How to Move with Cats

Kitty may be a member of the family - but what will happen come moving day? The sad truth is that many people abandon their cats when they discover that a cross-country move is in their future. If the thought of dragging a wailing, scratching, unhappy feline from Arizona to Minnesota fills you with dread, you are not alone. However, moving with cats is possible, and certainly no more difficult than dragging around that ugly sofa.

The carrier

Start by buying the carrier that will be used, if you don't already have one. Play the "this is not for the cat game" - just put the carrier in a room that your cat enjoys being in. Chances are, kitty will want to investigate the carrier sooner or later, and may even end up sleeping in it (cats love boxes). This will make the move a lot smoother, because the cat will already feel at home in the carrier.

Try to buy the biggest size of carrier that will fit in your vehicle, because that will make it easier to get your cat into the carrier, even when she doesn't want to go. Also, it will give her more room to move around during the trip.

Food and water

Water is essential for the health of your cat. Purchase a drip water bottle designed for rabbits; this will help avoid spills.

Feed your cat less food than usual the night before the move begins. Less food means less need to use the litter box, as well as less chance of a cat with motion sickness.

Some pet stores carry treats or drops that contain tryptophan - the component of turkey that causes sleepiness. These can be a safe way to calm cats down. As tempting as it may be to give your cat human medication (such as Benadryl), they are not formulated to be safe for cats, so you should never do it.

Litter box

This is the most difficult part of moving with cats. If you've purchased a large enough carrier, you can place a pie tin filled with litter in one corner as a miniature litter box. Remember to anchor the tin with tape or putty - things flip over easily on the road.

For the evening motel room stop, pack disposable litter trays, which are available at PetsMart.

Moving day

Above all, remember that the move is a stressful situation for both you and your cat. Be patient with your feline friend. Your cat might whine and meow for the first hour or two, but be patient. Generally, once a cat settles down in the car, they will fall asleep.

Also remember to never leave your cat unattended in your vehicle, particularly in hot weather.

While moving with cats is slightly more difficult than moving without them, the process is not impossible. In fact, when compared with the joy that your pet brings you, it's no problem at all. The best part of moving with your cat is that you have at least one guaranteed friend upon arrival at your new home.