Moving is said to be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Not only is it a change that requires a large investment of psychophysical and material energy, but it also often involves a modification of one’s habits, points of reference, sometimes even one’s sense of self.
If this happens to us, we can imagine the effects that a move (or even a renovation) can have on the cat, a creature that is by nature sedentary, extremely attached to its territory and refractory to change. When it comes to moving house, therefore, it is important to consider the emotional and sensorial vulnerability of our kitten, which will see its spatial, olfactory and visual references disrupted and therefore fall easy victim to anxiety, stress and mood changes. All this with the risk of establishing undesirable behaviour such as needs outside the litter box, marking, excessive meowing, escape attempts and aggression
If you do not want to leave such an important delicate step in the life of your human and feline family to chance, with my help you will be able to prepare your move with your cat in the best possible way. You will be followed through all stages of the move, from preparation, to the planning of the new home, to the final move, with the security that every step will be taken with the well-being of everyone in mind.
Write a message to info@aliceguardaigatti.it or fill in the form.
I will get back to you as soon as possible!
HOW DO CATS REACT TO MOVING?
Cat humans know this well: there is very little we can keep from them, least of all an overwhelming event such as a house move or renovation. Most probably our little felines will be the first to perceive that something ‘big’ is about to happen from various signals: the altered emotional state of family members, the sudden arrival of packing supplies, the disappearance or relocation of objects in the house, the intrusion of unknown people with unusual tools, etc. Depending on the nature of the stimuli, previous experiences and the temperament of our kitten, its reaction may vary from curiosity, to nervousness, to fear.
Much of the feline sense of security derives from the familiarity of his environment, from being surrounded by familiar visual, olfactory and acoustic references. When, during a renovation, a move and with the move to the new home, all this is lacking, a cat may feel in danger, fear for its safety and set in motion its resources to cope with the perceived threat: remaining hidden, attempting to escape, meowing, marking, urinating outside the litter box, reacting with aggression, establishing compensatory or repetitive behaviour, changing its sleeping, eating and movement habits. Of course, these are not spiteful behaviour that our cat devises to ‘punish’ us for the wrong it has suffered, but rather signs of its discomfort.
Given its hypersensitivity to environmental changes, it is therefore important to ensure that your cat’s territorial transition is as smooth and gradual as possible, trying to empathise with its emotional and sensory universe to minimise the risks of stress and unwanted behaviour.
HOW TO HELP THE CAT MOVE?
As we know, most cats are not fans of change. If they had the choice, many of them would probably prefer to stay in their more familiar environment, where they have already created their territorial mappings and established their functional zones. Yet, unfortunately or fortunately, life is unpredictable and may lead their humans to move to a new location, to a new home. Sometimes it will be an ameliorative situation, such as moving to a larger home, perhaps with a garden or terrace that did not exist before. Sometimes, on the other hand, the change will be more critical, to smaller or limited environments, with no outlets. Still other times it will be a ‘total’ revolution: this is the case, for example, of couples who move in together, each bringing their pet to their new home. In this case, in addition to the territorial change, socialisation with the new members of the family, be they humans, cats, dogs, etc., will also have to be considered.
Changing home is a bit like changing life, sometimes even changing oneself. This applies not only to us, but also and especially with our cats, creatures that are also incredibly sensitive to our mood and emotional changes.
Every situation of change is unique and personal, so planning your move with your cat(s) carefully and in advance with the support of an expert in feline behaviour and relationships can be the solution to make the transition as smooth and sustainable as possible for families with cats.
FACE THE MOVE WITH YOUR CAT WITH PEACE OF MIND
Moving a cat to a new home involves three fundamental aspects: the preparations before the move, the move itself and settling into the new home. Through dialogue, observation and analysis, together we will be able to help kitty live through this important transition with serenity, intervening on several levels (environmental, relational, emotional) with strategies that respect both his ethological and personal needs and your needs. Practical advice will be combined with a personalised prescription of flower essences to support the emotional sphere in a gentle way during this delicate transition.
1 - THE FIRST CONTACT
Write me an e-mail using the contact form or at info@aliceguardaigatti.it and tell me why you need my help: I will get back to you for a brief chat. If the case falls within my competence, we will make an appointment for a home visit.
Do you live outside Lombardy or is it not possible to meet? No problem, a video consultation can be arranged.
2 - VISITING YOUR HOME
The time has come to get to know each other! I will come to your home and here the case study will begin, which will last between 1 and 2 hours. The visit comprises 3 moments:
- Listening: you will tell me everything you know about your kitten or kittens, their history and your cohabitation.
- Observation: I will ask you to show me the house to collect clues and study it through the eyes of a cat…
- Discussion: I will give you my initial thoughts on the case and the first steps to be taken, weighing up the pros and cons and feasibility together.
3 - A TAILOR-MADE PLAN
Thanks to the impressions and information gathered through observation of the animal, the family and the environment, and after analysis of materials that you will send me (diaries, videos, photos and materials about your cat), I will share with you all the advice and recommendations to follow for a new life with kitty.
Here I will need maximum co-operation and commitment from the whole family to be able to achieve good results together!
4 - HOW IS IT GOING?
It has been a few weeks, how is the situation with your feline companion evolving? Some time after the visit, 14 to 30 days depending on the case, we will get in touch for a new discussion.
We will take stock of the situation, understand what is working and discuss any changes or adjustments to the initial plan.
If you are ready to improve your relationship with kitty or take on a new challenge together, write to me!