We all know moving is a stressful time, but for cats, it can be a bigger upheaval than for their human counterparts. Your home is your cat’s territory. By taking them out of their familiar environment and into a completely new one can be extremely overwhelming for them. However, there are a few things you can do to make the move a more comfortable process for your feline friend. Creature comforts – establish the carrier as a safe, comfortable place for your cat to be as soon as you can. Leave it out a few weeks before the move for your cat to become comfortable with its presence. Putting blankets and the occasional treat inside will help your cat warm up to the carrier more quickly. Try to stick to normal feeding routines as much as possible in the days leading up to and after the move to give your cat some semblance of normalcy throughout the environmental changes. During the move – consider keeping your cat in a separate room while the moving process is taking place. This ensures not only that they won’t slip out any open doors, but they also won’t be underfoot or become stressed by the chaos of moving. Place a sign on the door to let everyone know that the cat is in the room. You will want to leave a litter box, food, water and their carrier in the room with them. Pack this room last and put the cat in the carrier before you begin packing up this final room. Stay safe – when cats are nervous they seek out small spaces to comfort themselves. To prevent your cat from getting stuck monitor them in the kitchen and other rooms with small gaps. You will also want to ensure that all window screens are securely in place. If you have an outdoor cat wait two to four weeks before allowing them to roam outside. Be sure to update your cat’s tag and/or microchip with your new address and phone number. Comfort zone – set up a safe room in the new house for your cat to stay in for the first few weeks after the move. Being confined to a smaller section of the new house will put your cat more at ease. Place their favorite toys and bedding in the room with them as well as food, water, and a litterbox. If you want to keep the litter box in a different room have two litter boxes, one in the safe room and one in the room you would normally like it until your cat becomes comfortable with the rest of the house and new litter box location. Cats are creatures of habit and drastic changes like a move can cause them to become distressed. By taking a few preliminary steps throughout the moving process like slowly introducing them to their carrier and creating a comfort zone you can ensure your cat enjoys your new home just as much as you do!]]>