Page 41 - Selling your Home - The CommFREE guide to all you need to know

Moving house with a cat can be a worrying time. Mostly because Cats are total divas.... Let's be
real... We don't actually ‘own' cats. We just let them live with us and we work hard to gain their
approval and respect... usually to no avail. Despite their misgivings, we love our cats so there is

always that concern when moving house that our feline friends won't adjust to the new place or
that they will go in search of their old homes. Cats are very territorial animals that develop
strong bonds with their environment, so a house move can cause them a lot of distress. With
our list of tips and advice, along with good thoughts and good luck, you will get through moving

house with your kitty.

CREATE A CAT ROOM

2 weeks before your moving day, clear out a room in your house that will act a temporary 'Cat

Base'. This room will hold the cat on moving day so that she doesn't go on a walkabout or get
flustered and stressed when the removal team are in. Place all your cat's comforts into this
room.... Bed, food, toys, scratching post, weapons of mass destruction... you know, the usual

cat bits and bobs. It's a good idea to feed your cat in this room in the run up to the move so
that she accepts this space as her own. This should mean that she is less
likely to be furious or flustered on moving day when you shut her
in. TIP!!! Don't forget to put a note on the door so the removals team know
that this is the home of the 'Queen of Sheba' and not to open it. Once the
rest of the house is packed up in the removal van, the ‘cat's room can be
tackled last. If your cat is used to freely going outside and is likely to meow
holy hell upon being locked in on moving day, you might want to consider
putting her into a cattery for the duration of the move to save her from
unnecessary distress and keep her from being in an enclosed space.

SETTLING IN

It can take a little while to settle the cat into your new home. They are creatures of habit so new

surroundings can be unsettling and strange to them. Introduce her to just one room to begin
with, filling that room with all the things that will make her feel at home, just as you did in the
lead up to the move at your old house. Put her toys, bed, food and water bowls in with her and
keep her confined to this space for now. Try using a pheromone diffuser, this should keep her

calm and put her at ease while she adjusts. Once your cat is in her new room, make sure doors
and windows are closed until the removal men leave because they are little Houdinis and they
will do their best disappearing act. Once the removal team are gone, you can go into the cat's
room, give her some much deserved and needed fuss before letting her out to explore the rest

of the new house.

41 Title of the book
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The CommFREE Guide to Selling your Home