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+--- Thread: Moving a long distance with cats (/showthread.php?tid=680)
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Moving a long distance with cats - Codysmom - 11-02-2022
For some months now I have been packing up my late mum's house. It's been a huge undertaking (and still is) however thankfully we're finally nearing the end of packing up, hopefully we'll be finished in a few weeks.
My question is this: We will be moving some 7-8 hours away to a different province and a much smaller home. Any advice travelling such a long distance with the kitties (and Bailey) would be appreciated. Also, any advice in settling them in to their new home to make it as stress free as possible will be appreciated.
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 11-02-2022
Oh gosh Colleen - Fluffy is still adapting to a smaller home - I think a combination of the things they know and love to help them feel secure - and some exciting new toys... I got Fluffy a new corrugated cardboard cat scratcher (which he loves).
And...a new suede look tunnel - which he loves...
And...some new toy mice with string for tails...And a wand toy which I added extra elastic to so it's super-long... And LOTS of catnip sprinkled liberally everywhere...
Fluffy prefers the KONG brand in a tin...
Location of everything is super-important to Fluffy and as far as possible I've tried to keep the furniture in a similar layout.
He needs a lot of extra attention and playtime because he's an 'only' child but that doesn't apply to your 'crew'
I've been to visit my own mother today in the dementia facility and I'm feeling all over the place at the moment. If I think of any more tips and tricks I'll post them soon...
In a nutshell - spoil them rotten (as some people would say) I would call it loving them to bits!!!
Such a massive transition for all of you (2 legged & 4 legged!!!)
Best of Luck and Lots of Love
Pam xxx
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - Codysmom - 11-03-2022
Thank you so much for the tips Pam, I appreciate your advice knowing you've just moved recently yourself. It's going to be a massive change as the home my kitties are used is very large and the new home tiny in comparison.
I will have a small conservatory in the new home where they have a view of the garden which overlooks a valley beyond with an Avocado tree plantation. I'm sure they'll enjoy the scenery and watching birds and maybe the 'excitement' of discovering all the new things to see will hopefully help make the transition a little easier, and of course they'll get lots of extra love and affection. xx
I'm not looking forward to the actual trip itself as it is a long one. I'm hoping we'll be able to make it in 7 hours (and not longer, which could happen). But will have to face that challenge when we get to it.
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - HelenMac - 11-03-2022
What a big undertaking Colleen. Praying all goes well. Not sure on such a long distance move but we moved 3 hours away but they were in the carriers for 2 hours before we left and hour when we got to the other end so 6 hours all up we sprayed the carriers with felliway and catnip spray... I did leave the carriers out with favourite blankets ect for couple weeks before the move as we used extra big ones for the longer move which definatley helped. Both boys slept all the way. When we got to our new place which was smaller first thing we did was put them in a room with litter box food and water and their crates and left them to it while truck was unpacked ect. Then we set up the master bedroom and bed and put the cat covers on the foot of the bed as that's where the boys sleep at night and put the boys in there while we set up the rest of the house. On vet recomendation we used the felliway diffuser in our new home left it plugged in and going for a month and regularly sprayed the cat towers with the felliway and catnip spray. It definately helped boys settled quite quickly.. We did notice when felliway diffuser ran out after the initial month Zimba was still not quite himself so we got a refill and used for another month. After that they were both fine. I always keep a refill on hand for after vet visits and stressful times which reminds me must plug in for tomorrow night as its guy fawks.
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 11-04-2022
(11-03-2022, 01:43 AM)Codysmom Wrote: Thank you so much for the tips Pam, I appreciate your advice knowing you've just moved recently yourself. It's going to be a massive change as the home my kitties are used is very large and the new home tiny in comparison.
I will have a small conservatory in the new home where they have a view of the garden which overlooks a valley beyond with an Avocado tree plantation. I'm sure they'll enjoy the scenery and watching birds and maybe the 'excitement' of discovering all the new things to see will hopefully help make the transition a little easier, and of course they'll get lots of extra love and affection. xx
I'm not looking forward to the actual trip itself as it is a long one. I'm hoping we'll be able to make it in 7 hours (and not longer, which could happen). But will have to face that challenge when we get to it.
Oh the conservatory with the view sounds amazing Colleen!!! I'm sure they'll love the excitement of discovering that...
My move was only one suburb away - I have absolutely no idea about a 7 (or more) hour journey.
My flat is tiny in comparison to the house and Fluffy definitely misses his enclosure. To assist him feel he has more space I gave away a lot of my own stuff that I didn't need.
I'm not suggesting that's what you need to do!!!
But in my case I was ready to downsize and simplify my own life and possessions to make Fluffy happy.
I feel like getting a sign for my flat that reads:
This home is...........
RULED by a RAGDOLL
pam x
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - Codysmom - 11-05-2022
Thank you Helen and Pam, your tips and help are so appreciated. xx
Cody's my big cry baby in the car, he screams from the moment we start the trip till the end. Wesley tends to only give a little 'mew' now and again, and Katy hides under the blanket in her carrier. That's when I take them to the vet which is only about 4km from home.
I have spoken to the vet and he has suggested I give them Neuronton which will make them a little drowsy and hopefully help a little on the long journey. Their large cat tree has already been sent ahead to already be put into the new home and I will be taking some of the smaller kitty furniture along to help as well. I will be happy once we're all settled in, I'm trying not to dwell on the trip too much, but praying that it will go well with the Lord's help.
The packing is mainly my parents possessions. I do have some things but it's a huge job going through what to keep, give away, throw away, send to auction! I'll be so happy once the packing is over and done with. I am having to think over carefully what to keep as I don't want to clutter up the new home as you say Pam, simplify life as much a possible.
x
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - HelenMac - 11-05-2022
Zimba is our cry baby too going to the vet which is why we gave him a extra large carrier for our trip down here and packed the car around it. It made all the difference as he likes to stretch out on his back so getting the larger carrier mean't he could do that and we never heard a peep out of him. I hear you about deciding what to keep and chuck donate ect. We went from a 3 bed home to a two. We piled up what decided to donate to salvation army and got them to bring the truck to collect and they came and took it all away. Was such a big help. We got a skip for what we were chucking. Made the job so much easier. Will pray everything goes well and your babies handle the trip well.
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 11-07-2022
(11-05-2022, 11:14 AM)Codysmom Wrote: Thank you Helen and Pam, your tips and help are so appreciated. xx
Cody's my big cry baby in the car, he screams from the moment we start the trip till the end. Wesley tends to only give a little 'mew' now and again, and Katy hides under the blanket in her carrier. That's when I take them to the vet which is only about 4km from home.
I have spoken to the vet and he has suggested I give them Neuronton which will make them a little drowsy and hopefully help a little on the long journey. Their large cat tree has already been sent ahead to already be put into the new home and I will be taking some of the smaller kitty furniture along to help as well. I will be happy once we're all settled in, I'm trying not to dwell on the trip too much, but praying that it will go well with the Lord's help.
The packing is mainly my parents possessions. I do have some things but it's a huge job going through what to keep, give away, throw away, send to auction! I'll be so happy once the packing is over and done with. I am having to think over carefully what to keep as I don't want to clutter up the new home as you say Pam, simplify life as much a possible.
Hey Colleen,
I don't know anything about Neuronton, but I did have an experience with my dog when he was given a sedative and he had an idiosyncratic reaction to it. Vet said he would sleep for 4 hours after having it. Not my boy - he rested for about 20 mins - then became very alarmed by the fact that his legs were wobbly. He was unsteady on his feet and it was like:
Mummy!!! - Mummy!!! - Mummy!!! - my legs aren't working - help me!!!
Each of your cats may react very differently to the Neuronton. Not sure if this is good advice or not (and it's just a question really) but maybe you could discuss it with your vet and have a trial run with the Neuronton before the move to see if any of your crew have an idiosyncratic reaction to the drug?
Love Pam x
PS: Fluffy is like Wesley: a little 'mew' now and again...
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - Codysmom - 12-13-2022
Just to give an update on the trip. It was a very long one (11 hours to be exact). The Neuronton helped the kitties, they were relaxed and calm and they mostly slept during the long drive, it was only about the last hour or so that Cody and Katy started mewing a little. Wesley was the best traveller of all, he sat up now and again to look at where we were and then went to sleep again.
They are all adjusting well to their new home and getting used to the new sights and sounds, such a relief.
RE: Moving a long distance with cats - Smudge's Mom - 12-13-2022
Oh that is wonderful...hope the humans do as well. Best wishes and Happy Holidays to all of you.