxious cat can climb anywhere in the car, including under the pedals or in front of the dashboard; a frightened cat can scratch, bite, or otherwise impede your ability to drive safely; an unsecured cat can be tossed forward and injured if you slam on the brakes (or bolt from the car and escape as soon as you open a door or window); etc.).
You need a good cat moving crate that will provide a safe haven for your kitty during your move.
Here is everything you need to know when looking for a cat carrier for moving and acclimating your feline friend to the crate.
How to choose a cat carrier for moving
Cat carriers come in different sizes, materials, and designs – which one will be best for your cat depends on the size and temperament of your feline friend, as well as on the method and length of travel to your new home.
What size cat moving crate do you need?
A cat crate for moving shouldn’t be either too big or too small:
- If you get a very large crate, your kitty will tumble about at every movement. Besides, cats feel safer in smaller spaces;
- If you get a very small carrier, your kitty won’t be able to move freely inside and comfortably lie down, stand, and turn around. Not to mention that cats might feel caged – and become anxious – if the space is too limited.
It is best to get a cat carrier that is about one-and-a-half times bigger than your fluffy friend – small enough that your kitty feels snug and cozy in it, but large enough for them to stretch, turn around, and lie down.
Bonus tip: Consider the carrier’s weight capacity too – bigger, heavier cats will require stronger pet carriers.
Is it better to get a hard-sided crate or a soft-sided carrier?
Both types of pet carriers have their advantages and disadvantages – the better fit for your cat depends on the specific circumstances in your case:
Soft-sided carriers
Made of nylon or other fabrics, soft-sided cat carriers are flexible, lightweight, and comfortable. They’re usually padded for comfort and have breathable mesh designs that provide good visibility and keep pets secure without restricting the air flow.
This type of carriers, however, is only suitable for mellow kitties – more restless cats can rip the mesh screen and escape.
What’s more, soft-sided carriers are more difficult to clean and deodorize and more likely to harbor fleas or other pests than plastic crates. Besides, they limit the cat’s ability to move about and shift positions.
Hard-sided carriers
Hard-sided crates are more durable and provide better protection than soft-sided carriers. Typically made of plastic, they are very easy to clean and don’t retain odors. Hard-sided carriers come in larger sizes, so they’re not only more comfortable for bigger cats, but can even hold a litter box and other comfort gear.
It is easier to put a recalcitrant cat in a plastic crate than in a fabric carrier, so mischievous kitties and stressed animals are better transported in hard-sided crates.
Keep in mind though, that if you need to stop suddenly, the cat can be tossed against the hard sides and get hurt – if you opt for a hard-sided carrier, you need to add some padding to the bottom and sides. Besides, hysterical cats can injure themselves if they try to gnaw or claw through the metal door or plastic sides in an attempt to escape.
Are you moving short distance or long distance?
If you’re only moving across town or to a nearby city and the trip to your new home won’t take more than a few hours, any carrier will do.
If you’re moving across the country, however, you need to be more careful when choosing a cat carrier. A cat crate for moving long distance needs to be durable, easy to clean, and large enough to allow the kitty to move freely around and to hold a litter box. A plastic crate is your better bet.
What kind of carrier is more suitable for car travel?
Despite the many benefits of hard-sided crates, soft-sided carriers are the better option when transporting a cat in a car. First of all, they’re easier to secure in a vehicle and provide more comfort for the kitty. More importantly, though, they’re safer.
Soft-sided pet carriers provide cushioning on impact. In the unfortunate event of an accident or sudden braking, the cat will be thrown against the soft netting of the fabric carrier, not the hard sides of a plastic crate. The flexibility of the fabric will prevent your feline friend from getting hurt on impact.
If you’re moving long distance and prefer to transport your cat in a hard-sided crate, be sure to add a lot of padding inside for extra safety and general comfort.
Make sure your chosen cat carrier can be safely secured in the car – it’s best to strap it in the backseat with seat belts. If the crate is large, be sure to put something in the footwell – a box, a rolled-up sleeping bag, etc. – to support the pet carrier. Arrange your boxes and items so that the crate is braced in place but there’s ample ventilation around it. Make sure nothing can fall over the cat carrier and keep it away from direct sunlight.
What kind of carrier is needed for air travel?
If you’re flying with your cat, you need to check your chosen airline’s pet policy and see what requirements they have for carriers for plane travel.
Every airline has slightly different rules, but the standard requirements for pet crates say that the carrier must be entirely closed (so the animal can’t escape) and properly ventilated. The door must be equipped with a latch (not a lock), so that the pet can be easily taken out of it in case of an emergency.
If your chosen airline allows pets in the cabin, the carrier needs to be small enough to fit under a seat. If your poor kitty has to travel in the cargo hold, the crate must be constructed from rigid materials, so there is no risk of it being crushed by other pet crates or people’s luggage.
To sum it all up – the best cat carriers for moving provide safety (protect the pet from impacts), comfort (allow the pet to move freely and lie down comfortably, offer cushioning, ensure proper ventilation), and security (do not allow the pet to escape). In order to choose the right moving crate for your kitty, you need to take all the above considerations into account and pick a carrier that can be a safe haven for Fluffy during the traumatic relocation period.
Buy the crate as soon as you’ve decided on the best fit for your cat – at least a month or so in advance, so you have enough time to get your kitty used to the carrier until the day of your move.
How to crate train your cat for moving
Once you’ve bought a cat moving crate, start getting your pet acclimated to it without delay. You need to help Fluffy understand that the carrier is a safe place for them and there is nothing scary about traveling in it.
To make your cat feel calm and comfortable about the carrier, you need to help your feline friend create positive associations with it.
Let your cat explore the crate at their leisure
Your first task is to show Fluffy that the carrier is an ordinary, everyday item.
Set the crate on the floor in the living room – or in one of your cat’s preferred places in the house. Leave the door open, so the kitty can get in and out as they please. Place a soft blanket or towel inside – a blanket or towel that your cat is well familiar with and that has their scent (or your scent) on it.
Your feline friend may avoid the carrier for a couple of days, but their curiosity will eventually prevail – they will want to explore the new object and will do so as soon as they’re certain that there is nothing scary about it.
Once your cat takes interest in the crate, lure them inside – place a treat or a favorite toy just inside of the carrier. The next time, put the yummy tidbit further inside. Continue placing treats further and further inside the carrier over the next several days – so your kitty needs to go all the way to the back of the crate to get the treat.
If your cat is reluctant to get into the carrier, use a calming spray on the inside of the crate (there is a feline pheromone substitute in the spray that makes cats feel safe).
Get your cat to feel comfortable in the carrier
Once your cat gets over their anxiety and starts casually going in and out of the carrier, try making them hang out in it – place their bed inside, start feeding them in the carrier, turn the crate into a playground, etc. You want your cat to begin playing, grooming, and napping in the moving crate.
When that happens, start going to the crate and calling Fluffy to you. When the kitty arrives, pick them up and put them in the carrier – make sure there is a treat waiting for them in the back of the crate. Let the cat eat the treat and walk out whenever they choose to. This training will make it easy to put your pet in the carrier on moving day if they don’t get inside it on their own.
Your next step is to try keeping the cat in the carrier with the door closed. Choose a moment when your feline friend is resting in the crate and shut the door while talking to Fluffy in a calm, reassuring voice. After a few minutes, let the kitty out and give them a special treat. Repeat this scenario once or twice a day over the next week, gradually increasing the time your kitty stays inside the carrier.
When your cat begins feeling comfortable in the carrier with the door closed, you can start getting them used to being picked up and carried in the crate. Gently pick up the carrier while your cat is inside it and carry it around the house for several minutes. Let the kitty out and offer a tasty treat. Practice this over and over again until Fluffy learns that being moved in the carrier is not scary and results in something good.
Crate training a cat can take a while, but if everything goes well, the carrier will become a safe place for your feline friend and will be very comforting for them during the stressful trip to your new home.
Must-read: How to move with a cat to a new home
