How to Move House Without Stressing Your Outdoor Cat – Checklist

Did you know that 40% of pet owners find their cats suffer stress during a house move?

A statistic like that emphasises just how sensitive our feline friends can be to change in their environment. Moving is an exciting time for us, but often confusing and stressful for our moggy.

Every member of our expert removalist team at North Removals know that your outdoor cat needs to feel secure and safe at all times. That’s why we’ve compiled these practical tips to help your dear cat make a smooth and happy transition with you to your new home.

Are you moving with an outdoor cat?

How to keep your cat calm during the moving process

Before the Move

Book North Removals in advance and let us know you are moving with a cat. We will take every care for you and your moggy!

1. Start Preparing Your Cat in Advance

Don’t leave everything till the last minute. Plan your move with plenty of time, at least several weeks before moving. Preparing early will lower your stress levels and give your cat time to adjust to changes in the environment. When you pack, let your cat explore the boxes to make a game of it; this will help enormously to minimise your cat’s stress.

2. Create a Safe Refuge

Turn a room in your current home into a safe refuge for your outdoor cat. Put their bed, toys, scratching post and food in there. This room must be ready at least a week before moving day so that your cat can get used to it.

3. Familiarisation with the Carrier

Most cats view the carrier as threatening, so to change that perception, leave the carrier open in their safe haven and place treats or their favourite blanket in it. Let them come in and out of the carrier at their leisure for a few days to get them associating the carrier with good, relaxed times.

4. Maintain Routine

Cats are creatures of routine, so while you’re moving, try to keep feeding and play schedules as steady as you can. 

During the Move

North Removals will assist you with your move on the day, and we can even pack for you if you wish, taking every care of your cat.

1. Prepare an ´Emergency Kit´ for Moving Day

Make a kit with all the necessary stuff your cat needs on moving day. Add their food, water, bowls, litter box, favourite toys and any medicines they’ll need. This way, you’ll have everything on hand, and you’ll be able to meet their needs at the drop of a hat without having to dig through boxes.

2. Isolate Your Cat During the Chaos

When moving day comes, put your cat in the safe room you set up for them so they will stay calm and out of the way of the chaos. To avoid your cat escaping in the chaos, it’s important to close the door and put up a sign saying to anyone in the property that the door is not to be opened.

3. Maintain Feeding Routine

On moving day try to keep your cat’s feeding schedule as regular as possible.

4. Use Soft Music or White Noise

Using soft music or white noise is an excellent way to calm your outdoor cat during the move. In their safe room choose gentle melodies, like classical music, and keep the volume low. White noise applications with relaxing sounds like ocean waves will do just as well. To help keep them calm, start playing these sounds on moving day.

5. Use Calming Pheromones

Use pheromone diffusers in your safe haven before and during the move. These pheromones will help to calm their anxiety and help them to feel relaxed. You can buy products like Feliway, as a spray or plug-in diffuser, online or from your vet.

6. Transport Your Cat at the Last Moment

When it’s time to go, ensure you transport your cat as late as possible to minimise their exposure to the chaos.

7. Take Regular Stops During the Journey

If your move is a long journey, take breaks to let your cat relax. Make sure they don’t escape along the way, and that you give them water and allow them to use their litter box if necessary.

After the Move

1. Establish a New Safe Space

Before you move your cat to its new home, you will want to prepare its safe refuge to ease the stress that will be caused by the noise and chaos of unpacking your belongings.

To do this effectively you need to outfit its safe space with all the things your outdoor cat is used to—its bed, its toys, its scratching post, its food, all in its designated area. Make sure the litter box is accessible, and close the door at first, so it gets used to the quiet, new place.

Again, using pheromone diffusers or sprays will lessen stress, and you can also play soothing music to hide the sounds made during the unpacking.

2. Introduce Your Cat to Their New Home Gradually

Let your cat slowly get to know its new home. First, open the door of its refuge and then let it come out when it feels ready. Be with it on its explorations of the new home and its external areas. Pet it gently and say reassuring things, so it comes to associate the new space with good things.

3. Maintain Consistent Routines

Cats love routine and so it’s best to establish a regular schedule for feeding, play time and rest. This gives them stability in the midst of change. If you can, keep to the same schedules you had in your last house.

4. Environmental Enrichment

Give the new home environmental enrichment to mentally stimulate your cat. Put scratching posts, interactive toys and climbing shelves around. Doing so will not only keep your moggy occupied, but will encourage it to explore and eventually adapt to its new environment.

5. Interaction with Your Cat

Spend time every day playing with your cat and engaging with it using toys which will encourage exercise and hunting (such as feathers or a laser pointer). Positive interaction will not only reinforce your bond, but will also distract it from any leftover anxiety.

6. Watch for Signs of Stress

Attend carefully to your cat’s behaviour after the move. Some typical symptoms of stress in cats include:

• Changes in Appetite: Stress in a cat can cause them to eat less or even refuse to eat altogether, which in the long term can cause health problems.
• Aggressive Behaviour: Increased stress may be recognised by irritability or aggression directed toward humans or other pets.
• Hiding: When cats are anxious, they may find refuge in secluded places.
• Excessive Grooming: Excessive grooming of themselves may be a way that some cats self-soothe.

If you see any of these signs it’s important to act promptly to help your outdoor cat adapt easier to its new home. If your cat is still stressed after a few weeks in your new home, consult a vet or animal behaviour specialist. They can come up with strategies to help, and check if there is any underlying health issue.

The 5 Most Common Mistakes When Moving with Your Outdoor Cat

We at North Removals have learned over the years that pet owners need to take care with the following possible oversights, so their cat can handle the house move smoothly:

1. Not Accounting for Adjustment Time

Some owners think that if they move in with a cat, the cat will adapt to the new place very quickly, but every cat has its own pace. Failure to plan an adequate adjustment period will lead to frustration. You need to be patient and let your cat check out and adapt to its new surroundings at a level that feels comfortable for them.

2. Not Making an Adequate Transportation Plan

Some owners don’t think about how they will be actually moving their cat. If you don’t have a plan, your cat (and you) may get stressed. If the journey is going to be a long one, be sure to have a safe and comfortable carrier, and plan on regular stops.

3. Neglecting Cat Identification

During the pretty hectic time of moving, some owners may forget to put a collar with tag or microchip on their cat. Proper identification is crucial in case the cat escapes when you’re moving, as it will greatly increase the chances that it will come home. According to studies, lost but 
microchipped cats are returned to their owners 33–61% of the time, as opposed to 5% of unchipped cats.

4. Lack of Enrichment During the Transition

During the move some owners will overlook the importance of environmental enrichment. If your cats don’t have toys or things to occupy them, they will feel bored, or anxious. If your cat is stressed, providing scratching posts, interactive toys and a good quantity of play opportunities will really help them.

5. Forgetting Positive Communication

When moving home, things can get chaotic, and owners may stop communicating well with their cat. If you ignore them, or don’t talk with them, it increases their anxiety. Being softly spoken with them, petting them, and just spending time together will help establish their calm and safety.

Resources Chart for Moving with Outdoor Cats

Resource	Description	Tips
Carrier	A comfortable and secure carrier for travel.	Make sure it is a decent size for your cat to be comfortable.
Pheromone Diffusers	Products that help calm your cat’s anxiety.	Place them in the safe space and in the new home.
Soft Music or White Noise	Relaxing sounds played by devices or apps.	Use them during the move and in the new home to calm the person down.
Emergency Kit	Some essential supplies such as food, water, litter box, toys and medications.	Have it ready for moving day.
Scratching Posts and Interactive Toys	Stimulating items that will exercise your cat’s mind and body.	Activities for your cat in their safe space, before and after the move, is helpful.
Animal Behaviour Guide	Books and online resources on how to manage anxiety and feline behaviour in transitioning.	If your cat is stressed for more than a few days, consult with these resources.
Local Veterinarian(s)	Names of nearby veterinarians who you can talk with about your cat, or contact for emergencies..	Find reviews and have their contact information handy.

FAQ About Moving with A Cat

If my cat refuses to enter the carrier, what do I do?

If your cat doesn’t want to get into the carrier, don’t force it. Try not to make the carrier a hostile space instead. Leave the carrier open in a familiar place with treats, toys or blanket with its scent. You can also practice short periods of entering and exiting the carrier, then reward your cat when it goes inside again, with happy words and treats. Or you can quickly scoop up your moggy and pop them in. That way is quicker!

How quickly will my outdoor cat settle into the new home?

The adjustment period is cat dependent. It may take days, weeks or even months for some cats to acclimatise. You have to be patient and the let the cat settle in the environment by itself. Once your outdoor cat knows where its litter tray is, its bed and food and water is, it will start to relax.

Is it necessary to take my cat to the veterinarian before the move?

Before you move with your cat, you are well advised to take it to your vet so that it is in a good shape, and up to date with vaccinations. This is especially important if you’re planning on moving to a different state, where there may be particular health specifications.

Should I let my cat explore the entire house immediately after arriving?

It’s best to let your cat get used to its new home slowly. Start by introducing it to a safe room for it to settle in, and then opening up other areas of the home.

What should I do if my cat escapes during the move?

Before you start moving things in and out of the house make sure that all windows and doors are closed. If your cat gets out, don’t panic, just attempt to coax it back with treats or its favourite toy. It’s also very important to have updated identification on its collar or a microchip. If your cat goes missing, put its litter tray or bedding out for it to catch the scent of itself and find you. Call its name walking around your neighbourhood, and if necessary put signs up, cats are often found by neighbours!

Related article: Tips for moving house with a dog.

Moving with Your Cat? North Removals Has You Covered

In this article have looked at a number of good tips to prepare your cat before, during and after your move. Our team of seasoned removalists have plenty of experience with cat relocations, and shared five common mistakes you can avoid to make your moggy´s life with you more enjoyable.

Each outdoor cat is different and may take some time to adjust to major changes. If you are interested in additional personalised advice or are in need of local or interstate moving assistance with pet-friendly moving, please don’t hesitate to contact our dedicated 10-man team at North Removals. 

Facundo, Leo, Alex, Alejo, and I, Joaquin, are here to help. We are professional moving experts and will happily make this experience easier and more comfortable for you and your beloved cat!