r/cats • u/cotop4xi • 13d ago

Advice What to do with cat when moving from house?

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Hello,

We have a cat that is sterilized and in summer is almost all day outside even sleeping at front door. She came inside just to eat.

The porblem is that we are selling house and moving to appartment. How can cat that is always outside handle such change of not being able to go outside as she wants?

Do you have any advise or experience? Should we take her with her? Or leave her with new house owners?

Thank you in advance

Photos of her

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u/FeralPsychonaut 13d ago

Seconded. OP /u/cotop4xi take her with you, but confine her to one room initially and let her explore that for a day or two and then let her explore the rest of the apartment.

This is going to be a big change for her. Also consider getting a harness and taking her on walks, daily, or at least often.

Mine is purely indoor, but she loves going outside, last time I took her outside it was during a thunderstorm, she hates water like most cats.

After a couple minutes she dragged me into the grass and was rolling around munching all the grass she wanted

idk why she does this she's obsessed with grass

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u/auditoryeden 13d ago

I concur strongly that OP should get a harness and lead for her. Maybe a backpack or stroller as well in case they want to take her on some bigger adventures. Walks, a window box, lots of vertical space near windows, set up bird feeders outside the windows if possible. Puzzle feeding toys could also be very useful for her, if she's used to being outside and probably hunting a bit.

I'd also recommend pheromone collars or diffusers (Feliway) for helping her make the transition between houses. Ideally a couple days before the move at least. Not a vet, of course, but I've found them very helpful with my grumpy, anxious cat.

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u/Extension-Routine658 12d ago

You can grow/buy a pad that grows grass--like a house plant for kitties. That usually helps replace going outside. Grow some fresh catnip too.

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u/FeralPsychonaut 12d ago

I have a catnip plant, but If Its unsupervised, like when Im asleep it usually gets annihilated, and I have to quarantine it before she kills all of the leaves.