Dear All, fantastic Bengal owners,
have you ever moved houses with your cats? We are really scared and not sure what to do. Yet we have purchased a house of our dreams....so we need to do it. Our gorgeous kittens have been with us since last October, they are not even one year old yet...It was difficult for them to settle down with us anyway, and now we have to move to a new house. Do you have any tips on how to go through the process?
We will spend a whole day on moving and the next two days on unpacking and drilling and putting shelves on. How will they survive it?

On the moving day we will leave the kittens with our friend in his house, so they can avoid the hustle, but they will have to join us on the day after, and there is no point in keeping them separated from us, is there?

Please share with us your own experience and your advice. I hope we will survive:)

All the best,

Marta

Yes, I have done it a couple of times. I moved from one apartment to another (clear across the country), and then years later from an apartment to a house. I had two cats, one that was very bold and adventurous, and the other way very timid and cautious and shy. The adventurous one just basically landed in the new place and immediately wanted to explore. It was an exciting new adventure to her, and didn't seem to trouble her very much, there was clearly some anxiety, but I'd say she was 100% adjusted in a couple of days. The other made a dash for a closet, and wanted to stay in there for the first day or so, only occasionally emerging. It may have taken her a week or so before she seemed totally comfortable with the new place.

I think my main advice is:

1. Make sure they are in a safe place when you are moving everything around. With people going in and out of doors, moving large items around etc., I don't think you'd want them to be a part of that. So keep them away from all of that. It sounds like you are doing that, but even to the extent that you are shifting things around (unpacking etc) after the move, I would keep them safe and out of the way.

2. When you put the cats in the new place, I think it's wise if you start them in a single room, with many familiar objects in it. Furniture, cat things and toys etc. It will at least have some familiar smells and provide some continuity.

I wouldn't worry about it too much really. They will be fine as long as they are with their people, and if the house is more spacious than the old one I'm sure they will love it.

_________________
The little monsters 3

I've done it a few times as well.

The last time we had the luxury of two homes for a month so could do it all slowly. We made sure that everything was pretty much ready before we moved them. I'd had feliway plugged in at both homes so they would gave a familiar feel. My general coped extremely well with it all, my older Tonk took a bit longer but was settled within a day.

I know other people who have had to do the move in a day. They used a cattery for a couple of days for their cats. Moved to the new house and unpacked. Made one room a safe room for kitties with familiar stuff and plugged in a feliway. Then they collected their cats... All took a few dates and they were fine.

_________________
Lollo

We haven't moved with our Bengal yet but I have moved 5 times with my other cats - including a 3 day drive from California to Texas!

I try to have 1 room cleared out that I can put them in while we're moving things. That way they're still in their home and I can check on them but they're away from the hustle and bustle and also can't 'escape'.

They're the last thing I take out of the home and then I go back to basics with them in the new home. Put them in a safe room with food, water and a litter box. Let them adjust to the sounds and smells of the new home and when they seem settled I start opening the door to the room for a few hours at a time. If they get scared I shut the door again until they're comfortable.

I think because they're familiar with the furniture and with you/your voice they adapt a little easier than going to a new home with strangers.

_________________
Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

I last moved 22 years ago and I can't even remember how we did it with our cat as we moved 824 miles. We plan to retire next year and will be moving with our Bengal. I think since the kitties are used to YOU as people, it's a matter of getting them acclimated to their new surroundings. I like the idea of keeping them in just one room in the beginning and slowly let them investigate the rest of the house once you get things settled in. They will be fine. You move with kids and they do just fine. Moving is a change for everyone .... but we all survive!

I've moved several times with cats, not our Bengals. Here are my thoughts, more relevant if you are moving house in one day.

1 On moving day, lock them in one room with only their stuff in it - toys, cat tree, bed, litter, food and water - and the bedding from your own bed, if they sleep with you. Isd there one room in your new house you could do this - rather than take them to your friends house?

2 Move everything else out from the rest of the house. Last thing, put them into carriers and pack all the stuff in the room with them.

3 In the new place, have a safe room and put them and all that stuff back into it. If you have removal help. put up a big NO ENTRY sign. Lock it if you can.

4 Once everything is else is moved in and the doors are shut, visit them in their new safe room and talk quietly with them. Play if they want to.

Because our cats always sleep in our bedroom with us, that is always their safe room. We leave them in the temporary room, set the bed up, and just the basics to get through the first night. Take them into that and all spend the evening/night there.

Next day, leave them in the safe room, move furniture/noisy stuff, put up shelvers etc. Then, I have found they love to be there when unpacking - all those boxes, all that protective wrapping - and, best of all, everything that is unpacked smells and looks familiar. I think they settle quicker to see all "their" stuff unpacked. But I always do that over several days, after they are confident in their safe room, and I let them venture out into one room at a time.

Good luck with your move