tips for moving with very nervous cat

[rattling]

If all goes well we will be moving from our flat to a house with garden in a couple of months. This really should be good news for our cat, but I need some advice as how to manage the transition for him as he has "issues".

I got him from a dodgy rescue centre (only went there as I knew they'd give me a cat without being bothered that we are on the 2nd floor which were limiting our options at the other places). It was just before Christmas, he was all wrong for us, but as a 12 week old feral kitten his hopes of ever integrating into a family were diminishing and they were about to close for a fortnight.

We've had and known many cats who would go outside from a tenement flat, but in the 5 years we've owned him our cat has only been seen by about 8 people (including the 4 he lives with), from most people, even some weekend visitors he just hides.

Somehow we need to move him, with all the noise at this end and that, without him getting so stressed he never recovers, and certainly without allowing him to escape somewhere he doesn't recognise as he will just hunker down in a quiet spot and die probably.

So - advice and experience would be good. I'm considering talking to the vet about sedation, possibly trying to borrow a decent sized dog crate I can put him in for the day, possibly longer. I didn't have much luck with Feliway when I tried it before, but that was when I couldn't even imagine getting him as relaxed as he is now - he was living under the wardrobe for nearly 6 months. Is it worth another try? I can collect lots of us smelling things for the new place.

Can't believe my concerns about mortgages, surveys etc are being being swept aside by my fears about putting small furry creature in a box and driving him a mile down the road.

[cozietoesie]

Poor little stick.

I've had my fill of nervous cats and dealing with them during the house moves I've made has always been on the basis of strict practicality. No sedation, in the box, into a quiet room at the other end with food, water and tray - and left there with the door shut/locked until things are settled and extra people gone.

Your little lad sounds like a special case though. (The living under the wardrobe for a good while etc.) I'm wondering in fact how you think he would react to a day or so in a cattery so that you can move and re-organize without worrying about him all the time and then be able to bring him home to a more-or-less settled household. You know him best though. Might that be an idea for him?

[thecatneuterer]

I specialise in taking feral/semi feral rescue cats. I wouldn't worry too much about the trauma of catching him/transporting him (although cover his carrier so he can't see what's happening. Your problem will be at the other end and getting him used to the new place and helping him to see it as home and somewhere he will come back to even when finallly allowed outside. And of course stopping him escaping from windows/ doors open for a second.

I always start off ferals at home in a large dog crate (Pets at Home, £70 ish). You will need a very small litter tray to put in it and maybe an igloo type cat bed that he can hide in if feeling overwhelmed. I then set it up in the kitchen where the cats can see the garden and all the comings and goings and eventually get used to it. I normally keep them in it for about three weeks. It seems to do the job.

[AllSWornOut]

I feel your pain as we have a similar move to make with two neurotic cats. No experience but we're planning to try to take them over first thing and shut them in a room out of the way so we don't disturb them more than necessary. I would also like to keep them as indoor cats or at least cat proof the garden to make it difficult for them to go too far - I'm terrified they'll take off the second we let them out.

Hope your move goes well xx

[deliasmithy]

At a minimum you'll want to set up a room in which he can confined to for a few days. If yours likes hiding ensure there are some safe hidey holes . Put all his bits in the room like litter tray food etc and then open the carrier and let him explore the room in his own time.
Don't let him out of that room until he looks settled.

Mine find being in a carrier traumatic but I find it helps to leave the carrier in the house for them to see every day, and then I shower them with treats and they usually let me buy their affection!

Always good to put a towel on bottom of carrier. He can choose to hide under it, or if he does a stress poo or wee you can whip it out before your eyes start watering from the smell and stops him sitting in it (from experience! )