How to Make an Old Cat Happy in a New Home

Moving an older cat is challenging.

Moving an older cat to a new home is not only stressful for you, but stressful for the cat as well. Cats feel very territorial toward their homes and yards. Moving your cat to a new place strips away the territory and leaves the cat feeling vulnerable. However, there are some steps you can take to make your cat happy in its new home. Slowly introducing your cat to its new environment helps establish its new territory and makes it happy once again.

Things You'll Need

• Cat food
• Litter box
• Cotton gloves

Instructions

1. Place your cat in one room. Give it food, water and a litter box. Shut the door to the room and leave the cat alone. Let your cat get used to the room. Repeat this with each room of the house over the course of a few days. Slowly introducing your cat one room at a time to your new house helps keep it calm and relieves stress.

2. Put on a pair of gloves and rub your cat down. Wipe your gloves on wall corners and the bottom of furniture. Spreading your cat’s scent helps familiarize the area for your cat.

3. Feed your cat frequently throughout the day. Provide plenty of food and water during the day. Keep the litter box clean. Cats often feel nervous after moving to a new home and will not eat. Keeping fresh food and water available helps comfort the cat by showing it that the new home is a safe zone.

4. Resume routines established in your old home. Cats take comfort in regular routines and will remember everyday rituals done at the old house.

5. Keep the cat indoors for at least two weeks. Not all cats are indoor cats. But in order for your cat to get used to the new house, you must keep it inside until it feels comfortable with its new home.

6. Slowly introduce the cat to the outdoors. Open a door and let the cat go outside on its own. Walk behind the cat and let it explore the yard. Keep the door open in case the cat gets scared and wants to go inside. Coax your cat back inside after an hour. Repeat every day until the cat establishes its territory outside.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are moving into a new house or living space that features a new pet, introduce the animals slowly. Let the animals sniff around each other. Stay in the room during the initial introductions. Only leave the animals alone when they grow tolerant or friendly with one another.

• Certain cats might run back to their old home if you moved locally. Keep the contact information of the new tenants in your former home. If your cat runs back to the house, tell the tenants to call you. Some cats will not grow accustomed to their new home. If you moved locally, and your cat keeps running back to the old house, ask the new owners about adopting the cat.

• Avoid forcing the new home on your cat. Let the cat take its time and explore. Do not yell at the cat for jumping on windowsills or higher up areas while it is transitioning into the new home.

References

• Fab Cats: Moving House With Cats

Resources

• King County: Moving a Cat to a New Home