How To Help Your Cat Adjust To A New Home

Depending on your cats personality, moving to a new home may be easy or stressful for them. We've put together four tips to help make the transition more smooth.

Step 1: Bringing The Familiar

Unpacking a new home can take a very long time, there are lots of decisions to be made and things to be sorted. So it is understandable that your cat's belongings may get forgotten. But even if you are planning on upgrading their toys, it is important to bring their old favourite things with you. Unpack them and set them up in an appropriate spot as soon as possible.

The smell will comfort them and remind them that not everything has changed, and that they still have a spot in your home. ​

Step 2: Give Them Views

It can be very stressful for cats to be hearing new sounds without being able to see where they are coming from. Even if the sounds have not changed, their senses will be more alert because of all of the new smells. They will want to be able to see as much of what's going on as possible. 

Set up boxes and ledges with comfortable seats under windows. Let your cat have as many views and freedom to explore as possible so that they can find out for themselves that there is nothing more dangerous about this place. ​

​Step 3: Utilize Cat Nip

If your cat is having a particularly hard time at night - meowing and wandering around without sleeping - then giving them lots of cat nip can help. It allows them to relax a little happier, and may help them sleep.

Put cat nip in empty boxes for the added benefit of a cat's two favourite things. Whenever your cat gets too stressed out, give them cat nip fresh or dried. ​

Step 4: Carry Your Cat

Have you found your cat meowing when they're not with you but not staying when you hold them? This is a sign of their stress and anxiousness. They want to be with you for comfort but they aren't relaxed enough to trust sitting in your lap for a long period of time. A good way to combat this is to carry them around. Using whatever you have on hand, carry your cat in a tight but comfortable bag/carrier. Then walk around your house as normal. They will have their curiosities satisfied by being able to see what you are doing, while also getting the comfort of being in a tight hold position. They may not stay in the carrier for long, but it always helps to comfort them in the times when they are particularly stressed.

Many animals (including humans) are comforted by being wrapped and held. Cats are no exception. ​
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In time, your cat will adjust to the new surrounding just like you will. If you can get through the first couple of weeks with these tips then you will soon have your happy relaxed cat again.

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This post was written by Sarah Nicholson, a guest blogger and friend of the clinic.