So, I've just moved house for uni. I moved out of my mum's quiet flat where there were other pets, and now I'm in a flat on a busy main road with just my little cat. The thing is, she really doesn't seem to be settling into the new situation. During the day it's mostly fine, she's cuddly and I take her out on a lead in my little courtyard (since she's not settled in the flat yet, I'm terrified she won't come back or might get run over). But at night, she hardly sleeps at all and just meows constantly (before, she used to sleep with me almost the whole night). She gets all freaked out, trying to find a way to get out and meowing non-stop. I've tried to soothe her with loads of cuddles but she's just not having it (her tail flicks a lot like when she's playing, but as soon as she hears a noise, she seems really scared). I don't know what to do anymore – pheromone diffusers aren't really in my budget. Is it just that she needs time to adjust? Does she miss the other animals? Is it because she doesn't have free access to the outside? (We always had a window open before, but she hardly ever actually went out). If you have any advice, I'm all ears – the nights are feeling very long at the moment.
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Hi there,
I need some help. I moved into a flat with a garden two weeks ago. Before that, we were in a flat with a balcony. I’m scared to let my cat out in case he doesn't come back. He's already trying to jump over to the neighbour's, and he spends the whole night meowing.
What should I do? Any advice please?
🙂
I think she’s starting to settle into her new home; at any rate, she hardly meowed at all last night and seems much more relaxed (she isn’t hiding under my bed anymore). I even left the front door open today so she could go out as she pleased, but the noise outside still scares her too much. So, I think we’re heading in the right direction!
I think she’s starting to settle into her new home; at any rate, she hardly meowed at all last night and seems much more relaxed (she isn’t hiding under my bed anymore). I even left the front door open today so she could go out as she pleased, but the noise outside still scares her too much. So, I think we’re heading in the right direction!
Hi there,
Since the move is still quite recent, it seems perfectly normal that your cat is still a bit unsettled by the change of home. It’s understandable, as cats are very attached to their surroundings and their routines. The best approach would be to:
- Stick to the same routine (keep feeding times exactly the same, etc.).
- Don't hesitate to use a blanket that smells of his old companions (and/or an old piece of clothing belonging to your mum) and leave it out for him; this might help him settle in.
- Try to get him used to noises, whether they are coming from inside or outside.
- At night, it might be your "absence" that’s making him so chatty. Have you tried leaving a light on in one of the rooms? Or playing a recording of everyday household sounds so he has a familiar background noise during the night? My cat tends to be very vocal at night. In his case, it was the closed doors that bothered him, so leaving them open really helped. He just needed visual contact with us. There might be something your little one is missing at night during this stressful period.
- The main goal is to get him to relax. You can get calming pheromone diffusers or sprays for cats (like Feliway). You could also try products like Zylkène, which are well-known for helping pets relax; they’re often used ahead of a trip. It’s also a good idea to enrich his environment with plenty of things to keep him busy when you're not around: battery-operated toys, puzzle feeders, high shelves or platforms to climb on...
- Don't forget to use positive reinforcement: when he stays calm at night, have some treats ready and reward him to show him that the night-time isn't so scary.
Good luck.
Mélissa – Veterinary Student at the Alfort National Veterinary School (EnvA)
Project Manager for ProVéto Junior Conseil, the EnvA Student Consulting Association
http://proveto.net/
In my view, until she’s properly settled into her new territory, she might well try to run away and head back to your mum’s. It’s been known to happen; some cats have travelled dozens or even hundreds of miles to find their way back to their old home after moving house.
I’ve got a courtyard where she could go out, but I’d like her to be settled into the flat first because the yard opens onto the road and I’m worried she won’t come back.
The move was only a week ago so it's all still very new, but the fact that she's "relaxed" during the day but not at night worries me. I suppose I'll just try to give it some time and see how she settles in.
The move was only a week ago so it's all still very new, but the fact that she's "relaxed" during the day but not at night worries me. I suppose I'll just try to give it some time and see how she settles in.
You have to remember that cats are very territorial and very attached to their surroundings. If just changing the decorating can upset them (like painting a wall a different colour or replacing the sofa), imagine the stress a cat feels after a house move. It's a new environment, she's now on her own without her human companions (your mum) and the other animals she was used to, plus all those new noises that weren't in the old flat, if I've understood correctly. It's a lot of change for her. She needs time to find her feet and get into a new routine, and how long that takes depends on her personality. It could be several weeks or even months. Time really is the best healer here.
If it carries on, don't hesitate to have a word with your vet. It might be that she doesn't get used to being alone and needs a playmate, but you'll see how things go with time.
Just from my own experience, I moved house twice with my cats in a short space of time. When my ex and I split up and I had to move out of his flat, I ended up at my mum’s while I looked for a new place. I had the cats with me, of course—all three of them—as there was no way I was giving them up or separating them, since they’ve become so close. They were already unsettled moving into a new house with a new human, and especially a resident cat who didn't exactly welcome the three intruders with open arms. They were constantly under my feet, even more than usual, as if they needed constant reassurance. I found a place and moved again a month later, into a flat that was smaller than the previous one and much noisier too. It took them a while to find their feet again, to stop jumping and being on edge every time they heard a door, the upstairs neighbour's footsteps, or someone in the hallway. They were also meowing at night—proper "crying" meows—they stopped playing like they used to, and sometimes they even had accidents right next to the litter tray, spending most of their time sleeping. But everything settled down after about a month and a half or two; I think the fact they stayed together really helped them.
Hi there,
I think if she still hasn't settled in within a week, the best thing for her would be to leave her at your mum's. It’s better that she’s able to go outside like she used to, even if she doesn't get on with the other cat, rather than being kept cooped up indoors...
Unless you can let her out in a few days? I wasn't quite sure if that was the plan or not...
If it is, then maybe once she's had a look around her new territory she'll settle back into her old routine and only go out a bit. On the other hand, she might go out much more because she feels better being on her own, or she might still be unhappy because the real problem is not having any cat mates anymore, even if they did use to squabble...
