Hi guys.

I have a 19 month old cat called Paddy + me + my partner are moving into a new house in the next month. Just need some advice on making the move process as stress free as possible for him. Hes always been an indoor cat + were happy with this as we know he'll be alot safer from all the outside dangers (cars, poisoned, fighting with other cats, infection etc)

1) Is it ok to allow him outside? If yes would he always come back?

2) Is there anything we make/buy to keep him only in the garden?

3) Should I put him in the cattery the day before we move all our belongings?

4) Have any of you tried Litter Kwitter + can I train him?

Hello,
Pud my 4yo is a seasoned house mover & is very relaxed about it all. When we last moved he went to stay with my mum for a couple of days(shes our cat sitter & he loves her) He went the day before the move & came home the day after. What we did was set up all his stuff,bed/scratching post etc before he came. We put the old throws off the sofa around the house to get the 'family' smell in the new house & got some feliway plug in. Let him sit in his carry box for a few minutes to get the smell then opened the door & left him to it. The main thing is to have some familar things around that smell of the family & old home, that will make him feel more comfortable in his surroundings. Hope that helps a bit, the other stuff i can't really help as we have house cats that use covered litter boxes. My OH refuses to use litter kwitter, he keeps bringing up funny mental images of a cat sitting on the loo reading the paper I'm sure someone else will be along soon with some help x

Thanks for your reply. Very helpful!

Had a feeling putting him in the cattery was the right way to go.

The reason I'd like to try the Litter Kwitter is to save money buying big heavy bags of litter but mainly coz of the smell+stones on the floor (even though is an enclosed tray) Hes such a fussy little so and so. He always has a sniff before entering his tray + if he doesnt like it hes got into the habit of peeing in our bedroom! If I buy the Litter Kwitter + do train him he'll never have a reason not to use the toilet as it'll always smell clean!

As for the outdoor scenario im not to sure what to do. Its fully enclosed so not sure whether to add additional fencing right the way around the fencing that sticks out at an angle. I think tho I may let him out + keep a close eye on him. Im sure he wouldnt attempt it but never say never with a cat lol

Were we live at the moment we have a small balcony and were about 40ft up so I bought some cheap netting + draped it over the open bit. Hes never attempted to get over it so like to think he'd be the same in our new place.

Theres no main roads or traffic in the back garden. I'd be happy if he stayed just within our garden. To many reasons why I wouldnt want him going over the fence!

If he's always been an indoor kitty, why do you want to change? If you do decide to let him out you should keep him in for a few weeks at least until he's settled and comfortable.

We moved with our last cat. We popped him in to the cattery while we did all the big moving and sorting. I really think this was the best thing to do, we had too much other stress going on without having Spock running around our feets the whole time.

I've looked at the Litter Kwitter and, as nice (and/or novel) an idea as it is, I absolutely refuse to have to wait for the toilet because my cat is having a poo. Sorry, that's just the way it is!

__________________
Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will p*ss on your computer.

The Story So Far:
Spock (2010-2011), who began our love affair with kitties but whose grasp on the green cross code was sadly lacking.
Icarus (2011-...?), who loves noses more than anything else.
Mildred (2010-...?), who sings to the birds.

The twisted brainwrong of a one-off man mental.

Thanks for your reply.

Im more than happy for him to always be an indoor cat but I know when were outside he'll definately want to join us as he'll be scratching on the door to come out

I know what you mean about the Litter Kwitter and reasons for not wanting to get one.

I'd like to try it now though as when we move we'll have 3 toilets and not 1. Theres a toilet on ground, 1st + 2nd floor. Thats why I never got one earlier as I to wouldnt share the toilet either as were we live at the moment only has 1 toilet.

I can't offer any advice regarding letting your cat out other than what I would do - don't let him out unless you can make your garden 100% cat proof.

Regarding moving, we've never put ours in a cattery when we've moved. We get everything packed in boxes over the week or so leading up to moving day, and put the cats in their carriers before the removal men arrive. My OH stays in one room with the cats (or in the car if there isn't enough space to close off a room) while I supervise the removal men. We all head off to the new house. Once we arrive, the cats watch what's going on from inside their carriers - last time we put the carriers on the kitchen worktop so they could see people coming and going in the hall, bringing in all their possessions - and we let them out once the removal men have gone.

Our move from the UK to Spain was a bit different because we slept on the floor in our old, empty house for one night before we left (which they found a bit stressful), then stayed in a couple of hotels and holiday lets before we finally made it to our new home. The delight with which they greeted all their stuff when we arrived was priceless.

__________________
Proud Mummy to:

Sam (born June 1999, found August 1999)
Milly (born May 1999, adopted September 1999)
Eva (born 2010, adopted us August 2011)

Thank you all for your helpful comments

I've forgotten how many times we've moved now we do it that often 0 but we normally get everything out of the bathroom and set the cats up in there, both ends. They seem fine doing it this way.

As for letting him out - there is never a guarantee that he will always come back - I'd look for a way to secure the garden if you can or make a cat run. Once they get outside they just keep pushing the boundaries and begin to wander further and further. I was sure my scardy cat would never leave the garden and she managed to find a hole out whilst we were erecting the run (thought it was safe but had missed a bit, only had the roof to do) and got knocked down 2 months later having been missing all that time. So yes, never say never, and chasing a cat to catch it when it wants to be out is a feat in itself!

__________________
please look at my website - www.finesthourcats.webs.com - for gorgeous GCCF registered RagaMuffins and Selkirk Rex

Think ive come up with a great solution for the out door problem

Was looking at this

FABRIC PET PLAY PEN FOR DOG PUPPY CAT RABBIT | eBay

Would then fit a cat flap with tunnel leading to it, that way it'd 100% cat proof+he'd get to go outside without any worries.

Can anyone suggest a cat flap though that has an attachable tunnel that fixes to the outside leading to the play pen?

we moved in april from London to Milton keynes. Ella and Archie stayed with us during the whole process. They quite liked all the boxes but we had to make sure we didn't pack them!! On the day we moved we cleared the kitchen (most of it was fitted anyway so didn't need moving) and the cats stayed in there. We felt that especially for Ella a cattery would unnerve her more.

After the removal men left we popped them in their carriers and the car (we had a nightmare as we completed on our sale but then found the funds for our new house had been paid to the wrong soliscitor and the keys would not be released. After 5 hours we managed to get in the house due to the transfer being underwritten due to the soliscitor mucking up.

We shut them in the look with their litter trays and let them out once the removal men had gone. Archie was too young to go out but we kept Ella in for about six weeks till she knew it was home. The moment we got to the house we plugged in some feliway and it all went went.

__________________