Cat-moving house....

[alfie jones]

We have a 1yr old male cat.Currently we live in a detached house with a garden and the cat comes and goes as he pleases.We're moving to a 1st floor flat. I am worried that this will make him crazy to get out..

He's our little boys cat and would break his and the cats heart to part them as they go everywhere together-Relocation/rehoming therefore not an option! I have been looking at buying a cat scratching/play centre thing to keep him busy..are they a good buy in this case do you think?..thanks in advance! ...very worried!

[Elfin]

Under the circumstances, I agree that the main problem will be your cat getting bored, so investing in some sort of play equipment is a good move.  If your cat is a hunter, he will certainly miss that very much.

I once moved from a house to an upper floor flat and had the same worries, although my cat was a lot older.  He seemed fine indoors, although he used to gaze longingly out of the window.  Then one day he escaped through the front door and found his way down to the outside.  From then on, he always wanted to go out even though this meant negotiating 3 doors and a communal stairwell.  It can work as long as they find a hiding place outside for when dogs appear etc, but it was pretty stressful for me and luckily I ended up moving to a house again not long after that. Other people in the flats had cats though, and they seemed to manage ok.

Your cat is very young, so he may adapt well.

[Englishbird]

obviously i don't know your situation fully, but do you have direct outside access? is it communal entry, is there a garden that goes with the flat.  If you can i think you'll have to try and find a way to let him out.  It depends a lot on the individual cat too - some cats are clever enough to sit by a communal door until someone opens it - some will be content to stay in.  If it's a built up area and there's no way you can let him out, your son is going to have to give him a lot of attention and play with him a lot.  good luck. x

[mrs.pudding]

Like Englishbird, I think that if there is a suitable area outside then, once he is settled, let him explore it.  I've had cats in flats (sound like Dr. Zeus!) on two different occasions and they very quickly fell into a routine of coming and going.  One of them used to spend more time on the roof than in the garden!  If he has to stay in - well would another one for company be an option?

[alfie jones]

thanks all you guys, you've made me feel loads better now! We live in the Isle of Man, and will be moving right on the prom-big beach and huge grassy area close by-there are places for him to go, I was just worried about him coming and going thats all, but hopefully he'll realise where his new access doors are and wait there until I check them!thanks very much to you all..panic over!...(how long should I keep him in until he's got his new smell do you think??)

[mrs.pudding]

He's pretty young so it shouldn't take too long.  Probably about a week or so. Let him get to know the flat before you try.   Just do it gradually, letting him sniff around in the building first perhaps.  And don't feed him before he does go out.  Hunger will be a great incentive for him to come home!  It should all sort itself out.  Good Luck

[Englishbird]

I gave it a couple of weeks before i let mine out after moving - they are 2 years old.  When i did, i was like a mother taking her children to school for the first time - they were fine and i was beside myself!!!!!

When you feed him, even if he's in the house, call his name or rattle the food so that when he goes a wandering he gets used to being called.