How do I help my elderly cat adjust to a new home after a move?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 21 years and 5 months old
How can I help my cat (21 years old) adjust to a new house, when we move?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 8th, 2019
Once you get to the new house, it is recommended to restrict her to one room for 2-3 days and it is also recommended to not let her outside the house for two weeks. keep the cat carrier open in the new house as it will be a comfort zone for her during the first 24 hours. try bringing as much from her stuff as you can to the new house (water and food bowls, scratching polls...).
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on April 28th, 2019
Hi, I think your cat will be able to settle in her new home provided she gets company and affection from yourself as she used to. I would make sure she gets play time and mental stimulation as well as quiet times. Definitely a Feliway plug in will help in her new home !
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, We are planning to move house in a few weeks time, and we would like to know some tips on how to deal with a cat moving with us. Bella has lived in our house for over a year, and now moving into a flat I am wondering how she will deal with it?
If she is used to being an indoor cat, the move should not be a huge change but if she is generally outdoors then moving to a new house/area can be much more difficult. I recommend starting her on royal canin calm food 10-14days before the move in order to smooth the transition. It is generally recommended to keep cats in for 2-3weeks after a move so they can adapt to their new environment and reduce the risk of them going 'back home'
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have an 18 year old cat. He has lived with us in the same house for all of that time. In a month we are moving Three hours up north . How to i help my cat adapt to the completely different lifestyle? I am deeply concerned that the big change will t
I think the hardest part of the move for your cat will probably be traveling the 3 hours to the new house. Typically I would recommend sedation for a trip like this to keep the cat calm but since your cat is of an advanced age it is probably not worth the risk. Once you get to the new house have some of you cat's familiar things around, like cat beds, blankets and of course litter boxes. Try not to wash the beds etc before you move so they still have a familiar smell. If may also be beneficial to get a pheromone diffuser like Feliway for the home. These release a scent that can be calming for cats. There is also a pheromone spray you can get to use in the car to help keep her calm as well. You may want to also consider having your cat checked by your vet befor taking a trip just to make sure there are no underlying problems going on. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Best of luck with your move!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We may be moving and I want to know how I can help my cats prepare for the new house and adjust to it
Great question! Make sure to keep Tazi's bedding and familiar object with her, Don't wash them beforehand, that way the old scent is still on them and that will reassure her. Leave the carrier out now, in the open where she can see it and get in it if so inclined. Then it won't be such a shock when it come time to put her in it. Get calming pheromone based diffusers and put them throughout the current house and in the new on as well as soon as you can. In the new house, make sure she has plenty of places to hide, perch, get up off the floor and look out the window. Scatter her toys throughout the house so there are familiar things nearby. If she hides somewhere when you finally move, let her. Put food, water and litter where she can get to it and let her explore on her own. It may take some time, but your cat will get used to her new home. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We’re moving shortly and I’m worried that our cat will get stressed. Any suggestions?
Moving can be a stressful time for both cats and people. Some cats begin to experience stress when the first box is packed. Try to keep this time as normal as possible for your cat by continuing a normal daily routine and avoid packing your cat’s bed, cat tree, and toys until the last minute. Calming pheromone products, such as the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser or Comfort Zone® Spray and Scratch Control Spray, may minimize some of this stress. When moving day arrives, be sure that your cat is safely secured in a cat carrier before the door opens and boxes start leaving. We recommend plugging in the Comfort Zone® Calming Diffuser into your old home during packing, as well as in your new home during unpacking and the settling period. If possible, try to move your cat as early in the day as possible and confine them to a bathroom in your new home with their normal bed, litter box, bowls, and toys. This will keep your cat from escaping during the move and may pose less stress if they see
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 2 cats and I are moving into a new house with my fiance and his cat. It will be a completely new place for all 3 cats. Is there any advice you can give that can make the move and introducing a new cat easier for everyone involved?
The best thing you can do is make sure that each cat has their own private space. You may keep each cat confined to their own room with food, water, and litter box for the first couple of weeks. Once they are used to the new home, you can let one cat out so that they can start to smell each other through the door. After a couple of weeks, you can do supervised time together. Pheromones may help with anxiety: https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=40373&cmpid=sc
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I need advice on how to move my 13 y/o cat to my new home. I live about an hour and a half away from where he is staying now, with my mom. I cannot trust her to take care of him, as the last time I visited his coat had become matted and he had lost 3
You may be surprised at how well he will take the move. If he becomes car sick, you may want to discuss anti-nausea medications with your vet that will ease this stress. Supplements like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Feliway Diffuser Kit for Cat Calming can be used during travel and when he gets to his new house to help with the transition. I would recommend keeping his food, litter, and litterbox the same. Give him plenty of attention. If he has any specific behavioral concerns once you move, post a new question and we would be happy to help again!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I have a cat who’s about 14-15, possibly 16 years old. I just moved to Kansas City and for now he’s staying with my parents. I was wondering moving him out to Kansas City where I live would be to much for him. He’s very playful and energetic for his
If he does seem stressed during the move or in his new environment, you can use products such as Feliway, which can be found at most pet stores or online. Feliway is a product that helps calm cats and supposedly relaxes them and makes them feel less stressed. This, however, depends on the cat as I have had some cats that Feliway does not help with.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I am planning to take my cat with me to my daughters house over Thanksgiving. It is a 3 hour drive and then a new house etc. I bought a cat play pen some Feliway a small cat tree and will take some items that have her scent. How do I introduce her
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! I would set all her belongings in to the room you are staying in. Give her a day to adjust to that room. Then open the door and allow her to come out of the room if she wants. If she is a shy cat she may never leave the room if you are only there for a few days. I would hope that after 1-2 days she will venture out. By keeping all her things in one room she will know that is her safe place to run back to if scared. Cats are hard and it depends on her overall personality.I would just be patient and don't force her to do more than she wants. I wish you the best of luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi This is varsha from India, I have 2 female cats which are 1and half year old, we are relocating to a different place, would my cats get adjusted, how can i ensure they are safe & adjusted ?
Hi Varsha! What a great question! Moving can be stressful for cats, and if Chuny and Muny are allowed outside, I would keep them indoors for a few weeks after you first move to your new home. This allows them to get used to their new house. Then you can let them out in the garden supervised during the day so they can smell around their new area, but don't allow them to leave the garden or leave them unsupervised. You can do this for a few weeks, and after that, you can let them out unsupervised because they will be familiar with the sights and smells of their new home. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. I just got a new cat, and she's tooooo frightened! She's hiding everywhere she can, and the smart me went to her and tried to calm her down (COME HERE KITTY, COME ON), that could be the worst thing I could do right? What should I do? She's so
Cats can take some time to settle down and allowing her space and time to hide is an important step in her gaining an awareness of her new environment; I recommend you leave food and litter close to where she wants to hide and slowly bring them out as she settles down. Calming diets such as royal canin calm, supplements such as kalm aid and pheromone diffusers are all helpful in encouraging cats to acclimatize to a new house
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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