Moving With Cats: What To Do on Moving Day

If you’re getting ready to move with your cat, moving day can be the most stressful part of the process.

My cats and I have been through three moving days together over the past five years, and here’s what I’ve learned: Moving day is going to be stressful for your cat. In order to minimize the stress, start preparing for your move ASAP and keep your cat in a safe space the day of the move. Pack everything you’ll need for the road and check in with your cat regularly once you get in the car.

In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about what to expect from your cat on moving day and how you can best prepare them for the change.

Table of Contents:

Preparing for Moving Day With Cats
What To Do With Cats on Moving Day
Do Cats Get Stressed When Moving?
How To Settle a Cat After Moving House
How Many Days Should You Keep a Cat Inside After Moving?
Moving With Multiple Cats
Moving an Older Cat to a New Home

Preparing for Moving Day With Cats

Hopefully, you have a little time to prepare for your move before it’s time to leave the house. Once you know that you and your cat will be moving, start helping them prepare as soon as possible.

To prepare your cat for moving day, get their carrier early and acclimate them to the car. It’s best to start this at least two months before moving day. Additionally, have the majority of your packing done to reduce stress, and gather everything your cat will need for the road.

Start by getting your cat carrier. Make sure you buy one that’s an appropriate size for your cat, has proper ventilation, and will keep your cat secure in the car and/or plane. You may even want to get a cat carrier that includes a travel litter box for the trip.

Introduce your cat to the carrier in a non-threatening way. Simply set it down in the house and allow your cat to begin exploring it. You can put food, treats, or toys in the carrier to help your cat feel safe being in/around it. Once your cat begins to feel safe in their carrier, start closing it, lifting it off the ground, and walking it outside.

Recently, I talked to a veterinarian and asked about best practices for helping your cat prepare for moving day:

“Start by taking your cat in the carrier on car rides 2-3 months before you’re actually going to move. Take short car rides,” recommends Natasha Diehl, DVM. “If they’re exposed to that stressful environment prior and learn that it’s okay, they can handle the actual moving day better.”

In addition to preparing your cat for being in their carrier, make sure you also pack everything else they’ll need for the trip.

If you’re moving a long distance in a car, you’ll need to have a litter box ready for breaks on the road. You can check out my top picks for the best cat carriers with litter boxes included here. If you’re staying overnight in a hotel, you’ll also need food and water bowls. No matter what, bring a few comfort items from home for your cat including favorite toys, familiar blankets, etc.

What To Do With Cats on Moving Day

Once all the details of your move are taken care of, it’s time to actually leave the house, get in the car, and go! Amid all the chaos of moving day, there are a few simple things you can do to help your cat stay calm and safe.

Here’s a step-by-step guide for what to do on moving day with your cat:

Withhold Breakfast

Unless told otherwise by your vet, avoid feeding your cat for several hours prior to travel. This will reduce the chances of your cat getting nauseous on the road.

I didn’t follow this advice before my first cross-country move, and one of my cats got sick an hour into the trip.

Keep Your Cat Contained Before You Leave

Your cat is going to know something’s going on, and they’re more likely to hide to run out an open door on moving day. To prevent this, keep your cat contained in a safe space.

Natasha Diehl, DVM says there are two good options: Keeping your cat in their carrier or keeping them in a closed room. If your cat is acclimated to their carrier and understands that it’s a calm and safe space to be in, they may do best hanging out there while you finish loading the car.

“If it’s a cat that’s still a little bit uncomfortable being in the carrier, I would wait until the last minute to pack them up and get them in the car and go,” recommends Natasha Diehl, DVM.

More anxious cats can be left out of their carrier and kept in a closed room instead. Despite the fact that the room will likely be empty, it’ll at least be familiar to your cat. If your cat is particularly stressed, you can use a product like Feliway to help them stay calm.

Make Your Car a Comfortable Space

Whether you’ll be in the car for half an hour or half a day, try to keep your cat as comfortable as possible.

Make sure your cat’s carrier is secure in the car with enough space for your cat to get fresh air. You may also want to use a calming aid to help reduce your cat’s anxiety during the trip.

“I really like Feliway. It’s an amazing pheromone-based product that can help decrease a cat’s stress levels,” says Natasha Diehl, DVM. “I would definitely spray down the car.”

If you do use a calming aid like Feliway, be sure to try it out with your cat a few days prior to moving day. This will give you a chance to make sure your cat responds well to it.

Check-In With Your Cat Regularly

Hopefully, you’ve planned ahead and know if/when you’d like to stop for breaks.

A healthy cat should be let out of their carrier every 2-4 hours. Older cats or cats dealing with illnesses may need more frequent breaks.

If your cat starts getting restless or showing signs of anxiety (such as panting or getting sick) it’s time to pull over and give them a break.

For a more detailed guide on how long your cat can travel before needing a break, check out this article.

Acclimate Your Cat To Your New Home Slowly

Once you arrive at your new home, understand that your cat will be still be stressed.

Keep your cat safely contained in their carrier or a closed room while you unload the car and begin unpacking. This will help reduce the chaos going on around your cat. Again, you can spray Feliway or use a cat calming diffuser to help especially anxious cats.

Once moving day comes to an end, reestablish a routine as quickly as possible. Also, be sure to keep your cat indoors for at least two weeks after your move.

Do Cats Get Stressed When Moving?

Moving to a new home is both exciting and stressful for us, but to cats, it’s usually just stressful.

Cats do get stressed when moving. Cats are creatures of habit, and they aren’t fond of change. However, moving can’t always be avoided, and there are ways to reduce your cat’s stress throughout the process.

To help your cat to stay calm while moving, follow these tips:

Acclimate your cat to their carrier and the car slowly long before moving day.
Use a cat calming aid like Feliway to reduce anxiety. Your vet may even recommend a medication like gabapentin for especially anxious cats or very long trips.
Give your cat breaks regularly. A healthy cat should be let out of their carrier at least every 2-4 hours to stretch their legs, drink water, and possibly use the litter box.
Surround your cat with comfort items. Keep your cat’s favorite toys and familiar blankets nearby throughout the move. You may even want to give them treats periodically to let them know they’re safe.

Highly-stressful situations can lead to health and behavioral problems in your cat. Keep an eye on them for a couple of weeks after the move to make sure they’re eating, drinking, playing, and using the litter box regularly.

How To Settle a Cat After Moving House

Once you’ve arrived at your new home, you may settle in immediately. However, your cat may need more time to get used to the new space. So how long does it take a cat to adjust to a new home?

On average, it will take your cat about a week to adjust to their new home. They may begin settling in as soon as two days, but it could take up to two weeks before your cat really feels at home.

You can help your cat settle into their new home by following these tips:

Introduce your cat to their new home slowly. Start out by giving them just one or two rooms to explore as you begin unpacking the house. This will give them a space to stay calm during the chaos of moving in.
Create a safe space for your cat. Place your cat’s carrier, litter box (with familiar litter), food bowl, water bowl, and comfort items together. Leave them in an area where they won’t need to be moved as you unpack. Your cat will learn that this is a safe space for them with all of their essentials.
Establish a routine. Cats like routines. Return to a normal feeding schedule as soon as you arrive. If possible, keep things calm for the first couple of weeks in your new home to let your cat know it’s a safe space.

How Many Days Should You Keep a Cat Inside After Moving?

After you’ve moved into a new home, it’ll take your cat a while to get familiar with their surroundings both indoors and outdoors. You’ll need to take extra precautions when letting your cat outside after moving, especially if you’ve moved with an outdoor cat to a new home.

As a general rule, you should keep your cat inside for at least two weeks after moving. This will give them time to settle down after the chaos of the move itself. When you do start letting your cat outside, use a harness until they’re familiar with the new area.

After two weeks or more, you can take your cat outside with a harness to let them explore the area. Start small with your porch, front yard, or the sidewalk right in front of your new home.

If you’ve moved to an entirely new area, be sure to take the time to learn what plants, bugs, and wildlife are nearby that may be harmful to your cat before going outside. Also, keep in mind that if you’re closer to cars or wildlife than you were before, your cat may unexpectedly try to run.

If you do decide to let your cat outside, make sure they’re up-to-date on all vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and heartworm medication. Also, make sure your cat’s microchip information and ID are up-to-date.

If you’ve moved with a cat that’s used to being outdoors, be patient and give them time to truly learn where their new home is and how to return to it safely.

Moving With Multiple Cats

Moving with a cat can be a lot on its own, but what if you’re moving with more than one?

I’ve moved across the country three times: twice with two cats and once with three cats. In my experience, moving with multiple cats isn’t too much different than moving with one.

You’ll want to take the time to get each cat acclimated to their own carrier. If you have kittens that plan on sharing a carrier or a large crate for your cats to share, that’s fine too. Just give them time to get used to their travel situation.

On moving day, make sure all of your cats are safely contained either in their carriers or in a closed room somewhere in the house. My cats do best when they’re together, so I try to avoid separating them until it’s time to put them in their carriers.

Make sure each cat is able to take a break from their carrier if you’re on the road for longer than 2-4 hours. You can let them out one at a time or all together, just make sure they’re each safely contained in the parked car or securely fastened to a harness during your pit stops.

Once you arrive at your new house, don’t separate your cats unless it’s necessary. It’s okay to keep them in the same room for the first few days as you unpack. Moving homes can upset the hierarchy your cats have established, so give them time to settle into their new home together.

Moving an Older Cat to a New Home

While most cats are creatures of habit, older cats are even more set in their ways. Moving an older cat to a new home requires more patience, attentiveness, and possibly more preparation.

“If you have a cat who’s older and has medications or chronic illnesses they deal with, talk to your veterinarian prior to travel,” recommends Natasha Diehl, DVM.

If your older cat is already used to traveling, the car ride may not be a big deal. But if your cat has never left the house before, give yourself plenty of time to help them acclimate. Start introducing your cat to their carrier and the car immediately to see how they’ll respond to travel.

Still, before you do anything, take your cat to the vet to make sure they’re healthy enough to move with you. Your vet may prescribe a medication to help reduce anxiety during the trip.

Keep comforting, familiar items near your cat throughout the entire move and check in with them regularly. Older cats may need more frequent breaks from their carrier or extra love and attention to reduce their anxiety.

Once you’ve made it to your new house with your older cat, give them tons of time to get used to their new home. Hang out with them a lot the first few days to let them know they’re safe, and return to a familiar routine as soon as possible.

Final Thoughts

Moving day is going to be stressful; there’s no way around it. However, with a few simple preparations, you can help reduce the stress for your cat.

When moving day does come, keep your cat safely contained in their carrier or a room of their own. Also, be sure to withhold breakfast that morning to reduce the chances of your cat getting sick on the road.

Keep your cat calm in the car and take breaks as needed. When you arrive at your new home, introduce your cat to it slowly and return to a routine as soon as possible.