Moving house – is my cat struggling?

Hi there, Your cat is most likely just unsettled by his new surroundings, which is very common. This adjustment period could last several days, or even a few weeks if he’s the type of cat who struggles to adapt. To help him settle, try to keep things as consistent as possible for now: stick to the same food and don’t introduce any other new pets just yet. It’s best to avoid stressing him out too much—getting his favourite wet food is a great idea, and you can use toys he’s already fond of. I’d suggest leaving him in his hiding spot for now; if you try to pull him out, he might feel even more threatened, which will only add to his stress. Since he’s been there less than 24 hours, give him a bit more time to see if he starts eating or using his tray. However, he shouldn't go without using the litter tray for more than 24 to 36 hours. Make sure his tray and bowl are in places he feels comfortable (if he comes out, you'll see where he heads, or you can base it on where he was exploring in the flat last night). You can also try cleaning the tray with a bit of bleach to attract him to it, as cats often like that smell. For now, try putting his litter and food near his hiding spot—just not too close to each other, as cats don't like to eat right next to where they go to the toilet. Also, regarding the Feliway diffuser, if it's been plugged in since he arrived, he might not be sensitive to it if this is the first time you're using one. If he won't come out, try unplugging it, as the scent might actually be unfamiliar to him. To sum up, moving house is often very stressful for a cat, especially as he’s only just arrived. Keep a close eye on how he’s doing, particularly his eating and toilet habits. If he hasn't eaten or passed urine by this evening, you'll need to coax him out of his hiding spot or contact a vet. Hope this helps, and have a good day! Great to have a future vet helping out! :)

Hello, Your cat is most likely just unsettled by his new surroundings, which is very common. This might last for a few days, or even a couple of weeks if he’s the type of cat who finds it hard to adapt. To help him out, try to keep things as consistent as possible for now: stick to the same diet and don’t introduce any new pets just yet, for example. It’s also best to avoid stressing him out; giving him his favourite wet food is a good idea, and you can use toys he already likes. I’d suggest not trying to coax him out of his hiding spot for the time being, as he might feel even more threatened, which will just add to his stress. Since he’s been there for less than 24 hours, give it a few more hours to see if he’s using his litter tray or eating properly. However, he shouldn't go more than 24 to 36 hours without using his tray. Make sure his litter tray and bowls are in places he feels comfortable (if he comes out, you'll see where he goes, or you can go by where he was hanging out last night). You can also try cleaning the litter tray with a bit of bleach to attract him to it, as cats often love the smell. For now, try putting his tray and food bowl near his hiding spot—but not too close to each other, as cats don’t like to eat too close to where they go to the toilet. Also, if you've got a Feliway diffuser plugged in, he might not be sensitive to it if it's the first time you've used one. If he isn't coming out, you could try unplugging it in case it's just another unfamiliar smell for him. In short, moving house is often very stressful for a cat, especially since he hasn’t been there long. Keep a close eye on the situation, particularly regarding his eating and toilet habits. If he hasn’t eaten or used his tray by this evening, you’ll need to get him out of his hiding spot or contact a vet. Hope this helps, and have a good day.

Hi there, Moving house is often really stressful for a cat. Some settle in very quickly, but others need a bit more time (a bit like when they're first adopted). Your cat has explored the flat and started to get used to things, but with all the stress and excitement, he's probably feeling a bit worn out (if you heard him moving around during the night, he likely didn't get much sleep). In my opinion, he's just picked the spot that feels safest for him to have a rest and recover from everything. My Jude, who’s a bit of a scaredy-cat by nature, has a "safe" hiding spot under our sofa. When someone new visits or she's scared of something, she hides under there because she knows no one can get to her. At first, she took all her naps under there because that's where she felt most secure. I think the best thing to do is not to force him to come out. You can talk to him softly; since he knows your voice, it'll reassure him. Go and check on him regularly without trying to force him out. He'll come out when he's ready to carry on exploring. If he's a playful cat, you could try tempting him out with some toys. As for him not eating since last night, it’s not a huge deal (as long as it doesn't go on much longer...), and if he hasn't eaten or drunk anything, it's normal that he hasn't used the litter tray. You could put his bowls right near his hiding spot for now so he can eat while still feeling safe. Regarding the litter tray, you should put it fairly close by (but not right next to his bowls). I reckon he'll come out again tonight (there’s usually less noise and movement, so it's less stressful for a cat).

First off, to sort out the food issue, you could try putting her bowl or plate right in front of her hiding spot so she can eat. If she still doesn't eat after that, give the vet a ring and they'll give you some advice!

Behind the kitchen, there’s a gap where the washing machine is supposed to go (it hasn’t been delivered yet, so the space is empty) and he’s right at the back.

Can you describe the spot where he’s hiding? Otherwise, maybe grab a stick or the end of a broom and try to nudge him out, but I’m not really sure as I can't quite picture the situation. He must be feeling very threatened.