Page 3 - Small Talk - September 2012

Basic HTML Version

Cats
Most of the issues that people experience are
related to moving house with cats rather than dogs.
This is due the cat's greater dependence on
environmental factors to feel safe and secure -
in short they have a territory that they know well
and moving them from this requires a period
of adaption.
Before a planned house move it can be very helpful
to get a feline facial pheromone spray (e.g.
Feliway
TM
) to apply to the cat basket. This spray
which mimics the scent that cats rub onto places in
their environment (including their owners) has a
calming effect and is helpful in reducing fear and
stress. If your cat is a particularly nervous traveller
your vet may also be able to prescribe tranquillisers
or anti-nausea drugs to aid the journey.
On moving day it may be prudent to take very
nervous cats to the cattery and collect them when
the worst of the upheaval is over. Other cats
should be carefully confined to one room and
then transported inside a cat carrier inside the car.
Long journeys should be broken to allow food and
water to be taken.
The new house
First of all, if the previous owners have owned
pets, it is the ideal time to spray the house with an
anti-parasite product prior to moving everything
in. We often have to deal with flea problems which
are the result of exposure to an established indoor
population left by the last occupants.
Once you're in we recommend that cats are not
allowed out for a couple of weeks. In fact it can be
helpful to keep the cat confined to one safe room
with familiar furniture for a couple of days. Feliway
TM
also comes as a plug-in diffuser which we
recommend is plugged into a floor level socket in
this room. This gives the cat a safe, familiar smelling
space in their new environment.
Letting cats outside
If your cat is going to be an outdoor cat at the new
home then after a couple of weeks you will need to
make a leap of faith and give them outdoor access.
Be sure your cat is identified, preferably by insertion
of a microchip, and that this identification is up to
date. Gradually introduce your cat to the outside by
opening the door and going out with them - allow
them to explore rather than carrying or forcing
them outside. Cat flaps with integral microchip
readers are available and can be installed to
prevent other local cats gaining access. Other
local cats that stray into your garden should
be chased off to help your cat to reinforce
their territory.
For further advice visit the feline advisory
bureau website
(www.fabcats.org)
Dogs
By their nature dogs are more used to moving
about and tend to take more comfort from a
stable relationship with their owner than from a
strong territorial bond to a place. However some
stress is likely even with the smoothest of
house moves. With nervous dogs it may be
prudent to keep them away from the house
during packing. Some dogs also benefit
from wearing a dog appeasing pheromone
collar (Adaptil
TM
) during the period of
settling in to their new house. Make sure
your dog is well identified with a
collar and microchip in
case they stray during the
settling in process.
Moving house
with your
Pet!
by
John Watson
BVetMed MRCVS
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic