Mary Allen
After the decision to move, planning and packing, clearing out and disposal began. And friends asked: “How do you do it with your cats?” A good question with far too many answers.
There are many tips for gently moving the kitty: A quiet place in the new apartment? Bach flowers for calming? Or sleeping pills? In any case, familiar sleeping blankets and beloved treats are needed. Kater Mottek and his sister Heidi bravely fought their way through the moving jungle, punishing gross fair play mistakes with sulking, setting scent marks, or penetrating cuddle attacks.
Some online animal websites recommend taking your cat to your new home before you move – as if you had nothing better to do surrounded by moving boxes. It becomes particularly unrealistic when animal psychologists advise moving furniture movers to be quiet for the benefit of the cats. The strong men would probably have shown me the bird. For me, what is also true for babies is true: Babies sleep even with the noise of a vacuum cleaner, and my fluff fraction also sleeps on ringing smartphones. Ultimately, cat owners know what they can expect of their darlings. Gut feeling proves to be the best guide here.
If Master and Mistress are Doing Well, the Cats Stay Calm Too
People who are moving find themselves in a state of emergency. They no longer live in one apartment, but not yet in the other. Between vision, contaminated sites, and nest loss, those moving should therefore ask themselves in advance: How do you actually move with people? I resorted to giving myself rest periods and cuddling with the cats. If I don’t get hysterical, my cats stay cool too.
Then I discovered a tip on the internet that is literally for naught: «I recommend every spiritually interested cat owner to lovingly explain to their cat the intentions, motivations, processes, and advantages of the new apartment before moving – the conveying of mental images is part of it very helpful.” So I said to Mottek and Heidi: “Dear kittens, listen here, this is the end of the fun, we’re moving deep into the Emmental.” Then I gave them the rental agreement, apartment plan, and house rules to read. They had no objections. At least I felt better now.
Kater Mottek was surprisingly relaxed during the move. After all, he had several contact points in the neighborhood. When things got too much for him, he slept with his velvet-pawed friend Trenches. His sister Heidi, a proven couch potato, found it harder. When her table was carried away with her crib, she moved into the makeshift office to sleep on an upholstered chair. However, from this point on I got the regular reward: In the morning I stepped barefoot into the hallway – and in the middle of a yellow puddle. I had understood!
Outdoor Cats Should Still be Kept Indoors After the Move
A friend offered to transport the cats to the new apartment. On the day of days, she was on call. The transport box was in the hallway along with a snuggly blanket and treats. The tomcat was asleep, so there was no hesitation because he is docile when he oversleeps. It was quickly put into the box. This in turn attracted the curious Heidi. Before she knew it, she was crouched next to her brother in short-term prison. Hardly a peep was heard during the 20-minute drive as if the two were whispering courage.
The room in the new apartment was prepared, but I decided to let the cats look at the whole apartment first. After an hour they had already used the litter box, eaten, and started to clean themselves. A sure sign of your well-being. It is more difficult to keep the tomcat indoors for two or three weeks, as recommended. The constant meow-jau-jau in the evening sounds like: Get out, want out… want out… The neighbors must think we have a vocally untalented toddler.
The cat staircase will soon be delivered, which should enable Mottek to get from the first floor into the picturesque Emmental nature. It is certain that he will find his way out. We’ll see if he finds his way back. Heidi has found a place to sleep on a tower of boxes. No idea what’s in the boxes – but that’s not so important now. meow.