Anyone any experience of travelling with cat between two homes?

[CharlieH]

My 6month cat lives indoors with me most of the time and never goes out as I'm in a top floor flat and live near a busy road. My partner lives out of town and my cat has travelled with me twice when he was younger(3 months). He travels well and the second home has two dogs and a cat and he seemed quite happy. We managed to keep him indoors back then as he is was still quite small but now it will be impossible to keep him in. I would love him to go outside in the second place I but concerned that he may get confused and disappear for days. Anyone got any advice, please~?

[ShellyHall]

My Sister lives in Leeds and I live in the Lake District. Whenever she comes to visit (usually a couple of times a month) she brings her two cats. They're just as much at home with my at my house, as they are with her at her house. They've been regular visitors since they were kittens and makes life a lot easier for my Sis when she goes on holiday. In fact this last week they've been staying with me, but they'll go home on Sunday.

I know it's a risk but it can work.

Good luck!

[drgnrdr]

I would recommend keeping him in, he is use to it and he should have excercise and such from you with a stimulating environment. If you let him out he will know how much fun it is to be outside where there are more interesting things to do, of course, if he doesn't get it from his inside world. Also he will be going into another cats territory that already is established, he may get injured by them or any other hazards out there he is not use to, and get confused and not come back to the correct house. Since he is use to the indoors let him stay indoors. It's better for his safety and your peace of mind. I got my cats use to a halter and leash and always took them out where I could make sure they were safe, I always had a tag on them in case of something happening and it had "I belong to drgnrdr please call" with my numbers on it. Good luck....

[WendyS]

We often used to take our cat down to my parents' home in Sussex at week-ends but he was used to having a garden at home too so this may be more difficult for you. I suspect that in the better weather your cat will start to enjoy being outdoors with the opportunity to chase birds and have more stimulation. Try to be outdoors with him while he's out in the garden at first and after a short time, call him back in. Gradually let him stay out longer under supervision. If it comes to "going home" time and he's done a temporary bunk, could your partner look after him until your next visit? The problem, we found, was that on "away" territory, at going home time our cat just enjoyed being out in the dusk and the stubborn little monkey wouldn't come when he was called.(He also recognised the packing up signs, like putting the cat basket & litter tray in the car ready for him!). The only solution to this is to keep him hungry on the day you go home and then he'll respond more willingly to your call. I suspect you may be worrying too much about him disappearing although I understand your fears. Cats are quite territorial, and also a little anxious when on unfamiliar ground, so although he may seem to disappear temporarily he'll probably be lurking under sume bush just out of sight having a quiet look around. and laughing up his sleeve about your anxiety! Make sure he has a familiar place to sleep indoors at your partner's home, and a fixed feeding place for his food bowl and I'm sure he'll be fine and just treat it like his holidays in the country.

[CharlieH]

Thanks for your helpful responses. I'll probably see how he is in the"away' garden under supervision and take it from there. He has a tag with phone numbers just in case he accidently gets out when we are away as he's a fast one. I forgot to mention that I do have the option of taking him out on a leash here as we have an enclosed communual garden in our square which would be perfect. I've stalled taking him out on it until I've had him castrated, which I've just had done. I've practiced with him a few times indoors just to get him use to the harness. I think he would treat the communual garden as a distinct territory to my flat as it would involve a mini trip out. in his box

[tellboy]

In the new home. Keep them in for a while and rub butter on their paws. This Old Wives Tale really works.