Moving with pets is no easy affair. Animals don’t like new places, and throughout the process, there’s always that fear of your dear friend getting scared and running off. Professional movers in Oklahoma City know how to be careful with pets as they work—still, you might only relax once you’re all set in your new home with your furry friend in your lap.
When it comes to cats, things become 100% more complicated. Cats are flexible, fast, and incredibly swift, meaning they can bolt out of a room in just seconds. Here are some tips to prevent this and ensure the most comfortable moving experience for your pet.
5 Tips for Moving with Cats
1. Update Their Contact Information
Before a move, make sure your cat’s ID collar is secure and up to date. If possible, microchip your cat in case it runs away from its new home out of fear.
Cats are averse to change and may attempt to escape even after reaching your new home. That’s why ensuring they have their identification for the first few days is crucial. If microchip information is kept up to date, reunions are far more likely.
2. Introduce Them to the Carrier
It can be less stressful for your cat if they are introduced to a quality pet carrier a few weeks prior to the move. Before you start packing, set the carrier in a safe, quiet corner of your current home and place treats, toys, or blankets in it so they build positive associations.
Let them enter and leave the carrier freely in the days and weeks before the move. That way, they will start recognizing it as a safe place and seek refuge in it when the moving becomes hectic.
3. Create a Safe Room
Cats are creatures of habit, and they’ll look at any change with suspicion. To make this significant change easier for them, set up a “safe room” where belongings aren’t packed until the very last minute.
This room should include their litter boxes, food and water bowls, comfy beds, favorite toys, scratchers, and carriers. Next, prepare a safe room in the new location with the same supplies on the day of the move. When the time comes, move your cat right from the start, and make sure it stays in its “safe room” until the very last box is placed.
4. Don’t Panic
Cats can take some time until they acclimate to a new location, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is panicking when you can’t find them—this will only add to your poor animal’s stress.
Cats are experts at finding the most obscure hiding locations. In fact, they will probably get to know every corner of your new house even before you do.
Keep the doors and windows closed or get a net to prevent any accidents. If they suddenly disappear, you’ll know they’re inside the house. Then, let them leave their hiding space on their own time.
5. Keep the Boxes!
Cats love boxes—that is an undeniable truth of the universe! Once your feline friend is comfortable enough in their new home, they’ll start exploring, and being able to jump in and out of the widely available boxes will surely make their day.
Boxes are also a tool for cats to sharpen their claws, so leaving one or two boxes around may even save your furniture’s life.
(Disclaimer—this advice was, by no means, written by a cat.)
Find Pet-Friendly Movers in Oklahoma City
Moving to a new house is always an exciting experience. Nevertheless, it’s never worth it if your dear pets struggle throughout it or (even worse) end up missing. To avoid those nightmares, we are happy to provide some steps you can follow to give them a nicer time.
If you’d like to hear more about how Pink Zebra can help you and your cat move, find a location near you!