Moving 4 cats

I moved three elderly cats from the UK to New Zealand. I don't suppose they liked the process very much but they were hugely happy when the got to their new home and settled down immediately – literally within minutes. I think cats are more pragmatic than we realise.

Three years earlier I had moved them, plus three more cats, from London to Darlington. I don't suppose any of them liked that much either, but they'd done the same thing when they arrived. They found their food and water bowls and the radiator and hot water pipes on the landing. Well, Helvetica spent half an hour flattening himself under a sofa while we ransacked the house looking for him before he emerged, but then he just joined in with the others.

Cats are very resilient.

Goodness, do you have 4 cat baskets for them to travel in? And then they have to stay indoors for 3 weeks? Not sure how long is recommended. And 4 litter trays?

Are you able to have the cats in ordinary cat travelling baskets, or will they be in a cages supplied by an airline company?

If you are using your own travelling baskets, it might be a good idea to get them out now and let the cats use them as hidey-holes.

When we moved, I used a old sweatshirt of mine as a blanket in the cat basket and made sure it wasn't newly washed so it would smell of me.

Our two insist on being in the same carrier when they travel. If possible place your carriers so the cats can see each other. I have known cats become quite frantic because they thought the other cats had been left behind!

We regularly used to move our 3 cats from home to an apartment - it was a bit of a nightmare catching two of them but once in their cages they were fine in the car and settled into the other home as normal. Rather than using carriers we bought small dog cages and put their comfy beds in over the top of puppy liners in case of accidents (or travel sickness). If yours are easy to handle and get on well you could put two in a cage together. With mine one just went in his ordinary carrier as he was blind and very old so easy to contain. The other two which we still have are very difficult to get in so this is how I did it.

The one who lives outside most of the time I would corner in the summerhouse where he sleeps, scruff him and shut him in the conservatory while we got ready. Once in there he was no bother apart from hiding behind the sofa and I could just put him in the cage - he is quite clever though and knows if something is going on so we had to play it quietly or he'd be off and totally unable to catch.

The other one is a diva and far too handy with teeth and claws to handle but will do anything for food. I would get her in the kitchen or bathroom - somewhere with nowhere to hide - then manoeuvre the cage towards her with the door open so she had nowhere else to go - eventually she gave in with much grumbling and would get in. Once in they were fine and didn't mind the journey as they could see all round them. We did have the occasional accident but the diva is very funny and will use her tray if she's shut in as if she knows she's got to 'go' before imprisionment

As you're actually moving house would you be able to put them in a cattery until the move has taken place so that you're not worrying about them? If not I would put them in one room with food, water and trays both before you leave with a notice on the door that it's not to be opened and then the same at the other end. Keep them in the new place for at least a week so they get used to their new surroundings and please don't let them out of the carriers on the way (someone near here lost their cat at the motorway services last year during a house move - it took a team of people and 10 days before she was finally trapped and reunited with her owners).

My son and DIL took their two cats when they emigrated to NZ 5 years ago - they had to stay with a friend for 3 months before they could leave due to a change in the rules for rabies but they settled in their new home and are still there very fat, contented and lazy pusses. As has been said they are very adaptable creatures and once they realise this is home will soon settle down. Good luck!

I have moved so many times including UK to Spain and back again. I always got the cats used to the carriers including the airline ones by putting them out for a week or so before hand. I made a game of them going into the boxes with toys and treats but not closing the doors and also letting them sleep in them. On the day of the move they went in willingly even the one who couldnt be handled. At the other end we put the carriers in a room with litter trays and food before we let them out and kept them confined for at least 24 hours.
Good luck with the move!

Thank you for all these great ideas.
They will have to go into individual carriers as none of them get on too well together, but they all get on well with the dog.
It is the catching that I dread the most, but I will get the baskets out well in advance, and shut them in one room overnight.

Again, thank you so much {cat}