Moving and pets...

[markelmarcel]

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Two years ago I got a kitten. My mom is allergic to cats, so my boyfriend and I were able to convince his mother to allow us to let our cat live with her. (My boyfriend also lives at home with his mom as we have been waiting to find a house/buy it/close/etc closer to when I'd be going to school.)

So, basically, we said, "Hey can our cat live here until I go to school/boyfriend moves out?" So as a kitten our cat was introduced to the mom's house and another cat... These 2 cats have thus been together since they were both babies ... The mom's house is the only home my cat has known for her life; living with my boyfriend, his sister (the sister's cat) and his mom.

When we move into our house we want to take our cat with us... Does anyone have any tips/information on seperating animals? I am very worried that our cat/the other cat (who "belongs" to my boyfriend's little sister) will become severely depressed without the other one... We could potentially take both cats, although I doubt his sister would allow us, and I personally can't stand her cat. As awesome as my cat is, hers is just as stupid/moody.

The boyfriend and I were planning on getting another kitten as a companion for our cat when we move out, if we take her with us... I have no clue if this would lessen the strain of being seperated from the other cat or not.

Tips? Help?? I would really like to take my cat with me, she is a gorgeous cat, super friendly, etc, etc- the perfect cat. It would make me really sad to leave her behind at the mom's house...

 

[johncronejr]

One key thing is that you need to keep the cat isolated inside for 3-5 days. They have a very good homing sense and many times will set out to head home.

As far as separation depression, I don't believe cats are nearly as suspect to this as dogs, but they all adapt within a very short time. They are mainly concerned with being fad and relaxing. I wouldn't worry a bit about moving the cat.

 

[markelmarcel]

One key thing is that you need to keep the cat isolated inside for 3-5 days. They have a very good homing sense and many times will set out to head home.

Good to know, although she is a purely "inside" cat, so no outside shenangins regardless 🙂

 

[Eforma]

I think I have your situation beat -- last summer my boyfriend and I got not one, but two puppies, as a birthday present for me. But we both know that either of us alone will have a hard time taking care of two dogs at once, so when I head out to grad school, so will one of the pups. They are brother/sister and have been together from the beginning (they will be a year when I leave for school).

Here's what we have done to start the separation process, in hopes it will be easier for them.

First -- when we have gone on vacation, we sent them to different locations to be taken care of, in order to get them to adjust to being a lone.

Second -- whenever possible we have asked his mom (who lives nearby) to take one of them for the weekend, so each dog will have an opportunity to be around us by themselves.

Third -- as we get closer to my "leaving" date, I've been trying to do things with them separately -- go out on walks or to the park or whatnot with only one pup.

While not all of these will work as well for a cat -- the same theory is true -- start getting her/him used to being alone. Turn her time w/ the other cat into "play time" instead of the norm, and she'll get used to being on her own. Also, wherever you go, try to make sure to bring some of her favorite toys, and bed/blanket that smells like the old house/cat -- it makes adjusting a bit easier.

 

[dpt628]

I went through a similar situation. I got advice from my vet about how to move with my cat, because the cat was already bonded to other pets where we were living. Basically, when we moved we kept the cat confined to one room of the new apartment so that she would have time to adjust and not become overwhelmed. Slowly, we started introducing her to the rest of the apartment. She adapted really well and within a month she was totally back to normal personality. After about 3 months, we adopted a kitten and followed the instructions the SPCA gave us, which were to keep the kitten in the bathroom for a week, and then slowly introduce them. We first introduced their scents to each other by letting them smell the bedding and food bowls of the other cat, and slowly let them interact under our supervision. At first they hissed at each other but after a month for they fully get used to each other. Its been almost a year and they are completely bonded and now they spend every moment of the day together. My best advice for you would be to do some research online because there are some great sites with info about how to properly move a cat into a new environment. Good luck! 👍

 

[markelmarcel]

My best advice for you would be to do some research online because there are some great sites with info about how to properly move a cat into a new environment. Good luck! 👍

Thanks for all the information! We are moving into a house, so it'll be a large adjustment, and although I love my man, he IS a man and thus thinks that we can just throw the cat in the new environment and expect her to be completely fine. I will be sure to take the initiative to introduce her to the new environment slowly.

When we introduced my cat (the "newer" kitty) to his sister's cat we didn't read about what to do and thus just shoved them in each others' faces. My cat was completely petrified (like a statue) as the other cat hissed and scratched. That cat was pissed we had brought this "thing" into her domain... they did eventually make ammends as now they are very close 🙂

The reason why I quoted that last part was that I had googled this first before coming here to ask, but was having a hard time finding information just because I wasn't sure how to type it in- but I think I will just look at some "new environment" links and whatnot.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[Rescuemeleelee]

I commend you for being a cat owner since some people have such harsh feelings towards them. From experience, I love having 2 cats as opposed to 1 because they are the best of friends and I don't worry near as much about them bc there are two instead of just one. At first, they may roll around and fight and hiss but that's normal and they won't hurt each other in a serious way. They are just playing and getting to know one another. I always felt sad leaving my one kitty to study all the time but now that they are together, they keep each other company! Good luck with everything! You should definitely adopt another one, it's so worth it and they are so easy to care for.

Tip: get a couch/recliner/furniture cover in case they run and jump with their little claws!