Getting Kitty Used to a New Home

Just like you, most cats find moving to be a traumatic. This is because they are territorial animals need a routine that is the same every day.

 The minute you start removing furniture, rolling up rugs and removing objects you are disorienting your cat. He or she is no longer able to define his or her territory. This can cause your cat a great deal of emotional distress and confusion.  

When moving your cat it is important to keep steady emotional contact with your him or her. The animal needs to know that even in the midst of all of the confusion that you are there for him or her.  

To minimize the trauma of moving, make sure that you spend extra time talking to and bonding to your cat to increase your trust level. Grooming the cat and patting it will also help him or her feel more secure.  Make sure that you teach your cat to come when called in case he or she gets lost or disoriented during the move.

Cats also have a habit of running off on the day of moving and sometimes your only hope of getting it back is by calling it’s name.   Makes sure he or she is wearing appropriate I.D. tags.  Get your cat used to being in a cat carrier.

Reward your cat each time he gets in and out of the cat carrier and remains calm.   It will also help him or her feel like you have the situation under control.    Sometimes cats run off before a move because they are not used to being inside a car. It is a good idea to get your cat used to the car by driving him around while he is inside his cat carrier.  Board your cat for the day instead.

One of the nicest (and most expensive things) you can do for your cat is to board it in a kennel for a day or leave it in a kennel. That way the cat it protected from the emotional chaos of moving.  Make sure a favorite toy or blanket is always within your pet’s immediate access at all times.  

When you move make sure the pet is protected from being trod on by movers or accidentally injured by furniture in transit.  Sometimes the animal’s behavior changes slightly after a move. Don’t be surprised if your cat hides for a few days, acts hyperactive or unfriendly or refuses to eat. One way to keep a very upset cat calm is to leave it inside its carrier a quiet room that is apart from the rest of the house. Keep the lights off and the carrier in a place that feels sheltered.  

Make sure that the minute that carrier door is opened that all of the cat’s favorite toys, drinking and eating bowls are right there so that the cat feels like he or she is at home.  It is also a good idea not to let your outdoor cat outside for at least three weeks after you move. This is because many cats become disoriented and try to run away (usually in the direction of its old home) after you first move in. However if you are a responsible pet owner you will not be letting your cat out without supervision in the first place.  

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About Cat Enclosures

 Most vets, humane societies and rescue organizations are now currently recommending that people keep their cat indoors. Installing a cat enclosure is is the best way to keep cats happy while also keeping them inside. The purpose of these structures  to give them a protected  place where they can loll about in the sun and yet still have a view of the street or garden.  

Keeping your cats indoors is the responsible thing to do and protects cats from injury, infection, being run over by a car and kidnapping. Cats do not necessarily suffer if they are not also adept well to indoor living. That is why they makes such good pets in the first place. They can adapt to all kinds of different situations.  

Still cats need some light, exposure to sun and a little visual stimulation. That’s where cat enclosures come in. These enclosures allow your cat limited access to the great outdoors without exposing him or her to the dangers. Different types of enclosures include cheap window ledge perches to window-mounted bays to large and elaborate wood and wire courtyards to plastic enclosures with holes in them to cat proof fencing.

Outdoor cat enclosures can help keep your cat safe while providing fresh air and fun in the sun. They can be a big help in keeping kitty happy, contented, and safe.  The least expensive type of cat enclosure is the window perch. It is merely a platform that can be attached to your windowsill so that your cat can watch the activity outside the window.

These usually cost less than $50 and are easily installed with wood or metal wall braces. They can look like perches, hammocks or baskets.  Window bay cat enclosures fit are acrylic or polyethylene boxes that allow your kitty to sun him or herself as well as a three-sided view and venting that gives the cat a whiff of fresh air.

These usually cost between $80 and $150 depending on the manufacturer.  Freestanding enclosures that attach to your home can be bought as kits or you can build your own quite easily and inexpensively. These usually cost between $100 and $300 per kit and can be installed you.   These freestanding cat enclosures are similar to little green houses complete with carpeting, shelves for sunning and venting for air.  A larger and more elaborate structure is the outdoor cat habitat. These also look like little greenhouses include screened patios and decks, sunrooms and multipurpose and dual-species habitats.

These can range from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars in price. The appearance of an outdoor cat habitat really depends on the design of your house and the limits of your pocket book.  

Perhaps the easiest way to start building any enclosure is to think of how you can incorporate an existing architectural component of your home into the design. Design. For example, patios, porches and decks make great starting places for enclosures that both cats and humans can enjoy. A patio can be wood framed and secured with wire fencing can help keep predators out and your cats safely within range of your home’s entrance.

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