Moving a cat to a new home is not an easy thing for most of cat parents. Cats are known as territorial creatures so that transferring them into a new home they’re not used to can cause some stress, even for kittens. As a cat parent, you have to make sure that your cat is feeling comfortable in a new home and it is important to know the tips.

For cats, moving to a new house will bring new sights and smells and lack of familiarity. They will need more time to explore and it can also a lot to be weary of.

It may take some time to make your cats get used to the new environment. But, don’t worry as there are some tips you can do to overcome this problem. Let’s see the ways to make your cats comfortable in their new home.

Move Your Cat in a Cat Carrier

A carrier is a safe place for your cat. Your cat may hate it to be there, but it is much safer for her. While you’re unloading and moving your stuffs, putting your cat in a carrier will prevent her from getting lost. It will also help contain her in a familiar territory before she is ready to get out and explore.

Choose a Room for Them

Instead of letting your cat going around by herself immediately, it is better for you to put her in a room where she can begin her exploration. Any room will be okay, though the ideal ones will be a bedroom or office.

Make sure you provide her litter box and place it on one side of the room. Also, put out fresh water and food on the other side of the room. Don’t forget to put some toys and scratcher in the room in case she gets bored.

Spend time playing with your cats too and get to know the reasons why you should play with your cat.

While you put her inside a room, make sure the door is closed. Open the carrier and let her step out when she’s ready. It is better to introduce her to the small area first so she can get comfortable with the new smell. Then after that, she can explore the place further.

Expand Her Territory

After your cat gets comfortable with the room of the house, you can start letting her out freely. However, leave the litter box in the same place for now. You can move the food bowl or fountain to get her permanent spot.

You have to make sure that your new home is a cat-friendly state. Don’t let your cat roam freely before you ensure this. Make sure there’s no dangerous materials around, such as plastic wrap, packing tape, scissors or box cutters. Instead, you can leave out many empty cardboard boxes.

Always Check

Since the first day of your cat in the new home, pay attention to her for weeks. Pay attention to the presence of any signs of stress. If there’s any, then consider going back a step or limiting territory instead of asking her to roam freely. It is okay to return your cat to the home base for a day or two once you notice any signs of discomfort.

However, if your cat seems to adjust well and act normal, then you should be good to it! You can choose the permanent home for the litter box. Avoid these 4 worst spots for your cats litter boxes. Introduce the new spot so she will be able to find it later on.

Give Plenty of Love and Attention

The best way to make your cat feels comfortable in her new house is by showering her lots of love and attention, especially after the move. Make her happy and get to know the 5 signs that you have a happy and healthy cat.

Keep her same meal routine too, as it will create a sense of familiarity to the unfamiliar situation. You can also offer her with well-placed toys and scratchers. You may also set up a cat tree in front of a window so your cat will be able to look outside. You could also make cat toys by yourself, find it further in easy DIY cat toys: make one for your baby.

Get to Know the Signs that Your Cat is Stressed

It is almost impossible to make a move completely stress-free for your cat, but you can minimize it. One of the ways is by noticing the signs that your cat is stressed. Here are the signs you can notice:

excessive vocalization
excessive scratching
hiding or avoiding interaction
excessive grooming
drooling or panting
runny eyes or nose – also read runny eyes on cats
diarrhea
lethargy
loss of appetite
aggression
potty breaks outside the litter box

If you notice one of those signs, make sure to contact your vet to prevent worse conditions happening to your cat.