Temporarily Moving Cat

Pythia

Hi,

My dad is having renovations done to his house and the cat can't be there during that time. We offered to take the cat and he arrived today. We are wondering whether we can let him out into our garden and how to aclimatise him to the new environment. We have his bed, bowls, litter box, etc.

Obviously we don't want to lose him so what is safe to do?

He is a 1 year old, neutured, ginger male.

Thanks!

mags16

Keep him inside for at least 2 weeks.

Chitterchatter

I would say about 4 weeks. And even then, let him out during the day (not peak hours or nighttime) and when hungry to ensure he will come back to fill his tummy.

A new location for a cat is an invitation to go missing if let out too soon.

Pythia

Ok, great. He seems quite nervous, darting around, etc. Hopefully he won't keep making a run for the door every time we open it! We do have a cat flap (came with the house) which he can use in a few weeks so.

Chitterchatter

He's probably petrified. Remember this is all new to him. He doesn't know if there is a preditor around the next corner. The best thing for him would be to restrain him to one room until he is comfortable in that room. Leave anything of his in the room with him for a familiar scent. Sit with him and talk gently to whoever is with you (or the cat if thats not too nutty for you!) and he'll soon calm.

It depends on the cat, he might be fine to let into the next room in an hour or a couple of days - when he seems calm and comfi in this room he can start to wander more and won't be paniced like he is now.

Beth

What we did when we had to move our cat, was allocate one room for him and him alone. He had adopted us as his family so because he was a stray so we didnt want to make it any harder on him.

All his bed, toys, food, litter tray etc were put in that room and we walked him around that room making sure he knew where each thing was - we were told that a cat wont remember where things are unless he walks on it/to it... so if walking him around seems mad thats why we did it!

We went into him and gave him loves and smooshes all the time, making sure he wasnt lonely or without food/water etc, we brought the dog up to say hello and often spent quite a while in the room with him. Must have been a sight to see - all 4 of us in a room without a TV just sitting there on the floor

After about a week, we took him outside in our arms so he could get used to new smells.

We tried him on the dogs brand new harness (no doggie smell ) and a lead after 2 weeks, just to let him get used to the area and not risk him wandering off... it didnt work He was after backing out of it before we could even bend down to him.

It didnt seem to matter anyway, as he came back after that, and each time after it - especially when the hub's car pulled in so he did associate the house and us as his new servants. He also associated that room as being his, and when the puppy got too boisterous for him, he used retire to that room for a bit of peace :cool:

Hope it helps... from a person who had never had cats and knew nothing about it, it worked. Adn we have it all ahead of us again soon

Ginger

Wow...

We got a new cat from a friend and keep her in for 3 days. Then we let her out when we were both there and then about 30 mins called for her, again after an hour but kept an eye out all the time and after about 3 hours she was home again.

After that she learnt that scratching on the door gets her let in.

She has never had any problems being brought anywhere. Even to my girlfriends parents place she knows where the doors are and wanders around hereself.

But she is a very socialable cat