Here are a few quick tips from Éduchateur Daniel Filion, our feline behavior specialist, to reduce your cat's stress during the move.
1. Isolate your cat in a room with its usual food and litter, and mark the door to indicate that there's a cat inside, both at the place of departure and at the new home. Choose a quiet room where there's no coming and going.
2. Let your cat out, if he's calm, when the move is complete (final placement of furniture, absence of boxes, etc.).
3. Leave the cat in its isolation room until it feels comfortable, and wait until the house is calm again. Give access to one floor at a time.
4. Rub the bottom of the walls with a blanket on which your cat has already lain to put its scent. Using Feliway (a solution to help cats adapt to difficult situations and feel comfortable) can also help.
5. Have treats everywhere in every room to encourage him to explore more quickly and believe that this is the most wonderful house in the world.
6. Play with your cats in the rooms where they have the most difficulty adapting.
Moving is undoubtedly an exhausting experience for most of us. But for our feline companions, it's much more than that... for many of them, it's a difficult experience. They attach great importance to their routine and the stability of their territory. So they also have a lot of work ahead of them: creating a new routine and coping with new habits in their new territory are just two examples.
The Importance of Animal Isolation
There are ways to help your cat through this transition period. On moving day, isolate your cat in one room (in your old home as well as your new one). The bathroom is an ideal place, as it will be less frequented by the movers carrying your furniture and boxes. Be sure to place your cat's litter box in one corner and his food and water bowls in the opposite corner (or on the counter, if your cat can climb up). The distance between the litter box and the food and water bowls is very important, as your cat won't eat or drink if the litter box is too close to the food and water bowls. Be sure to enhance this moment by offering him what he likes best: it could be tuna, pieces of cooked chicken or ham, or his favorite treats! These simple gestures will help your cat create a positive association with his new territory. Adding new games can also help reduce stress, both during and after the move, as he associates the new environment with something pleasant.
Once the chaos of the move is over, i.e. all the movers have left, the people who offered you help have also left your new home, and most of the furniture has been placed in its final position, you can release your cat from his isolation room (if he's calm). If he stays in a corner, skims the floor and doesn't eat, he's not yet ready to explore the rest of his new home. Wait until he's calmer again. He'll then explore his environment room by room, floor by floor, at his own pace. Some cats will take several days or even weeks to feel at ease in a new territory, while others, who are more of a go-getter and curious, would like nothing better than to set off on a voyage of discovery. Most of you know your cat well enough to know whether he has a good capacity to adapt. During this period, if your cat refuses to eat or drink for more than two days, consult a vet as soon as possible. Don't wait until your cat is dehydrated.
The Importance of Freedom of Action
When your cat is exploring his new environment, let him act freely, without following him. Otherwise, he'll think you're trying to protect him from danger. Instead, try to adopt the routine you had in the old house, while keeping an eye on him out of the corner of your eye. By doing so, he'll understand that, although the territory may have changed, the routine remains relatively the same, which will reassure him to some extent. Don't encourage your cat to explore a particular area. Let your cat explore at his/her own pace.
Why not place treats all over the house? In the process, your cat will discover that, in this new home, there are treats in every room! Wow! It really is more interesting than the old territory, isn't it?
The sooner you move your belongings around the house, the better off your cat will be. Every time you move a piece of furniture, you change the configuration of its territory. In the weeks following the move, try not to reposition furniture to give your cat a chance to tame his new home and establish his precious routine. As most cats find comfort in heights, including a cat tree goes a long way towards developing a focal point and reducing their anxiety, especially if you have several cats.
Adding disposable litter boxes in different rooms of your home will also help your cat to quickly familiarize itself with its new environment. Add grains collected from your cat's usual litter box, to deposit its scent.
Here are a few quick tips from Isabelle Borremans, our canine behavior specialist, to reduce your dog's stress during the move.
Take the time to make your boxes in advance. This will allow your dog to adapt to the change and be less nervous on D-day.
If you're lucky enough to get to your new home before moving day, leave a few toys, cushions or accessories with your pet's scent on them.
On moving day, it's best to entrust your dog to a family member (who won't be helping you move!) or to a boarding service. This way, his arrival in his new home will be more peaceful.
To help your pet integrate properly, start by putting all his things in the same room, so that he feels that this new space is for him too. For the first few days, avoid leaving your pet alone for too long. Your presence will be a source of comfort.
When taking your dog for his first walks, always follow the same route. This consistency will help build his confidence in his new environment.
Taking the time to prepare for your companion's arrival in his new home is well worth the investment in time and energy, and he'll know how to repay you in return!