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Tips To Move Cross-Country With Your Cat

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moving cross country with catAre you planning to move with your cat? Do you think the stress of your move would be doubled if you move with a cat? Don't worry, we will help you prepare your cat for a cross-country move and make it convenient for you to handle them.

How to prepare your cat for moving?

Preparing a cat for a move can be more difficult than the actual moving process. You need to make a lot of decisions related to the preparation, which will make it more stressful.

  1. First, you need to decide whether you would like to fly or drive with your cat. If you choose to fly, perhaps you will have to decide whether you want to carry it along with you or stick the cat in your suitcase.
  2. Second, you may schedule a meeting with your vet before starting the moving process with your cat. You need to check with them if your cat has taken the required vaccination and is healthy enough to move to a different country. Mostly, when you are flying, you need to get a written statement from the vet that your furry baby is fit to travel.
  3. Third, you should consider providing leash training to your cat. Since you would be driving or flying, there are chances that your cat might try coming out of the carrier.
  4. Fourth, you can take your cat for a few drives before you start with the actual moving process. This will help your furry baby to get comfortable by the time you start your relocation journey.

Here are a few major areas you need to focus on while you move long distances with your cat:

Making a Carrier a Happy Place for your Pets

You may need to buy a carrier a few weeks before the moving day. The carrier should be big enough for the cats to stretch, lie down or turn around. In case you have more than two cats who are quite friendly with each other, possibly you can buy a dog kennel for accommodating them all. However, you can only use a dog kennel if your car is big enough like an SUV, station wagon, or van.

  • You may need to pad the base of the carrier or dog kennel with an old sweatshirt or a feathery towel. The more a towel or sweatshirt smells like you, the more comfortable the level of your furry baby.
  • Soothing aromatherapy would also be an ideal option to make your cat comfortable during the trip.
  • Keep the carrier door open and ensure to feed the cat near to the carrier only. Also, you can place wet food near the carrier while providing them with a meal at least 3-4 times a week. This will allow the cats to walk freely in and out of the carrier.

Minimizing the Trauma of your Pets

You should avoid hauling the cat’s carrier at the back of the moving truck. If you do this, your poor pet may be exposed to the weather, wind, or other such elements. It could be a great idea to keep the cat in a carrier along with you in the truck’s cabin.

You shouldn’t make the mistake of loading your cat at the back of a parked truck or a moving van. Both the cat and carrier might get crushed if your belongings move from their position during the drive. This can lead to a severe injury to your cat or even kill them.

Plan to Buy a Litter- Box

  • Make sure to keep your cat enclosed in a room to which they are familiar, for example, a bathroom or kitchen, and provide them with a litter box. You can buy a small litter box for traveling purposes and give it to the cat before the moving day so that they are familiar with its smell.
  • You can put the carrier in the room the same as your cat and leave its door open. This will help you to load the cat into the carrier in the morning.
  • Consider giving a normal meal to the cat on the night before you are making the move. However, you must not overfeed your pet.
  • You should remove any food or water from the cat, at least 5-6 hours before the trip.

Create a Proper ID Card

If you are moving across the country with pets, make sure they are wearing their ID cards. The ID card should contain updated contact information, mobile number, and the address of your new house.

We recommend you microchip your cat before making any long-distance move. Unfortunately, if your furry baby gets lost, it would be easier for you to track it down.

What should you do on Moving Day?

You must pack a moving truck first and your cat’s belongings at the end. However, you should pack the truck in a way such that you have sufficient space to accommodate the carrier. If you can easily lure your cat into the carrier by showing a little food, you should do this. Otherwise, you can just pick them up and place them softly on the floor.

  • You must place the cat near the carrier with its tail towards the open door of the carrier.
  • Keep one hand over the rib cage of your cat and with your other hand push against the cat's face. In this way, the cat will go back into its carrier.
  • You need to ensure that the carrier’s door is secured and load your cat into the carrier. Try your best to get it done the first time itself or else the process will become more difficult. We recommend you practice this a week or more before your trip.

Tips to Start your Move with your Furry baby

  • Cover the carrier either partially or completely with a breathable fabric. This will help your cat to feel secure.
  • Ensure to keep your furry friend under moderate temperature throughout the journey.
  • Play soft music during the trip and try to ignore your pet as much as possible.

It’s normal to see your cats panting because a car journey might be stressful for them. However, if you find them panting excessively, drooling, or showing signs of convulsions, you need to stop the car and contact your vet immediately.

How to treat your cat on arrival at your new home?

It would be a good option to carry your fur baby into the new house in the carrier itself and help them feel secure. You can keep your furry friend either in the bedroom or in the kitchen when you reach your new home. Also, you need to give them constant access to water, until they adjust to the unfamiliar environment. You need to just open the carrier’s door and let the cat come out by themselves.

After you settle down in the new location, connect with a new vet and ensure to transfer all medical records of your cat. Though the process seems difficult if you follow the right steps of moving with pets, you can complete the whole moving process efficiently.

Staff Writer  Posted by Staff Writer on April 19, 2022

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