Moving with Cats: Ivy’s Tips for Stress-Free Relocation

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Each week, we share a narrative from one in all our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about Crystal and her soul cat, Ivy.

Hello Catsters!

The final time we spoke, I touched on the dreaded F-word: Fleas! I sincerely hope that everybody who learn that story checked their cat for fleas after that, or was no less than reminded of the significance of being per flea remedy.

This week, we’re speaking about transferring! I’ll be sharing a few issues that basically helped Ivy – and me.

After a few yr of residing in our first advanced, we determined it was time to maneuver. After a LOT of looking out, calling, and emailing with brokers, we lastly discovered the proper match! A bit hidden gem of a fancy, surrounded by greenery, gardens, and bushes.

The transferring preparation was in full swing, and transferring day arrived faster than I assumed it will. I used to be extraordinarily nervous about how Ivy would deal with the transfer – it was my first time transferring together with her and to be sincere, I didn’t actually know what to do or the place to begin to ensure the transition can be as straightforward as doable for her.

Fortunately, Catster has a ton of assets with tips for moving with your cat, and so they actually helped when it got here to making ready and setting my thoughts comfy.

There have been just a few issues that we did that I believe made an enormous distinction in conserving her calm and making the state of affairs the very best we may.

1. Preserving ourselves calm

Let’s face it: transferring is tense. And wow, I used to be careworn! I used to be stressed in regards to the transferring preparation, the precise transferring, and the aftermath of the transferring. Nevertheless, I attempted my greatest to remain calm, keep on with our common routine, and act prefer it was no large deal that principally all of our issues have been in packing containers able to be moved to their new vacation spot. I believe I did job at staying calm – don’t ask anybody else, although!

2. The calming collar

I used to be very skeptical of calming collars – for no actual motive, I simply was! Nevertheless, I made a decision to buy one anyway. There’s no actual strategy to inform for positive, however I believe the calming collar did make a distinction. I put the calming collar on just a few days earlier than the transfer after we began packing.

As everyone knows, most cats can sense when change is coming, and with principally our complete home being packed into packing containers, I for positive thought she would know one thing was up. With the collar on, it appeared like she didn’t have a care on this planet, and naturally, she beloved the entire packing containers!

The calming collar additionally helped with the precise transferring. Normally, she hates being in a service, and being in a automobile, since that often means she’s going to the dreaded veterinarian. However she was surprisingly chilled being subjected to each of these issues – fortunately, it was solely a brief 30-minute drive.

3. Making a protected room

Our new townhouse had two bedrooms, and we made her a snug, protected spot in one of many rooms with all of her issues. Her cat tree, litter packing containers, toys, meals bowls, and scratchers have been all positioned within the room earlier than her arrival. We stored her within the room till all of our issues have been in the home and the entire strangers have been out of the home!

4. Permitting her to discover

When the extraordinarily lengthy transferring day lastly got here to an finish, it was time for her to discover her new area! Her curiosity was at an all-time excessive, with new nooks and crannies and rooms to discover. I puzzled what she was considering. The views from the home windows have been completely different, the format of the home was completely different, nicely, every part was completely different! After a few days, we moved her issues to their new designated spots. We additionally made positive to place an merchandise together with her scent in every room. In my thoughts, this might make her really feel like she’s been there earlier than.

5. Sticking to the common routine

We made positive that she nonetheless bought fed on the identical time and bought treats on her cat tree perch every morning. What made this course of even simpler, I believe, was the truth that I get to make money working from home. In essence, nothing modified besides the area we have been in.

Though these items helped Ivy and us so much, I additionally assume that she is a really adaptable kitty. She wasn’t hiding, or skittish, or not sure of herself. She was her regular, assured self. Inside just a few days, she was working round the home like she owned the place, and it appeared as if she had lived there her complete life.

Ivy actually amazed me and truthfully made me assume to myself, if she will have her complete little life uprooted, moved, and settle in inside a matter of days, why can’t I? As an alternative of me serving to her by the transfer and adjustment interval, she ended up serving to me much more.

Our transferring expertise isn’t almost as tense as some others I’ve learn or heard about, and for that, I’m extraordinarily grateful!

I’m curious to know: Should you may give somebody one piece of recommendation about transferring with a cat, what would it not be?

Thanks for studying, Catsters! Till subsequent time.