Question:
My two-year-old desexed cat has to move house with us soon. Can you tell me what I can and should do to make this time less traumatic for him/us? I have heard a lot of old wives’ tales about things to do — cut his whiskers, put butter on his feet, etc.
Karen, via e-mail.
Answer:
Yes, there are a lot of wives’ tales when it comes to animals, but let me assure you that the only thing butter on feet and cutting whiskers will do is create more stress, so don’t do that!
Cats are very territorial creatures and living close to neighbours means that cat territories overlap — and most of them don’t want to share! A few scuffles may occur as your cat works out who owns what with the surrounding cats. It’s a good idea to do these introductions slowly.
Keep puss in for a few days to a week and when you do let him out, only allow short, supervised trips outside to start with. This will also give him time to work out where he is. It is common for animals to get lost when they move — they often try to return to their old residence. Speaking of this, make sure you get new ID tags made up and visit or find out where the new local vet is. Another good idea is to board the cat until you are moved and settled. The whole moving process is very stressful and if he’s being taken care of, it’s one less thing to worry about.
Cats will often feel the need to mark their new territory by scratching or spraying, especially if there have been animals there before. Providing familiar objects like bedding, bowls and toys will help. If travelling is a major issue, speak to your vet about a mild sedation for the journey (for the cat, not you!)
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