Moving to a new home is a trying time for everyone. Cats are especially sensitive to disruptions in their routine and moving ranks high on the list of very stressful events.

People who don’t plan ahead often assume their cat escaped the home during their move, and look outside to find them. In reality, many of those cats are hiding indoors. Imagine the place you’ve felt secure coming down around you. You suddenly see items you recognize disappearing and people you don’t know coming and going. Cats start to panic when they don’t have their usual routine, and belongings, where they expect them to be. However, most cats do not just run outside. Their instinct is to hide.

Cats are creatures of habit, so it’s best to plan ahead and make the transition as smooth, and stress-free, as possible for them, and for you.

At least a month prior to moving, ensure your cat is spayed/neutered and tattooed (or microchipped) in case an escape happens. If your cat has an anxious personality, at the best of times, you may want to consult with your vet about anxiety reducing medication for the packing and moving period.

Before you move, have the following ready:

• A solid cat carrier that will not fall apart during transport
• Cat food and litter
• Cat food bowls, litterbox, water dish
• Toys and bedding
• Masking tape, paper and a bold marker

Prevent your cat from getting into boxes you are packing. Check them before taping them shut.

If you are doing your own move, when you have almost packed the whole house, and BEFORE you have moved anything out, put your cat in a bedroom with everything on the list. Tape up a sign on the bedroom door that says “CAT INSIDE. DO NOT OPEN DOOR!” This will alert anyone who is helping you move, to the presence of the cat and will ensure no one lets the cat out accidentally. Move anything in the cat’s room with you when you take your cat to the new home. Move the cat in with you when you will no longer be coming back to the old house. The idea here is that the cat is still in familiar territory and will feel more comfortable than being without you in your new home. When it’s time to move your cat, secure your cat in the carrier, place all their items in a box and take them to the new location.

If you have hired professional movers to take your items to your new home, take the cats to the new location after you’ve packed, but BEFORE the movers come get your belongings.

Once at your new home, designate a bedroom to be the cat’s room while you, or movers, move items in. Place a sign on the door of the bedroom at the new home that says “CAT INSIDE, DO NOT OPEN DOOR.”. Make sure to let movers/friends/family know not to open the door to the room where the cat is situated. This will keep them calm and ensure there are no accidental escapes. Unpack the cat’s things and try to recreate the room they were in at the old location. DO NOT take the cat out of their carrier if they don’t exit on their own. This stage of the move is frightening for cats. This is where they may seek a small, dark space that is difficult to access and you may think they have escaped the new home.

When you’ve moved your belongings in, close all doors to the outside and go visit with your cat to reassure them you’re there, and offer them a treat. Spend some time with them before heading back to the rest of the home to unpack. Don’t be surprised if your cat doesn’t want the treat, or doesn’t want to eat for a day, or two.

Keep a confident, and relaxed, cat in their room until large furniture is in place. Wait 24-48 hours before moving items into the cat’s room. Keep an anxious cat in their room for a week before moving large items in. Then, take the cat, in the carrier to other areas of the house so they can see how things look. Take the cat back to their room and open the door. Follow them around while they are exploring, keeping all doors to the outside, and windows, closed. Also close off the basement, if possible. ALWAYS know where your cat is before putting boxes outside. Cats love to hide in boxes and you don’t want them taken outside in one accidentally. Flatten all boxes, if possible before removing them from the new home. You can also put your cat back in their room if unpacking is too stressful for them.

When the cat is exhibiting more confident behaviour (walking with tail lifted high, tall posture, friendly disposition, etc.), you can open up more spaces for them.

If your cat escapes their safe room, they will usually hide in the home. Those that hide in the home they know, and love, are often in a basement, away from the noise and confusion. It is important to check furniture thoroughly before sending it anywhere. Cats can hide inside box springs, couches and inside dressers. You don’t want to send your cat to a storage facility, or to a donation depot, inside your furniture.

Those who escape outside, often try to get back into the home after coming out of hiding days after the move. Neighbors often see them at the door, or window, waiting for someone to let them in. It is important to have food and water out at the old home if you know your cat got outside.

Cats who escape their rooms in new homes are usually hiding in small spaces. Check under dressers, behind toe-kicks, appliances and furnaces. They can also get into suspended ceilings and inside exhaust vents. Closets and cupboards also make good hiding spots, as do boxes. Most people will search for their cats to no avail and then report them missing. A “grid-search” strategy is the best way to find a cat. More often than not, they are located within the home using this technique. Kittens are especially hard to find and need extreme care when moving. Divide each room of the home into 3 x 3 foot squares and search everything down, up and in that square. Keep searching until the whole home has been done. If the cat hasn’t been found, start searching outside the same way.

Some cats do get outside, but the majority are hiding indoors. If they get out at the new location, they are usually hiding very close to the building under a structure. Use the grid search outside and read our Search Tips for missing cats.

Avoid added stress by following this guide, so your cat can feel safe in their new home under your watchful eye. The most important take-away is confinement – in both locations and in a carrier – so there is little opportunity for escape.