Cat owners: your advice please!

Willem Fick · 06-01-2009, 12:04 AM

My wife and I own a cat, that is about a year old. We live out of town, but both work in the city, so recently decided to acquire an apartment nearer to where we work. The idea is that we will live in this apartment during the week, and then head out to the "country house" every weekend.

Problem is the cat.

We can't leave her at her "other" home during the week, so will need to get her accustomed to travel, as well as being cooped up in the apartment for the first few days. How do we go about this?

jhynesrockmtn · 06-01-2009, 06:15 AM

Patient practice. Some cats are ok with car trips, my old one on the other hand had stuff coming out of both ends before getting out of the driveway. Sedatives were the only answer.

mossguy · 06-01-2009, 06:21 AM

Has your cat been an "outside cat"?

Best,
Tom

Zeke · 06-01-2009, 06:25 AM

You might consider a cage like the one you may use for the trip to the vet. Leave the cage out and open for the cat to explore for a week or so occasionally locking the door. Take the cage out to the car and back inside. Try to make it a playful thing.

At the new apt, you will have to do some more acclimating.

Some cats ride in cars better than others. My ex used to take hers to NorCal at least once a month by car. I never heard what her boyfriend thought of that, but they are no longer together.
But, I digress.

Willem Fick · 06-01-2009, 06:29 AM

Hi Tom, Jerry (the irony here just kills me!)

For the journeys themselves I though to use sedatives initially, but am hoping she will get used to the car in due course. My primary concern is if it is possible to switch between residences that often with a cat, as I know they are quite sensitive and typically need to acclimatize to new surroundings.

She is allowed to roam freely, but spends most of her day indoors, even with the option of going out whenever she wants. She usually dashes out first thing in the morning, and then again late afternoon.

Might just want to point out that ultimately we would like to have the same sort of "arrangement" with her at both homes if possible!

Willem Fick · 06-01-2009, 06:45 AM

Thanks Milt,

I have the box ticked in as far as leaving the carrier around is concerned. She wants nothing to do with it, and not even a treat gets her to investigate the inside. It is early days yet, and I am hoping she will get used to it, given your advice!

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

cats don't travel well

As a kid we had one travel between homes, it escaped, never saw it back again
Either leave it in the appartment during weekends, or let it live la vida loca in the country house as an outdoors cat...

BLEW911 · 06-01-2009, 07:30 AM

Our cat was terrified of the cat carrier.Even when scrufed by the neck it was a major ordeal fighting her into it. Persistence has paid off. Now we take her with us in the camper. She even has her own cupboard.They just need to aclimate.

Don

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06-01-2009, 07:52 AM

I assume you have not taken the cat on a car ride since you got her. How did she act the first time out? Our cat HATES being in the carrier but if you just carry her out and set her down in the car she is just fine. She even rode very well for 18 hours. I had a litter box and food/water set out in the car for her. She slept on my shoulder and on top of the bunny cage when not waving at people in other vehicles. (I have a strange cat...)

Make sure you have her bed and food and water dishes with you at both places. I would NOT Let the cat out at the apartments! Very bad idea.

Some cats NEVER adjust. Some do well. It is with the cat.

vash · vash's Garage

i know a few cats that travel well. like dogs. i dont have one.

but my cat will switch residences perfectly. mine goes from my MIL's back to us regularly for various reasons. zero issues. the ride in between is a meowing piss fest. not so pretty.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Sounds like you just have to try it.

I'd bring some of the cat's toys along as well as a few blankets and towels and things so that there are some objects with the scent of the environment she's used to at the new place. As far as the actual traveling goes, some cats do better than others. I had one that was fine going in the car until you were stopped (at a light or stop sign), then she'd go nuts. Once I started moving again she'd calm right down and be fine again. You just have to figure them out - no way to tell in advance how they'll do. A carrier helps, as does having some treats and things in the car. If the trip is long, make sure they use the litter box before getting in the car and/or have somewhere they can go in their carrier or car somewhere in case nature calls...

Once at the new place, I'd get a large cardboard box, lay it on its side (open end facing horizontal so the cat can get in/out) and put her blankets and stuff in there. She'll feel protected and probably hide in there a lot until she gets curious about the new environment. Put the litter box nearby and the food/water dishes close by to the box (remember to keep the food far enough away from the litter box where it doesn't discourage her from eating or drinking - cats don't eat near where they do their business!). If you can put all this stuff in one room with the door closed it'll probably help (keep her environment "small" to start with until the curiosity kicks in)

Be patient with her. Cats are territorial and creaturs of habit. I'm sure you or I wouldn't react to being picked up by someone 20x our size, shoved in a box and plopped down in a new, unfamiliar environment with unknown threats... But eventually she'll adapt. It'll take time though. Best of luck.

kycarguy 935 · 06-01-2009, 09:14 AM

A few years ago my sister passed away and her cat was about 16 years old. We figured a cat that age would be put down and I couldn't stand that. I drove from California to Kentucky with my sisters cat in a pet cage and let her out in the evening. I gave her water if she wanted any during the stop breaks. She did really well.

On the other hand I have a 3 year old cat and he doesn't do well traveling at all. He gets car sick really fast. I don't think I could move him on the weekends like you are planning with your cat.

Like others have said you may have to try it to see how well he travels.

Good luck.

madmmac · madmmac's Garage

Move and then leave the cat at the apartment.

The 2 days you are gone on the weekend will be their best 2 days of the week for the cat. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat, $hit, sleep....repeat. The cat will love it.

m21sniper · 06-01-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmmac

move and then leave the cat at the apartment.

The 2 days you are gone on the weekend will be their best 2 days of the week for the cat. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat, $hit, sleep....repeat. The cat will love it.

+1

pwd72s · 06-01-2009, 11:14 AM

Every cat we've had was a distict individual, with likes and dislikes. We had one that loved riding in my pickemup...others hate being in a car.

Switching from one location to another may be difficult. Cats seems to imprint on location, don't enjoy the unfamiliar.

But really, it all depends on the individual cat. Whatever you do, make sure it is thoroughy imprinted on it's new home. If not, it will leave, go looking for it's old one.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmmac

Move and then leave the cat at the apartment.

The 2 days you are gone on the weekend will be their best 2 days of the week for the cat. Sleep, eat, sleep, eat, $hit, sleep....repeat. The cat will love it.

sometimes, humans complicate the solution. this is brilliant!

aigel · aigel's Garage

Put an auto cat feeder out in the country home and leave the cat there. This is what my cat would prefer. He's rather by himself than getting lugged around. There are exceptions to this, but the majority of cats would rather trade owners than locations.

George