How can I reduce the stress of moving into a new house on my 14 year old cat?
The house we live in is the only place she has lived in her 14 years and I am worried that it will age her because of moving to unfamiliar surroundings. Her only existing health problem is a small kidney stone which is monitered when she goes to the vet about every two months, and she is on a healthy prescription diet.
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What I did when I moved from one house to another is I took my cat in a carrier to the other houses and let them look around it. I brought it back home with me and let it out to know that it was still a member of the household and that everything was fine., and that I was still with it. Every time I visited the new house I took the cat in the carrier with me. If it was possible I took the cat out of the carrier and let is wander the new home and I also fed and watered it at the new home, again bring it back to the old house. This way the cat got to know the new house before the final move and knew that food was there and so was I . This is gently breaking in the cat to a new environment.
Cats in general are very easy to move… does she have a crate? special bowls and toys… just make sure you bring them along and set them out so she is familar with something around her.
It will take a while but she will get to know the new house and accept it.
Good luck
The cat should be the last thing you take to the new house. I have a 17 year old cat, we have moved twice in 17 years and getting ready to again. I suggest getting the bedroom furniture all in place before you move the cat in. Bring the cat to the new home and put her in the bedroom. She will see and smell familiar things. Lock her in the room for a day or two. Then open the door but put up a baby gate. This way she can see that things are different on the outside of the gate. After a day or two of that, let her out. She will probably cry and follow you around but she will know that the room you orginially had her in was a safe place because you slept in that room too and she already knew all the stuff in there.
I’ve moved an old cat before, in fact even a blind, deaf one.
Before the commotion of movers begins, isolate your cat to a bathroom with food, water bed, toys and litter box and lock her in or put a sign on the door to keep everyone out. This will prevent her from bolting and running away while the moving is going on. Move her last of all.
Then when you get to the new house, again isolate her to one room, usually a bathroom in the same way for a few days. As things calm down, let her explore the rest of the house. As she see things that are familiar, she will get used to the new surroundings. It may take a few days to a few weeks.
if at all possiable bring her over there for small amounts of time, like a couple of hrs at a time and increase the time she is over there so her first time seeing the place is when she has to live there.
You have some good suggestions. I would suggest you go to http://spiritessence.com and consider getting Dr. Jean Hovfe’s "Graceful Aging" remedy to use with the cat. Many of the essences in her combination are right on for helping her move with minimum upset. The ones there for illness or recovery are not applicable and won’t have an effect for her. I have * the ones I think are pertinent to her adjusting well to the move. The essences are entirely benign and can’t harm her in any way.
You can also use Rescue Remedy which you can buy from a health food store for the same price as the Graceful Aging. So why not get more bang for your buck by getting the combination from Dr. Hovfe.
I would start treating your kittY maybe a week before your move as she will sense the hullabaloo in the air as you make your preparations. To treat her you just shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the fur between her ears several times a day. Then continue the "treatment" in the new home till she seems to have made a happy adjustment.
Graceful Aging
*Aspen - fear of unknown, vague anxiety
Crab Apple - dignity, self-possession, cleanliness, detoxification
Gentian - encouragement, strength, recovery from illness
*Honeysuckle - adjusting to loss or change, ability to move forward
*Mustard - serenity, optimisum
*Rock Water - flexibility, adaptability, spontaneity
* Sclenanthus - balance, stability, clarity, inner strength, confidence
Sweet Shestnut - perserverance, fortitude
*Wild Rose - restoration of life force, joy, calm acceptance, to "be here now"
Does she have a favorite blanket or toy? Bring that along, and she’ll have something familiar. Also, familiar furniture, etc.