We’re in the middle of another cross-country move. (And yes, the last one was only a year ago!) The move itself took place a couple of days ago so now we just have all the unpacking, organising, and settling in to do! Actually I moved a while ago as my new job started at the beginning of August, which is why I haven’t been around here much since then. But now husband and the cats have joined me (at last!)
As I said, this is the second time we’ve done a cross-country move in about a year, and it got me thinking about how much Sampson has moved from home to home in the last couple of years.
This move, from the North of Finland to the South – that’s one. Two was last year’s move from the South to the North. Move number three was about four months before that when he came all the way from England to join us.
When he was in England he was staying temporarily with a friend of ours. He moved there (move number four) from staying briefly at my mum’s new house, to which he’d arrived (move five) from my older brother’s. And he had gone there (move six!) from my mum’s old house!
Six moves (assuming I’m not forgetting any) in less than two years. That’s a lot of moving for one cat! Especially considering three of them were long distance.
Living in six different homes in two years could get very stressful for a cat. (Probably for a human too!) I definitely wouldn’t recommend it. Sampson has coped very well with it all, most likely because all of those homes (aside from the one when he was with our friend) were with people he had known all his life.
He was fine living at my mum’s old house because he’d always lived there. He was fine being at my brother’s when my mum moved, because he’d known my brother since he was a kitten. He was fine being at my mum’s new house because, again, the people were familiar.
He settled in quickly after his move from England because he’s known me his whole life. In fact we’ve often got the impression he thinks I’m his mummy – he was only 6 weeks old when he came to us (a story for another day, perhaps) and was very attached to me to start with. Which certainly made it easier for him to get used to living with us in Finland.
And of course the other moves since then have still been with us, so the people and things in the flat have been consistent even if the location hasn’t been.
But for all three of the cats’ sake (and ours!) I do hope we don’t have to move again for a while! (And certainly not cross-country!)
Love,
Lady Joyful
Have you moved homes with your cats? Did they settle in easily to the new home, or did it take a while? How did you help ease the transition?
Oh bless him, what a well travelled cat, he seems to take it all in his stride. Hope you get settled in soon 🙂
Thanks! He certainly has been in the last few years. All three seem fairly happy here already 🙂
Good 🙂 I’m pleased to hear you’re all reunited and happy 🙂
We have 6 cats… and have moved homes many times with them in the last couple of years. We tend to keep them inside for 24-48hours, contained inside the new house with a litter box etc before letting them out to explore. It calms them down very fast and gives them a chance to establish home base. Many people have told us that it’s unnecessary, but I think it helps, especially if your cats are more neurotic lol
Oh yes keeping them inside to start is definitely important (I’ve heard some say you should keep them in for up to 6 weeks!) Our cats are actually indoor cats anyway, and as our new flat is on the 7th floor it would be a bit difficult for them to go out!
Many rescue organisations recommend it! So do not let those many, well-meaning, but uninformed people tell you otherwise. Cat experts recommend it! They even say a week or two. To make sure that the place reeks* of their own scent and they really see it as THEIR place.
*for cat noses, not for ours!
🙂 it does make lots of sense. For us, we process the move way in advance… They just get taken somewhere new and have to deal with it immediately O_O
Oh, my! What big eyes you have…….
Jamima is now 15-ish. She and I have moved 4 times in her life? Each move has been more calm than the previous one. She has her large Cat-Condo that she goes in when we chase her out of the couch. When the doors close at our new home with all the belongings inside, and a few rooms sorted and settled, she gets let out to explore. She is happy because all the furniture is the same. The smells are mostly the same. I’m calm and when I settle she is happy to settle on my lap. The dooner that travels with us is like a security blanket. When we go home to the country, she goes exploring around inside. It’s a bit more familiar each time although few and far between visits but she can usually be found curled up asleep on my bed on a pair of black pants. Of course. Did I mention, Jamima is MY cat? Or I’m her Mum!
Jamima sounds lovely! Oh yes, Sampson does have beautiful eyes 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
He is such a trooper. So inquistive looking too.
Thank you 🙂 He’s a darling!
Have not moved much with Chubby Chew but have taken him back and forth between my place and my parents when I am visiting… he hates car rides, always V/D/U in the car. Experimented with him in a carrier, have someone holding him on lap… gonna try use a cat bag or a different carrier next time… maybe I need to give him some gravel… otherwise he settles right in at a new place, as long as you get water and food ready
Have you tried Feliway to help keep him calm? Car rides are difficult – it’s hard for the cats to understand what’s happening! Thanks for commenting 🙂
I kept thinking I will get it and keep forgetting since I only have to take him 2- 3 times a year lol
Fair enough 🙂 Could be worth a try sometime 🙂
Our first cat was so lovely, black and a little white as yours… We rescued him
Sampson is a rescue too! Most of our cats have been 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
When I moved from Queens to Brooklyn my cats Sylvester and Weezer stayed under the blanket covers for three days before they came out!! After that they settled in. Sadly Weezer died last year right before Christmas but I still have Sylvester. He is 11 and I hope he has many more happy healthy years ahead of him. I probably will move again as it is expensive to Live in New York and when I do move I will do my best to prepare Sylvester.
Aw, bless them! At least it wasn’t longer than three days 🙂 Sorry for the loss of Weezer – having Sylvester still must be quite a comfort. Thanks for commenting!
… from forest in the south of France when he was a 2 monthes kitten ( her mother did not accept to be approached,what a pity – but accepted food from a charming lady ). His first travel was in the plane from Nice to Paris … all right – the Paris flat was his home, and he enjoyed himself immediately.
But when we went for holidays in the family house, with his comfort, as an in inside cat, after 2 or 3 weeks, he behaved himself as an ” ill “, sad cat, did not want to eat … so we came back to Paris quicky for the usual vet … no need for vet because as soon as he was in HIS Paris flat, he was himself, happy and wanting to play !!!
But he got accustomed at last…
amitiés – caresses aux chats 🙂 and pets 🙂
Aw, I guess cats can get homesick too! Thanks for sharing the story 🙂
What a beautiful boy! Such gorgeous eyes. I have to move our two little kittens Tuesday, and they always hate it. They are so territorial, I know. It will be tough, my husband died and we have to move to another state in the USA, and it’s going to be hard. I keep the soft fleecy blankets that my two kitties love so I can spread them out on the bed when we arrive in our new home. I’ll do anything to make their transition easier. Bless you for taking such good care of your baby boy. It’s the least we can do, because they love us so much!
Thank you! Oh yes, he does have lovely eyes 🙂 My condolences on your loss. I hope your move with your kitties goes well – they certainly do make loving companions 🙂
We haven’t had to move for almost seven years thank goodness, but that may change as I am inbetween careers and where we live determines where my next job comes from. One of our cats tolerated several moves very well, but the other does not like change of any kind. He’s a bit of a nervous wreck by nature though.
I hope that, if you do have to move, it goes well for you and your cats! And best of luck with the job hunt – new job is the reason for our move! Thanks for commenting 🙂
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Thanks!
beautiful boy kitty!
Thanks! 😀
I guess it’s as with people, a cat that has lived eight years all in the same place will be puzzled and worried by a move. A cat that has moved several times will say to itself, “Here we go again!” But Sampson might have started to associate moves with changing carers from his earlier experiences.
Yes entirely possible. The more recent moves definitely seem to have gone more smoothly which could well be because the cats are getting used to the routine of it. (Hopefully there won’t be another for at least a couple of moves though!) Thanks for commenting.
That has got to be the cutest cat picture I have ever seen! 🙂
Aw, thanks!
Aww. What a good boy! I really didn’t even comprehend all that moving I just read about. 🙂 I think some cats adjust to changes better than others and it sounds like you have one that is very adjustable. Some act out with a lot of change.
Sometimes though I do think a move would be good for a cat – to give them a different environment, if she’s an indoor cat. I try to move things (cat tunnels, boxes, scratchers, etc.) around to give the cats a little bit of change . . . just to make it a tiny bit different, but not too much to stress them out. I don’t know if matters to them or not. We haven’t had them that long.
Good luck settling in!
Thank you! Yes you’re certainly right about different cats reacting differently 🙂