My cat moved with me.from Phoenix to Texas back in 2020 , just before everything shut down. I moved him the same way I moved my other cat back in the day. It worked well and this is how I did it. Keep in mind I was completely by myself. I kept his bowls out obviously as well as litter box. I kept his carrier nearby too. He watched closely as all was going on. As video stated I kept him with his things in the closed bedroom while I had the door open. At last it was time to leave and I got him in carrier and as video stated, I took his litter box complete with the litter and everything and loaded in cab He stayed in carrier from Phoenix to Tucson where I stopped and rested , and let him out but in cab only. Anytime I had to get out of the truck for gas or bathroom I put him in carrier. It took me 48 hours to drive Phoenix to DFW ( I was completely by myself and towing my car, plus the weather was rainy almost the entire way) but he did very well for the both of us spending 48 hours in the cab of a Penske truck. I set his bed up between the seats on floor , litter box in passenger seat footwell and food and water bowls also handy. He did great. This is an awesome video
I moved once with the only cat I ever had and like with everything else he was a complete trooper he got here and explored and liked having so many windows to sit and look out of. I don’t know if it makes a difference but he was homeless most of his life
One of the biggest things about moving with my cat - and she moved a few times with me in her 17 years - was making sure to pay attention to her. She needed snuggles. She needed to understand that this was OUR home, that I was still with her. Knowing their human is still with them is important, so getting to where you're going with some time to spare to hang out with your cat(s) before you start the new job is also important.
That's absolutely true about scents when moving. I moved with my two cats to a new apartment across town a couple of years ago, and they were scared when I brought them into the new apartment when it was empty. Once all of the old furniture was moved in a few hours later, though, they calmed down completely. All of the familiar objects and smells I think made them reassured that home had come with them to the new apartment.
I dropped my cat at Petsmart boarding just before movers came. Never had to worry about Bubba getting loose etc. Wasn't a far move & soon as I got his stuff setup, brought him home. He settled in quickly. (Petsmart was wonderful, in that few hours they opened cage, played with him, fed him & told him I'd be back soon.) I recommend this method for short moves. 🙂
I moved with my five cats from Chesapeake, Va. to Sanford, Fl. last December. I split the trip into two days, stopping halfway around six in the evening. Despite my best intentions two of my cats got out of the hotel room. Fortunately, I was able to catch them & bring them back to the room. I traveled with two litter boxes, their favorite food, blankets & flyway spray. Two of my girls had 'incidents' in the car that leaked out onto the upholstery. There are a number of good enzyme cleaners out there that cleaned up that problem once I arrived in Florida. The only suggestion that I might add is music. I kept the radio on, trying to finding smooth jazz or classical stations, all the during the trip. We made it just fine, but it did take a lot of thought and planning.
We moved from nc to tx with my cat .. we first drove to Florida and it was 8 hours drive and she slept the whole way. Then from fl to Texas was like 12 and once again she slept. No bathroom break she literally slept. It was low key scary she didn’t move , for a cat that don’t really leave the house she does great in the car
Wow congratulations on making the move 👏 new place looks like such different terrain! Lots of flat land! Btw I also tried using the exact same cat towel thingy today wiped his butt too. Actually my friend's senior female cat peed in her carrier during a 15 minute drive a few months ago I had to bathe her right after arriving home she was soaked in piss. I didn't have the towel back then but even if I did..a cat drenched in piss really does need a bath
Another informative video as always Mallory. We moved with our two girls about six months ago and thankfully they adjusted well. This was the first and only cat channel I subscribed to when we rescued our two girls. I appreciate the reviews about food, products ect. Almost two years later and I’m still here as a loyal subscriber!👍😊🐈⬛🐈⬛
Almost two years-it's amazing how the time has flown. Thank you so much for choosing All About Cats to help you with your two new kitties. It's an honor. I'm glad the move went well for you all.
This was 9 years ago but my lovely and full of personality/talkative cat Ninja was very bonded to my emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend when she was a kitten and young cat, mostly because he stayed at home all day with no job just playing video games with her on his lap, while I worked all day to pay for everything. He even made me leave my phone at home when I went to work so he could use my hotspot to play video games. He would always find ways to convince me he had money coming but he never did. Always accused me of cheating when I never did, I didn’t even talk to people and started isolating from all of my friends because of him. Anyway, I finally broke up with him after 2 years of him mooching off of me and mentally tearing me down and killing my loving spirit. He was very manipulative and it’s hard for me to admit I was in a relationship for that long with a 27 year old man who I was fully financially supporting when I was only 22 years old. Anyway, that’s not what this is about, lol, just some backstory. I just never had as close of a bond with Ninja because she favored him since he was there all day with her. I’m happy she felt loved by him, but I sure didn’t lol. When I finally broke up with him, I kicked him out and he literally went and moved back in with his mother in her basement in Ohio lol (I’m from Arizona). Thank god he left the state though. He was horrible and went ape shit talking trash about me on Facebook lol. Completely made up stories and called me a whore and all the other fun names. Luckily our mutual friend community was like, “WTF, bro, grow up”. Lol. I kept my kitties of course (I have another adorable calico cat, Gaara). Me and the kitties ended up moving a few months later, and something clicked in Ninja and she realized I was the caretaker, and wherever I go, she goes, and she starting being so much more loving with me. And she finally started sitting in my lap and being cuddly with me. 😭❤️She had never done so before. I literally cried, and said thank you to her lol. Me and her have moved probably 4 times since then, and she actually adores moving. She gets so excited when we start moving all of our big stuff out, and especially loves to get into a vehicle and head to the next chapter of our lives. She loves the drive and meows all cute and chirpy. And when she gets inside a new place for the first time she meows so excitedly and starts exploring everything. She also loves going on walks with me, but doesn’t like going too far from our house, once we turn the block corner she gets a lil weary that we’ve wandered too far, so I don’t press her boundaries and we make our way back home and I let her inside so I can finish my walk, lol. I love moving with my cat Ninja, she’s like an excited lil kid every time. Gaara on the other hand is a mommas girl and always has been, and she struggles a bit more with the actual moving part. She likes to hide wherever she can whenever we start moving stuff. And then hates the drive. But once we actually get to the new place it doesn’t take her very long to feel explorative and get comfortable thankfully. I’m married now and we will likely be moving states in the next year, it’s been 4 years since I’ve moved, and before this I’ve never moved very far, only a couple streets away, lol, so I am a bit stressed about the long move with my two kitties. But they are my family and wherever I go they go so I’ll do whatever I can to make them as comfortable as possible. Thanks for the tips in the video. Hope you enjoyed my overshare! Lmao. 💖
We just moved 1,000 miles with our two cats. We originally thought it would be best to do it in three days. Everyone told us to do it in two days instead. A little Feliway in their carriers with a few of their toys and pee pads, along with a mild sedative administered each morning. They were all-stars, including an overnight hotel stay with their familiar litter box. We also put their carriers out a few weeks before so they could hang out in there and scent them up.
We moved out August 2nd and went to a hotel, and today we're closing on our new home...and this has been by far the absolute most stressful thing us adults have done and absolutely for our 5 cats...1 dog. 🤦♀️ if you are able to go straight to your new home...try to do that rather than having a waiting period like we did because it is hard. Our senior cat who is 16 peed before we could even get him (in his carrier) into the car....soooo this required us to bathe him prior to even leaving. If I could have flown them....I would have done that if it's long distance like ours was a 10 hour drive without animals and kids but with....it turned into almost 2 days....I really recommend preparing ahead of time (expect accidents from being nervous) as they are not like dogs. Our dog was super chill throughout the whole circus. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Litter box tip is important. It's easy to want everything to be fresh and clean but they are comforted by their familiar smells. Really good advice and presentation!
I have two, I just moved but only got one, still trying to get the other one, moved one street over same mobile home park. But no luck yet. Thank you so much for your help.
Last year I had to move four times with my cat while selling my old house and building my new house. I was super nervous but it actually went well. What is fascinating is that overall my cat is no longer fearful! She use to hide from any company but now she comes out right away to see who the person is. I am actually thrilled with the change it made in her.
Moved with our 3 cats last week. Each one took it differently. We made sure their things were moved last and set up first in the space they were going to be for the first day (Including litter boxes with used litter). It took them a day to get more comfortable.
Wow your new place is located among nature again good for Wessie and Forest. I hope they grow to love their new home 10 and 8 years is a longggg time. 6:13 awww they’re super adorable ☺️
when i moved my then 2 yr old cat in 2019, i had everything familiar set up for her & isolated her to master bedroom. i would sit on the floor saying her name trying with little effect to coax her out of hiding & she wouldn't eat anything for 2 days including treats. the 3rd day she was bk to normal like nothing happened & has owned this joint ever since.
Great tips, I did a lot of those instinctively when I moved & will remember if I ever move again, I'm all about keeping the kitties comfortable. I have had cats all my life, I'm in my 40s, but I have only moved twice with cats, all strictly indoor. When I was about 8 & moved from MI to NJ we drove with our 2 cats in the car & parents & my brother, this was like 1980, we were a bit ignorant but we made it fine. 5 minutes down the road 1 kitty was in the back windows shelf & lifted her tail & pooped down the seat, it was funny. All went well, they were fine in the new much bugger house. Then I moved my 15 year old Siamese super special sweetie girl who had lived in that same large NJ family home since she was a teeny tiny kitten to my new condo a few miles away, where I still live. She was very scared and though she slept leaning against my chest every night she was not an under covers kitty, but that first night she clung to me under the covers for protection, so sweet. She adapted fast to her new home and lived to 17. I did bring her huge cat condo tree with me of course. (I did live in other places in between, had moved back to parents house a few years before bought my condo but kitties all stayed at parents, I have had a few more cats since, have 2 now.)
Good gravy what a HUGE property, plenty of elbow room for cute kitties to run and play! How did you afford such a place in this housing market, did your cats help you win the lottery? Congrats on your move and to a successful transition for the kitties. 🐱🐱🥰
We’re not moving but gonna adopt the cat of our aunt who passed away recently. We’re a bit worried because we already have two adult cats (10-8 years). I learned very good tips thank you so much.
Thank you for these tips. I'll be using many of them. The cats and I are going to be RV traveling, full time. It's a huge change but a necessary one. Thankfully, I'll have several weeks between the purchase of my rig and our departure. I plan to make it a soft transition with with all of us spending longer and longer periods of time in the trailer with more and more of their favorite things. I definitely won't forget the treats.
Instead of the whole litterbox, I filled a plastic bag with some used litter and put that in the litterbox in the new home. It worked, she went right to it and used the box.
Great points here...my cat is an indoor cat 🐈 and he's moved house a few times for refurbishment but he adjusted well and loved getting back to our home sweet home after the refurbishment thanks for sharing 😊 your cats are beautiful 💜
5 Things I wish I knew before I moved three weeks ago with my cats xD It's good to know we followed the same overall procedures when traveling with out kitty companions. My heart felt overwhelmed with happiness when I saw Wessie out in the grass with you and the mountains in the background :) reminded me of the ADK where I grew up. You live in a heckin beautiful place! ⛰ P.S. Forest licking Wessie in the cave bed was so sweet :))) Ever since I've moved, my two kitties have gotten closer (they weren't exactly best friends before the move). I feel that it's because they relied on one another for comfort and familiarity. When I first opened the door to the room I left them in, they were cuddled together in the corner, one on top of the other. It was so precious! I'll see if I can post the picture on the community board later
Congrats on your successful move!:)looks lovely:) All of your tips, are amazing & reminded me of what i have learned from 25yrs of living (and traveling with cats) that have helped me avoid unpleasant surprises. Hope you like the tips:) 1). if you can find a way to check the new house room (aka saferoom)Before putting them in the room, for things like small rx pills, raisins, things they can eat/drink that are toxic to them. (and check all cabinets, tops of cabinets, drawers, closet baseboards before they go out to the rest of the house) IF staying in a hotel I always use my cell flashlight (letting cats run free in the room) and check along baseboards, under beds behind dresser and behind toilets, to name a few to look for things that they find and eat. Most times, i will find at least one pill and unknown food particles, dog food, I sometimes i have to ask the hotel to re vacuum the room letting them know my concern. I started this after at one of the hotel stays one of my cat ate raisins found on the floor and vomited the whole 2 day stay. In one of my moves into a new house, the last owner did not have cats & didn't realize he left mouse box traps & poison, ant poison small boxes, and snail bait in the backyard (all toxic to pets). 2. Consider putting them in an Oversized cat cage to fit in a small litterbox. Since we travel more than a couple hours each way, I put them each in their own oversized cat cage (link below) and attach a water bowl to the cage door (link below) and add a smaller kitty litter box at the back of the cage so they can stay hydrated and use the litter box when they need to. Start by finding the smallest but big enough your cat will use it sized litterbox then find the crate so it is sure to fit in the crate and still have room for your cat to laydown on its floor (fyi-I first started using the dog crates years ago as a safety room while we drove in our motorhome with them and to sleep in just in case a fire broke out in the middle of the night-i wanted to have the best chance of getting them out of the motorhome and not have to look for them in that scenario. Since i made the crates super comfortable I noticed they took naps in them and went into them if something scared them so I kept the crates and still use them in our homes as their nighttime sleeping crates. Btw, a bonus was that we are able to sleep throughout the night because the cats can't wake us up-we placed them several rooms away and they have altered their sleep time and sleep when we do -til about 6am. links to products i use: Dog Plastic Carrier: my exact product is discontinued but the link shows you a similar one, the size i use is 19"Hx17"Wx24"D www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/petmate-sky-dog-kennel Water bowl attachment that I added has a feature i really like, you can add water to the bowl from the outside without opening the cage door-smart!, the developer must have been a cat owner;): Petmate® No Spill Kennel Cup: www.petsmart.com/dog/bowls-and-feeders/automatic-feeders/petmate-no-spill-kennel-cup-46125.html?fmethod=Search 3. I pay close attention for changes in their kitty poop (for changes from normal size, firmness, etc., signs of upset tummy), and that they continue to drink lots of water (to avoid UTI's) The later, I learned the hard way. 4. If you let your cats out (even if only backyard), meet your neighbors and ask who has dogs and cats (or other pets). You want to be aware of them in case they get into your yard or worse, your house. They can hurt and or spook your cat to run. In my neighborhood, there are neighbors that let their dogs and cats run unsupervised. I have moved several times & continue to travel with our two 17yr. old cats as we have two homes 8hours away. I have had 5 cats and 1 dog over the years and I hope that my tips add to Mallory great advise. I start using her tip of not washing out the kitty litter boxes:) and always carry My cats Fav bed with us. 5. I add moving tape to the saferoom hardware door so that movers (or friend helpers) can't accidentally open the door to that room and spook the cats. Here's to safe and happy moves everyone!
Very good advice I saved this video I did do some of these things I. Did two moves one was local the other move was within my bldg you explain this well!
I did all these things with my three cats nearly 4 weeks ago. They were all keen to get out so after 2 weeks i let them out supervised. It went brilliantly, and the following day also, they had great fun exploring. The third day two of them were asleep nearly all day on my bed but my favourite Harry was following me around as I got on with a few garden tasks. Then at midnight they all wanted to go out, 2 of them came back in quickly but Harry was exploring again. And that was the last time I saw him. I've done everything, leaflets, posters, pet websites, facebook, and not one sighting. He caught and half ate a pigeon sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. when I went to call him again. Absolutely heartbroken here.
I moved in 2017. I made one big mistake with my indoor cat. Note, she is very sensitive and does have a chronic health condition. What I did right was setup the safe room. I moved the heavy furniture out myself so the movers had no reason to go in there. I also had a safe room picked out at the new house. The mistake I made was leaving Grace behind for the bulk of the day. I was only moving 30 minutes away and I knew there would be chaos at the new house. I wanted movers in and get the heavy stuff in place, the boxes in, etc. I got the new "safe room" settled except for her, the litter box and her food, which I left behind with her. When I got back to the old house I couldn't find her. I was about to lose my mind, but I knew she was there, I was the last person out and I petted her before I left. I finally found her curled in an impossibly small ball in the corner of a closet. She was limp, I thought she was dead at first I really believe she thought she had been abandoned. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping her away from the chaos, but I think seeing that empty house traumatized her more. I have always been heartbroken over animals abandoned by people who are supposed to love them, but after seeing how she reacted to what she likely thought was abandonment I can't even think about it. Luckily after the first day and half she did really well. I think part of it had to do with the fact that I kept all my furniture except a new couch and new kitchen table, everything else was familiar to her. She was back sleeping on my bed by night 3. I also moved 2 partially feral / outdoor cats, but that is another story. I waited a month to move them. My job is between old/new so I visited and feed Sophie and Autumn everyday. I just moved them later. Luckily I have a screened in porch at the new house and that made all the difference for them. It was a full 5 weeks before I let them outside though.
I moved recently and it was a difficult move. I couldn't overview the apartment beforehand and it is smaller than where we were living before, so my cats have been struggling to get used to it. I would love to know how others handle making sure the cats have their needs met while acclimating. Also how do you deal with leaving them alone in the new space? I have a 9-5 5 days a week and worry about it creating negative effects to their adjustment period.
Thank you so much for this video, Mallory! So helpful, plus loved the wholesome footage of the kitties snuggling and exploring outside with you. I just made a move with two cats as well, and it turns out I happened to follow these guidelines! They are adjusting very well, and I hope your cats are, too!
thank you mallory! the cats look so happy, your backyard is so beautiful :) question - with all the products you've reviewed, would you ever consider doing a giveaway or raffle for them? i can't imagine what you do with all of the products once you're done for a video. love your work so much!
Question: my cats are mother and daughter. They like each other, but they also hiss sometimes and need their space. Would it be better to put them together in a dog crate for an 18 hour drive, or in separate carriers next to each other?
I have two 17 year old cats. I was really concerned about stressing them when we moved, and I hunted all over trying to find information on how to move them as stress-free as possible, and couldn't find anything. So, I had to just wing it. We moved this past month. I didn't have a room in our old house that we could put the cats into without having to first move things out of the other rooms, which I knew would stress them, and then moving their stuff into the new house, which would be double the stress, and I didn't want to stick the cats in one room in the old house while we disassembled the rest of the house, because I knew they would be stressed during that whole time, as there would be lots of banging and clanging and doors opening and closing and noise and people they weren't familiar with coming and going. So, the first room in our new house was the first room we moved the cat's things to, and then moved the cats into that room before the end of the day, and before we moved everything else. That gave them a room where ALL their stuff was in, and nothing else had to change. I kept them in that room for a week before I let them out. (The room is quite a large room, so they had plenty of space in there.) And at the end of that week, I only let them out for a brief period of time into the next room, and then put them back in their room. Slowly over the next week I let them out for longer and longer periods of time and let them explore more of the house, one room at a time. I wanted to be sure that they'd be able to remember where their litter box was, and that they had a safe room to go to that they were familiar with. And after that second week, I let them out during the day, but they had to go back in that room at night. The room has a small, sunny window with a cat tower set up in front of it, their elevated feeding platform, beds, litter boxes, scratching posts, climbing shelves, and cubbies and places where they could hide if they wanted to. In spite of everything I tried to prepare for with them, they were still horribly stressed. Both of them got sick during that first week. It's been a month, and they're starting to do better, but this new house just does not have a nice big picture window for them to sit in and look out at the world the way the old house did. It has a big window, but a tree blocks the view. And the new house echoes really badly. It is not nearly as sound proof as our old house was. So the noise is stressful to them. I've been going around and trying to put as much sound-proofing materials as possible in their cat room which helps, but the rest of the house is much noisier than our previous house. The walls transmit sound a lot easier from the outside, too. And because we are just a block away from a main road through the small town where we live, there is a lot of truck traffic on it. I hadn't realized how noisy it was going to be. I don't know if I would have done a lot different except to put up all the sound blocking material before moving the cats into their new room. I also have started to add an adaptogen supplement that contains ashwagandha, tumeric, and some other things to their food, which I think is helping them. I wish I had started it before we moved them.
When we moved, my cats hunkered down for about a day and then acted like they owned the place 😂. Yes, despite my hubby's protests, I took the cat tree, which helped w the transition immensely
How do can I acclimate my cat when I move over seas as I can’t take her litter boxes nor her tree nor scratch pads due to the Australian agricultural defence force because of the material
Great video! If a separate bedroom/space is not available to the cat, is it ok to do the main bedroom? If in a studio apartment, should it be the bathroom? Thanks!
I will have to move in a few months and it scares me cause it will be a 22 hour drive. So I have been researching on how to move with my girl....but 22 hours, regardless of comfortable crate and liter box, seems rough. I am trying to train her on short rides in the crate but fingers crossed
My cat moved with me.from Phoenix to Texas back in 2020 , just before everything shut down.
I moved him the same way I moved my other cat back in the day.
It worked well and this is how I did it. Keep in mind I was completely by myself.
I kept his bowls out obviously as well as litter box. I kept his carrier nearby too. He watched closely as all was going on. As video stated I kept him with his things in the closed bedroom while I had the door open.
At last it was time to leave and I got him in carrier and as video stated, I took his litter box complete with the litter and everything and loaded in cab
He stayed in carrier from Phoenix to Tucson where I stopped and rested , and let him out but in cab only. Anytime I had to get out of the truck for gas or bathroom I put him in carrier. It took me 48 hours to drive Phoenix to DFW ( I was completely by myself and towing my car, plus the weather was rainy almost the entire way) but he did very well for the both of us spending 48 hours in the cab of a Penske truck. I set his bed up between the seats on floor , litter box in passenger seat footwell and food and water bowls also handy. He did great.
This is an awesome video
I moved once with the only cat I ever had and like with everything else he was a complete trooper he got here and explored and liked having so many windows to sit and look out of. I don’t know if it makes a difference but he was homeless most of his life
At 6:10 in the video - a total "Awwwww" moment.
One of the biggest things about moving with my cat - and she moved a few times with me in her 17 years - was making sure to pay attention to her. She needed snuggles. She needed to understand that this was OUR home, that I was still with her. Knowing their human is still with them is important, so getting to where you're going with some time to spare to hang out with your cat(s) before you start the new job is also important.
That's absolutely true about scents when moving. I moved with my two cats to a new apartment across town a couple of years ago, and they were scared when I brought them into the new apartment when it was empty. Once all of the old furniture was moved in a few hours later, though, they calmed down completely. All of the familiar objects and smells I think made them reassured that home had come with them to the new apartment.
I dropped my cat at Petsmart boarding just before movers came. Never had to worry about Bubba getting loose etc. Wasn't a far move & soon as I got his stuff setup, brought him home. He settled in quickly. (Petsmart was wonderful, in that few hours they opened cage, played with him, fed him & told him I'd be back soon.)
I recommend this method for short moves. 🙂
I moved with my five cats from Chesapeake, Va. to Sanford, Fl. last December. I split the trip into two days, stopping halfway around six in the evening. Despite my best intentions two of my cats got out of the hotel room. Fortunately, I was able to catch them & bring them back to the room. I traveled with two litter boxes, their favorite food, blankets & flyway spray. Two of my girls had 'incidents' in the car that leaked out onto the upholstery. There are a number of good enzyme cleaners out there that cleaned up that problem once I arrived in Florida. The only suggestion that I might add is music. I kept the radio on, trying to finding smooth jazz or classical stations, all the during the trip. We made it just fine, but it did take a lot of thought and planning.
We moved from nc to tx with my cat .. we first drove to Florida and it was 8 hours drive and she slept the whole way. Then from fl to Texas was like 12 and once again she slept. No bathroom break she literally slept. It was low key scary she didn’t move , for a cat that don’t really leave the house she does great in the car
Wow congratulations on making the move 👏 new place looks like such different terrain! Lots of flat land! Btw I also tried using the exact same cat towel thingy today wiped his butt too. Actually my friend's senior female cat peed in her carrier during a 15 minute drive a few months ago I had to bathe her right after arriving home she was soaked in piss. I didn't have the towel back then but even if I did..a cat drenched in piss really does need a bath
Another informative video as always Mallory. We moved with our two girls about six months ago and thankfully they adjusted well. This was the first and only cat channel I subscribed to when we rescued our two girls. I appreciate the reviews about food, products ect. Almost two years later and I’m still here as a loyal subscriber!👍😊🐈⬛🐈⬛
Almost two years-it's amazing how the time has flown. Thank you so much for choosing All About Cats to help you with your two new kitties. It's an honor. I'm glad the move went well for you all.
Oh my god you live in a beautiful place. Your cats are very lucky to have such open place.
Best luck to you and your cats in your new home.
thank you for this video. I'm moving (11 hours drive with 5 cats--aahh!!!) --also, the two kitties just snuggling, oh my heart
Good luck!!
Aww, seeing them both snuggled up together was so sweet. They made each other comfortable 😸
This was 9 years ago but my lovely and full of personality/talkative cat Ninja was very bonded to my emotionally abusive ex-boyfriend when she was a kitten and young cat, mostly because he stayed at home all day with no job just playing video games with her on his lap, while I worked all day to pay for everything. He even made me leave my phone at home when I went to work so he could use my hotspot to play video games. He would always find ways to convince me he had money coming but he never did. Always accused me of cheating when I never did, I didn’t even talk to people and started isolating from all of my friends because of him. Anyway, I finally broke up with him after 2 years of him mooching off of me and mentally tearing me down and killing my loving spirit. He was very manipulative and it’s hard for me to admit I was in a relationship for that long with a 27 year old man who I was fully financially supporting when I was only 22 years old. Anyway, that’s not what this is about, lol, just some backstory. I just never had as close of a bond with Ninja because she favored him since he was there all day with her. I’m happy she felt loved by him, but I sure didn’t lol. When I finally broke up with him, I kicked him out and he literally went and moved back in with his mother in her basement in Ohio lol (I’m from Arizona). Thank god he left the state though. He was horrible and went ape shit talking trash about me on Facebook lol. Completely made up stories and called me a whore and all the other fun names. Luckily our mutual friend community was like, “WTF, bro, grow up”. Lol. I kept my kitties of course (I have another adorable calico cat, Gaara). Me and the kitties ended up moving a few months later, and something clicked in Ninja and she realized I was the caretaker, and wherever I go, she goes, and she starting being so much more loving with me. And she finally started sitting in my lap and being cuddly with me. 😭❤️She had never done so before. I literally cried, and said thank you to her lol. Me and her have moved probably 4 times since then, and she actually adores moving. She gets so excited when we start moving all of our big stuff out, and especially loves to get into a vehicle and head to the next chapter of our lives. She loves the drive and meows all cute and chirpy. And when she gets inside a new place for the first time she meows so excitedly and starts exploring everything. She also loves going on walks with me, but doesn’t like going too far from our house, once we turn the block corner she gets a lil weary that we’ve wandered too far, so I don’t press her boundaries and we make our way back home and I let her inside so I can finish my walk, lol. I love moving with my cat Ninja, she’s like an excited lil kid every time. Gaara on the other hand is a mommas girl and always has been, and she struggles a bit more with the actual moving part. She likes to hide wherever she can whenever we start moving stuff. And then hates the drive. But once we actually get to the new place it doesn’t take her very long to feel explorative and get comfortable thankfully. I’m married now and we will likely be moving states in the next year, it’s been 4 years since I’ve moved, and before this I’ve never moved very far, only a couple streets away, lol, so I am a bit stressed about the long move with my two kitties. But they are my family and wherever I go they go so I’ll do whatever I can to make them as comfortable as possible. Thanks for the tips in the video. Hope you enjoyed my overshare! Lmao. 💖
OMG, Forest grooming Wessie in die snuggle cave was so cute
We just moved 1,000 miles with our two cats. We originally thought it would be best to do it in three days. Everyone told us to do it in two days instead. A little Feliway in their carriers with a few of their toys and pee pads, along with a mild sedative administered each morning. They were all-stars, including an overnight hotel stay with their familiar litter box. We also put their carriers out a few weeks before so they could hang out in there and scent them up.
We moved out August 2nd and went to a hotel, and today we're closing on our new home...and this has been by far the absolute most stressful thing us adults have done and absolutely for our 5 cats...1 dog. 🤦♀️ if you are able to go straight to your new home...try to do that rather than having a waiting period like we did because it is hard. Our senior cat who is 16 peed before we could even get him (in his carrier) into the car....soooo this required us to bathe him prior to even leaving. If I could have flown them....I would have done that if it's long distance like ours was a 10 hour drive without animals and kids but with....it turned into almost 2 days....I really recommend preparing ahead of time (expect accidents from being nervous) as they are not like dogs. Our dog was super chill throughout the whole circus. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Litter box tip is important. It's easy to want everything to be fresh and clean but they are comforted by their familiar smells. Really good advice and presentation!
I have two, I just moved but only got one, still trying to get the other one, moved one street over same mobile home park. But no luck yet. Thank you so much for your help.
Last year I had to move four times with my cat while selling my old house and building my new house. I was super nervous but it actually went well. What is fascinating is that overall my cat is no longer fearful! She use to hide from any company but now she comes out right away to see who the person is. I am actually thrilled with the change it made in her.
similar to moving with small children!
Glad the move went well! Its stressful as it is before fur family is mixed in !😼
You did a yada yada over the car travel experience which is the part of travel I have the most concerns about.
Wow! Whereabouts are you now? Those hills are gorgeous.
Moved with our 3 cats last week. Each one took it differently. We made sure their things were moved last and set up first in the space they were going to be for the first day (Including litter boxes with used litter). It took them a day to get more comfortable.
Wow your new place is located among nature again good for Wessie and Forest. I hope they grow to love their new home 10 and 8 years is a longggg time.
6:13 awww they’re super adorable ☺️
Thank you very much ❤
when i moved my then 2 yr old cat in 2019, i had everything familiar set up for her & isolated her to master bedroom. i would sit on the floor saying her name trying with little effect to coax her out of hiding & she wouldn't eat anything for 2 days including treats. the 3rd day she was bk to normal like nothing happened & has owned this joint ever since.
Just started watching but I’m sure it’ll be another great one. Hoping the move was made under good circumstances!
What a dynamo! You do everything! Including inspiring me to get off the internet & be more productive!
Ah, that's great to hear. Good luck with everything!
Great tips, I did a lot of those instinctively when I moved & will remember if I ever move again, I'm all about keeping the kitties comfortable.
I have had cats all my life, I'm in my 40s, but I have only moved twice with cats, all strictly indoor. When I was about 8 & moved from MI to NJ we drove with our 2 cats in the car & parents & my brother, this was like 1980, we were a bit ignorant but we made it fine. 5 minutes down the road 1 kitty was in the back windows shelf & lifted her tail & pooped down the seat, it was funny. All went well, they were fine in the new much bugger house.
Then I moved my 15 year old Siamese super special sweetie girl who had lived in that same large NJ family home since she was a teeny tiny kitten to my new condo a few miles away, where I still live. She was very scared and though she slept leaning against my chest every night she was not an under covers kitty, but that first night she clung to me under the covers for protection, so sweet. She adapted fast to her new home and lived to 17. I did bring her huge cat condo tree with me of course.
(I did live in other places in between, had moved back to parents house a few years before bought my condo but kitties all stayed at parents, I have had a few more cats since, have 2 now.)
Thank so much. This was the most helpful moving video. You have the same two breed of cats that I’m getting ready to move to the country.
Good gravy what a HUGE property, plenty of elbow room for cute kitties to run and play! How did you afford such a place in this housing market, did your cats help you win the lottery? Congrats on your move and to a successful transition for the kitties. 🐱🐱🥰
Me and my cats goose and Stu are moving next week! Thanks for the tips!
i’m moving tomorrow with my 10 month old kitten so it was perfect timing for this video. super helpful thank you !!!
We’re not moving but gonna adopt the cat of our aunt who passed away recently. We’re a bit worried because we already have two adult cats (10-8 years). I learned very good tips thank you so much.
Great info !!!
Thank you! Where did you move? It looks beautiful there!
Montana!
Thank you for these tips. I'll be using many of them. The cats and I are going to be RV traveling, full time. It's a huge change but a necessary one. Thankfully, I'll have several weeks between the purchase of my rig and our departure. I plan to make it a soft transition with with all of us spending longer and longer periods of time in the trailer with more and more of their favorite things. I definitely won't forget the treats.
How fitting 😌
I move in two weeks and I have two little furry babies.
Thank you for sharing!
Hope the move goes well for you and your kitties!
Instead of the whole litterbox, I filled a plastic bag with some used litter and put that in the litterbox in the new home. It worked, she went right to it and used the box.
Great points here...my cat is an indoor cat 🐈 and he's moved house a few times for refurbishment but he adjusted well and loved getting back to our home sweet home after the refurbishment thanks for sharing 😊 your cats are beautiful 💜
Congrats on a new chapter for you and your babies, glad everyone made it safely.
Super 👍
5 Things I wish I knew before I moved three weeks ago with my cats xD It's good to know we followed the same overall procedures when traveling with out kitty companions. My heart felt overwhelmed with happiness when I saw Wessie out in the grass with you and the mountains in the background :) reminded me of the ADK where I grew up. You live in a heckin beautiful place! ⛰
P.S. Forest licking Wessie in the cave bed was so sweet :))) Ever since I've moved, my two kitties have gotten closer (they weren't exactly best friends before the move). I feel that it's because they relied on one another for comfort and familiarity. When I first opened the door to the room I left them in, they were cuddled together in the corner, one on top of the other. It was so precious! I'll see if I can post the picture on the community board later
Aww, yes, I can imagine that they might grow closer during the move. Would love to see a photo. Thanks for the support, as always.
That is so helpful because my two cats aren’t crazy about each other either so this might be the best thing for them.
@@wyn7176 ahh, you just reminded me to post the photo of my kitties :)
Hope your move goes safely and your kitties become closer frens 🥹
@@localchumb thank you! Me too. ✨
Moved twice with my cat Pita, one cross country and across town. He did well with one and struggled with the other.
Congrats on your successful move!:)looks lovely:) All of your tips, are amazing & reminded me of what i have learned from 25yrs of living (and traveling with cats) that have helped me avoid unpleasant surprises. Hope you like the tips:)
1). if you can find a way to check the new house room (aka saferoom)Before putting them in the room, for things like small rx pills, raisins, things they can eat/drink that are toxic to them. (and check all cabinets, tops of cabinets, drawers, closet baseboards before they go out to the rest of the house)
IF staying in a hotel I always use my cell flashlight (letting cats run free in the room) and check along baseboards, under beds behind dresser and behind toilets, to name a few to look for things that they find and eat. Most times, i will find at least one pill and unknown food particles, dog food, I sometimes i have to ask the hotel to re vacuum the room letting them know my concern. I started this after at one of the hotel stays one of my cat ate raisins found on the floor and vomited the whole 2 day stay. In one of my moves into a new house, the last owner did not have cats & didn't realize he left mouse box traps & poison, ant poison small boxes, and snail bait in the backyard (all toxic to pets).
2. Consider putting them in an Oversized cat cage to fit in a small litterbox. Since we travel more than a couple hours each way, I put them each in their own oversized cat cage (link below) and attach a water bowl to the cage door (link below) and add a smaller kitty litter box at the back of the cage so they can stay hydrated and use the litter box when they need to. Start by finding the smallest but big enough your cat will use it sized litterbox then find the crate so it is sure to fit in the crate and still have room for your cat to laydown on its floor (fyi-I first started using the dog crates years ago as a safety room while we drove in our motorhome with them and to sleep in just in case a fire broke out in the middle of the night-i wanted to have the best chance of getting them out of the motorhome and not have to look for them in that scenario. Since i made the crates super comfortable I noticed they took naps in them and went into them if something scared them so I kept the crates and still use them in our homes as their nighttime sleeping crates. Btw, a bonus was that we are able to sleep throughout the night because the cats can't wake us up-we placed them several rooms away and they have altered their sleep time and sleep when we do -til about 6am.
links to products i use: Dog Plastic Carrier: my exact product is discontinued but the link shows you a similar one, the size i use is 19"Hx17"Wx24"D www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/petmate-sky-dog-kennel
Water bowl attachment that I added has a feature i really like, you can add water to the bowl from the outside without opening the cage door-smart!, the developer must have been a cat owner;): Petmate® No Spill Kennel Cup: www.petsmart.com/dog/bowls-and-feeders/automatic-feeders/petmate-no-spill-kennel-cup-46125.html?fmethod=Search
3. I pay close attention for changes in their kitty poop (for changes from normal size, firmness, etc., signs of upset tummy), and that they continue to drink lots of water (to avoid UTI's) The later, I learned the hard way.
4. If you let your cats out (even if only backyard), meet your neighbors and ask who has dogs and cats (or other pets). You want to be aware of them in case they get into your yard or worse, your house. They can hurt and or spook your cat to run. In my neighborhood, there are neighbors that let their dogs and cats run unsupervised.
I have moved several times & continue to travel with our two 17yr. old cats as we have two homes 8hours away. I have had 5 cats and 1 dog over the years and I hope that my tips add to Mallory great advise. I start using her tip of not washing out the kitty litter boxes:) and always carry My cats Fav bed with us.
5. I add moving tape to the saferoom hardware door so that movers (or friend helpers) can't accidentally open the door to that room and spook the cats.
Here's to safe and happy moves everyone!
Very good advice I saved this video I did do some of these things I. Did two moves one was local the other move was within my bldg you explain this well!
This video was extremely helpful. Thank you so much! Could you please do a video on tips and advice for flying with cats
Very informative
I did all these things with my three cats nearly 4 weeks ago. They were all keen to get out so after 2 weeks i let them out supervised. It went brilliantly, and the following day also, they had great fun exploring. The third day two of them were asleep nearly all day on my bed but my favourite Harry was following me around as I got on with a few garden tasks. Then at midnight they all wanted to go out, 2 of them came back in quickly but Harry was exploring again. And that was the last time I saw him. I've done everything, leaflets, posters, pet websites, facebook, and not one sighting. He caught and half ate a pigeon sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. when I went to call him again. Absolutely heartbroken here.
I'm sorry to hear about Harry...hope you're reunited. Thank you for the cautionary story.
Congratulations! The place looks wonderful and the kitties looks so happy!
I moved in 2017. I made one big mistake with my indoor cat. Note, she is very sensitive and does have a chronic health condition. What I did right was setup the safe room. I moved the heavy furniture out myself so the movers had no reason to go in there. I also had a safe room picked out at the new house. The mistake I made was leaving Grace behind for the bulk of the day. I was only moving 30 minutes away and I knew there would be chaos at the new house. I wanted movers in and get the heavy stuff in place, the boxes in, etc. I got the new "safe room" settled except for her, the litter box and her food, which I left behind with her. When I got back to the old house I couldn't find her. I was about to lose my mind, but I knew she was there, I was the last person out and I petted her before I left. I finally found her curled in an impossibly small ball in the corner of a closet. She was limp, I thought she was dead at first I really believe she thought she had been abandoned. I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping her away from the chaos, but I think seeing that empty house traumatized her more. I have always been heartbroken over animals abandoned by people who are supposed to love them, but after seeing how she reacted to what she likely thought was abandonment I can't even think about it. Luckily after the first day and half she did really well. I think part of it had to do with the fact that I kept all my furniture except a new couch and new kitchen table, everything else was familiar to her. She was back sleeping on my bed by night 3.
I also moved 2 partially feral / outdoor cats, but that is another story. I waited a month to move them. My job is between old/new so I visited and feed Sophie and Autumn everyday. I just moved them later. Luckily I have a screened in porch at the new house and that made all the difference for them. It was a full 5 weeks before I let them outside though.
Thank you 😊
I moved recently and it was a difficult move. I couldn't overview the apartment beforehand and it is smaller than where we were living before, so my cats have been struggling to get used to it. I would love to know how others handle making sure the cats have their needs met while acclimating. Also how do you deal with leaving them alone in the new space? I have a 9-5 5 days a week and worry about it creating negative effects to their adjustment period.
Which state are you in??? The scenery is gorgeous
This is Montana.
Hi!!! can you make a Proseries cat food review? I love your videos :D
I’m not moving anytime soon but I’ll be moving July 2023 so this was helpful. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Thank you so much for this. We're moving to a new apartment in about 5 days or so, so this helps a lot. You're doing a great job!
Congrats on the new home. I see snow so that is great! When I moved it was a two-day trip and got a bit stressful.
Thank you so much for this video, Mallory! So helpful, plus loved the wholesome footage of the kitties snuggling and exploring outside with you. I just made a move with two cats as well, and it turns out I happened to follow these guidelines! They are adjusting very well, and I hope your cats are, too!
Very timely. I’m converting a cargo trailer to off grid rv. My cat will become adventure kitty.
I'm still waiting on the Window seat reviews :)
Really good video! The cats are beautiful!! 🤩❤🐾💛
So helpful, thank you! Congrats on the new home 🏡 💖
I like cats.Video is great
Congratulations on the move! Thanks for sharing. Wessie and Forest are real troopers!
thank you mallory! the cats look so happy, your backyard is so beautiful :)
question - with all the products you've reviewed, would you ever consider doing a giveaway or raffle for them? i can't imagine what you do with all of the products once you're done for a video.
love your work so much!
OMG this is MY cat
When i moved, i kept my cat in one room. Once house was packed up i opened the door, he ran into empty living room and started meowing… felt so bad.
Very informative video! I was going to take the cat to the vet, you helped me a lot! Thanks.
What is the best insurance for cat please
where do you live?? btw i love your videos ☺️
Question: my cats are mother and daughter. They like each other, but they also hiss sometimes and need their space. Would it be better to put them together in a dog crate for an 18 hour drive, or in separate carriers next to each other?
I'd recommend separate carriers. :)
I have two 17 year old cats. I was really concerned about stressing them when we moved, and I hunted all over trying to find information on how to move them as stress-free as possible, and couldn't find anything. So, I had to just wing it. We moved this past month. I didn't have a room in our old house that we could put the cats into without having to first move things out of the other rooms, which I knew would stress them, and then moving their stuff into the new house, which would be double the stress, and I didn't want to stick the cats in one room in the old house while we disassembled the rest of the house, because I knew they would be stressed during that whole time, as there would be lots of banging and clanging and doors opening and closing and noise and people they weren't familiar with coming and going. So, the first room in our new house was the first room we moved the cat's things to, and then moved the cats into that room before the end of the day, and before we moved everything else. That gave them a room where ALL their stuff was in, and nothing else had to change. I kept them in that room for a week before I let them out. (The room is quite a large room, so they had plenty of space in there.) And at the end of that week, I only let them out for a brief period of time into the next room, and then put them back in their room. Slowly over the next week I let them out for longer and longer periods of time and let them explore more of the house, one room at a time. I wanted to be sure that they'd be able to remember where their litter box was, and that they had a safe room to go to that they were familiar with. And after that second week, I let them out during the day, but they had to go back in that room at night. The room has a small, sunny window with a cat tower set up in front of it, their elevated feeding platform, beds, litter boxes, scratching posts, climbing shelves, and cubbies and places where they could hide if they wanted to.
In spite of everything I tried to prepare for with them, they were still horribly stressed. Both of them got sick during that first week. It's been a month, and they're starting to do better, but this new house just does not have a nice big picture window for them to sit in and look out at the world the way the old house did. It has a big window, but a tree blocks the view. And the new house echoes really badly. It is not nearly as sound proof as our old house was. So the noise is stressful to them. I've been going around and trying to put as much sound-proofing materials as possible in their cat room which helps, but the rest of the house is much noisier than our previous house. The walls transmit sound a lot easier from the outside, too. And because we are just a block away from a main road through the small town where we live, there is a lot of truck traffic on it. I hadn't realized how noisy it was going to be.
I don't know if I would have done a lot different except to put up all the sound blocking material before moving the cats into their new room. I also have started to add an adaptogen supplement that contains ashwagandha, tumeric, and some other things to their food, which I think is helping them. I wish I had started it before we moved them.
When we moved, my cats hunkered down for about a day and then acted like they owned the place 😂. Yes, despite my hubby's protests, I took the cat tree, which helped w the transition immensely
How do can I acclimate my cat when I move over seas as I can’t take her litter boxes nor her tree nor scratch pads due to the Australian agricultural defence force because of the material
Great video! If a separate bedroom/space is not available to the cat, is it ok to do the main bedroom? If in a studio apartment, should it be the bathroom? Thanks!
Yes, a bathroom or closet will work.
I will have to move in a few months and it scares me cause it will be a 22 hour drive. So I have been researching on how to move with my girl....but 22 hours, regardless of comfortable crate and liter box, seems rough. I am trying to train her on short rides in the crate but fingers crossed
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Please tell me that’s Tennessee !?
Nope! Montana.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Thanks for the response, I’m happy for you and the babies!
Moving👁👁…too scary…
Lucky I’m old now and I barely leave the house…🐈⬛🐈⬛
Why does my Cat keep coming back when I throw her in the air on to the bed. Does she want to be a bird?
FIFTH!
🙂🙂🙂 огооооо
i would never let my cats out. Dogs, coyotes, cars, hawks no thanks
Cats don’t like to move