Cat Tips for Moving

Video Transcript

"Let's talk about tips for moving your cat. This happens quite a bit. Obviously, a lot of people end up moving from an apartment to another apartment or a house to another house. And so these animals, obviously, can go through a lot of stress when this occurs. The first thing to think about when you're moving, especially out of a city to somewhere else, would be to get your records copied from your veterinary clinic and have them with you in case something goes wrong. It's also a good idea to know where any other clinics are on the way or at your destination to know in case there is a problem on the way. Check with your clinic, too, and think about a sedative for your cat. Cats typically go in carriers for two reasons -- either moving or coming to a veterinary clinic. And so cats automatically start getting stressed when a crate is around. But, the crate itself does provide protection for you and makes them feel a little bit more secure. So, always use a crate when moving with your cat. A sedative can be used at the direction and discretion of your veterinary clinic and given an hour or so before moving. And that can help calm them down. It also can be given, if it's a very extended trip over a long period of time and repeated to help the stress of that animal. Another thing to think about is if you are moving and it's a long distance, stop frequently. Give them food and water and a litter pan while you're doing so and talk to them and pet them like you normally would because it is a very stressful situation for most cats."