Moving House with a Cat – How to Make It Work

You'd think moving house should be fun. After all, most of the time we move by choice — into a new home we like better, one that suits us more, or one that promises exciting new horizons. Yet despite all the positive reasons behind it, moving has a pretty terrible reputation. Why? Well… the fact that moving day itself is incredibly stressful, packing is exhausting, and we've all hoarded far too much stuff is simply the flip side of the coin. For us cat owners especially, moving is often sheer dread. Our house tigers are (rightfully) known for being very attached to their familiar surroundings — territorial, even. Anyone who has ever gone through this with their cats knows that our furry friends are often quite unsettled days or even weeks before the actual move. Boxes may seem interesting at first, sniffed and inspected with curiosity, but at the latest once the move itself happens, our cats feel the stress.

Moving with a Pet – Avoiding Landlord Trouble and Keeping Your Cat Happy

We assume that nobody just moves on a whim — most people give plenty of thought beforehand to where, why, when and how. This is especially true for pet owners, of course. Unless you're moving into your own property, many landlords simply don't allow pets. Thankfully, the law is often on the side of us animal lovers! Still, it's worth thinking carefully before moving in with a pet against your landlord's wishes, since that can lead to unpleasant and stressful situations down the line. It's always better to find a new home with a heart for animals. It's also important to consider beforehand whether the new place will actually meet your cat's needs. In other words: an outdoor cat who's mostly just home to eat and cuddle won't be happy in a flat with no balcony. Of course, you can't always put your cat's needs above the practicalities of your own life — but it's really worth making your furry friend's quality of life an important factor in your decision. Once you've found the perfect flat or house, though, you're faced with another question: how do you explain it to your cat? Because, as mentioned, cats aren't exactly fans of change.

Moving with a Cat – Pure Horror?

So is moving with cats automatically a nightmare? No… and just a tiny little bit, yes. The bad news first: from the cat's point of view, moving is simply no fun. It doesn't matter if the new flat is THE perfect cat home — a move means a change of location, and cats generally don't like that. Of course there are individualists among them who take change in their stride, but on the whole it's extremely stressful for our house tigers to get used to the new situation. The good news: as owners, we can still do quite a lot to make sure the move — and especially the arrival in the new home — is anything but terrible. Here's the key: organisation and thoughtfulness are everything. We're here to help you keep track of it all.

Before the Big Day

Depending on your cats' personalities, you should adjust your approach to them. A bold, confident tomcat might handle things more calmly than the rescue cat who spent her first months hiding shyly under your bed. So get to know your house tigers and respond accordingly. In practice, this means: when packing, aim for a calm and relaxed atmosphere. You might start clearing things out early, giving your cats time to experience the change gently. Extra cuddle sessions, playtime and treats are especially important during this period. It's also essential that we, as owners, radiate calm and composure and change as little as possible about the normal routine — so before moving day, try not to move the food bowl, litter box or climbing furniture too much, if possible. Alternatively, a few days before the move, you could — if possible — set up one room in the flat just for the cat. This room is reserved solely for them, while everything else is already packed up or only gets rearranged once the cat has moved out. The bathroom is often ideal for this. Please try to keep to your usual routines, such as feeding times, as closely as possible — anything that gives our furry friends structure is worth offering them. That said, we know it's not always possible to set aside a dedicated room for the cat — especially in smaller flats, there simply isn't the space. In that case, just proceed thoughtfully and calmly.

The perfect solution, of course, is if your cats can go on a little holiday for a few days. Do you have a cat sitter or a boarding facility that already knows your beloved pets? Then it's best to take them there for the days around the move. They'll find peace and quiet there, and then — as soon as you've arrived — they can get to know their new home right away.

Caution with Outdoor Cats

All cats react to change — as mentioned, some more than others. To avoid any risk, it's very important not to let outdoor cats outside anymore shortly before the move. The unrest in their so-familiar home could cause your furry friend to stay away for several days — and, in the worst case, come face to face with strangers in the flat. So it's especially important to be careful here! We at LucyBalu want to remind you once again — remember to microchip and register your outdoor cat, and if possible fit them with a tracker — you can find out more about this HERE.

Moving Day, or: Organisation Is Everything

No matter how long the packing takes, the big day will eventually arrive. Now it's important to stay organised and structured. In the new home, if possible, one room could already be set up at the start of the day so your furry friends can arrive there calmly right away and spend the night. It's best to explicitly unpack all the cat items first and put them in this quiet room. Important: if possible, this room shouldn't be opened or entered again for the rest of moving day — or only if you're certain the cat can't slip out! Alternatively, you could also bring your furry friends over last.

Remember: the cat stays wherever it's calmest. A definite no-go: putting them right in the middle of box chaos during the day — that causes stress and will definitely lead to a frightened cat!

By the way, 'old' patterns should be carried over into the new space — if the food spot was always in the kitchen, it should stay in the kitchen in the new home too. Watch out: the temptation to replace all the old cat furniture right now is certainly strong. Especially if you've finally been wanting to match that special climbing wall to your stylish new décor, a move is of course the perfect opportunity to bring in something new once and for all. But make sure that, for example, a cosy spot, a favourite blanket or a special toy is still available for your cat after the move. The old scent from the previous home shouldn't disappear completely. The rule is: as long as cats find something they can associate with their old home, the move will be noticeably easier for them. You can find inspiration for exciting new cat furnishings HERE. Our tip: as long as the climbing, scratching and sleeping spots are arranged in an exciting, play-friendly way, and the cat finds their familiar cuddle blanket on their trusted bed, for example, settling in becomes much easier!

What Else You Should Keep in Mind

Besides planning, calm, a dedicated space, keeping to familiar routines and lots of love, you can of course also use other aids to help your cats cope with the move without feeling overwhelmed. Many vets rely on alternative remedies such as Bach flower essences or homeopathy.

Our founder, Sebastian, had to move house himself a few years ago with his two cats. Despite all his efforts, his cat Scampi simply couldn't cope with her new surroundings. Neither sleeping with her on the sofa nor bringing her into bed helped — she cried through entire nights and was visibly suffering. For several days she wouldn't eat and barely dared to use her litter box. She was (and still is today) simply a very shy little cat who gets anxious easily. Thankfully, Sebastian's girlfriend at the time (and a vet) was able to help. With a homeopathic remedy, the crying and the grief over the move faded away within two days. During the next move, Scampi was given Bach flower essences and homeopathic globules in advance — this time she was a little restless, but showed no real signs of stress at all.
Other cats are helped by pheromone sprays or can relax thanks to catnip. In any case, ask your vet beforehand if you suspect your house tigers might struggle with the move.

Phew — Made It!

After all the effort, the heavy lifting and the tension, it's finally time to feel at home within your new four walls! And that goes for your cats too, of course. Let them explore, get to know and discover their new home at their own pace. For cats, the settling-in process can sometimes take a few weeks — be patient and spend plenty of time with them.

For outdoor cats, the rule is: they should stay indoors for at least four to eight weeks. This naturally depends on your individual cats — but here, more is more. Only once your furry friends are truly settled in should you feel comfortable letting them back outside. There are ways to support them here too: don't let your little adventurers out alone at first, or put them on a leash if they're used to one. That way you can take the first steps in the new garden together. And — don't forget the tracker!

As you can see — moving with house tigers is anything but a walk in the park. But with a little planning and a lot of sensitivity, your cats will arrive safely and happily in their new home too.