Is it bad to move the cat before there is furniture in the apartment?

Answer

Dear Michele,

normally the advice is to leave the cat in the old house for as long as possible in a quiet room. But since you indicate that there are no seclusion options in the old house, moving to the new apartment is indeed the best option. Thank you for taking into account that a cat likes to have its ‘sources’ (litter boxes and the like) in different rooms.

During the move itself, it is best to isolate him in a quiet room of the new apartment. That way he doesn’t have a chance to escape. You can do several things in advance to reduce the stress and get him used to it quickly:

-You can give nutritional supplements such as Zylkène or Telizen (usually eaten as a candy) which have a supportive effect in stressful situations and are completely harmless. Both are available through the pharmacist.

-You can regularly give some dried valerian (organic or herbal store). Sprinkle a little of this (like a pinch of salt or pepper on a dish) on the floor. It doesn’t smell very pleasant to us, but cats love it. You will notice that he will go completely wild for fifteen minutes and will eat the herb and roll in it. After this the cats become nice and calm and relaxed. For them it is a way to ‘let go’ of everything for a while.

-You can spray 1x daily in the air in every room with feliway spray. This spray contains the same fragrances (unsmelly to us) as cats deposit by giving cups against something. It is a ‘homey’ cat smell that makes them feel safe.

-Try to build in a routine that you also maintain during the move. Cats are huge creatures of habit that are very fond of fixed rituals.

-If you would not do this already, it is highly recommended to start doing food fortification. Cats would naturally spend about 6 hours a day (or more) hunting. Then an always filled feeder in an empty apartment is of course very boring. And cats who are bored often develop problem behaviors. The purpose of food fortification is therefore to make the cat work (‘hunt’) for its food. There are different ways to do this: hiding kibble throughout the house, preschool work by hiding kibble in boxes with holes in them, pyramids of kitchen rolls, baking with ping pong balls or nuts with kibble in between… You can think of it so crazy whether it is suitable for food fortification. There are also special food puzzles, food balls and even an activity board (recommended!) that you can buy in the store (e.g. at www.zooplus.nl, which also deliver in Belgium). A very easy and fun way of fortifying food is the ‘free-range cat’ way: scatter kibbles on the floor or throw them away one at a time for the cat to walk behind. At first you will find that your cat is wondering where his food bowl has gone, but once they make the click, you will have a much more active and happier cat instead.

-In the long run, when the cat is well accustomed to the new apartment, it is certainly advisable to take a second cat (preferably a cat of about the same age, for example a rehoming cat). Cats are very social animals that will naturally start living in groups if the food supply allows. A cat that can go outside can possibly be kept as the only cat because it can seek contact with other cats. An indoor cat can of course not do that and then it is actually very pathetic that that cat would never be able to deal with other people of its own kind for the rest of its life. We humans simply don’t do all the things a cat buddy does (for example, I don’t see myself washing my cat with my tongue). Normally, female cats live together in groups of related females, ie grandmothers, mothers, daughters, aunts and nieces. Males sometimes live with their brothers in a ‘fraternity’, but usually they have regular contact with unrelated females. In your situation, a cat would therefore be the best option. Be sure to choose a cat of about the same age. Adult cats are really not waiting for a bouncy playful kitten. And above all: take the introduction very slowly! More information about this subject can be found at http://www.kattengedragstherapie.nl/

Good luck with the move!

Sincerely,

Els Peeters

cat behavioral biologist