Should I move my anxious cat immediately or wait to settle in?

Great questions! Given that Benny has severe travel anxiety, it would be best for you and him to move in first so that he can get used to his new place. Then your best friend and boyfriend should move it with their dog. I can give you a method for introducing them to each other: Introducing them should be done slowly. When they first bring their dog home, I would keep them in rooms separated by a door. This way, they can get used to the smells and sounds of each other without contact. Make sure Benny has a litter box, food, and water in his room. You can also place a blanket with the dog's smell in the cat's room, and a blanket with the cat's smell in the dog's room. I would also consider get a Feliway for your cat and a DAP for the dog. These are pheromone diffusers that help with anxiety and should also help ease the transition. Once both pets seem relaxed with the current situation, swap rooms placing Benny in the dog's room and vice versa. You can do this switch several times over the course of the introductions. Once they are both comfortable with the smells of each other, it's time for them to meet face to face. I would introduce the dog on a leash to Benny while he is in a cat carrier or on the other side of a baby gate. Reward the dog for being calm and quiet near the cat. Once they seem comfortable with each other, the baby gate can be taken away. Make sure Benny has a cat tree where he can escape from the dog as needed, and don't allow the dog to chase Benny. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hi there, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I would decide based on how bonded Cinder is with the other cats, and what would cause the least amount of stress for her. If she is not particularly bonded with the other two cats, then it could be best to move her first and let her scope out the new house while it's still quiet. However, if she is bonded with one or both of the other cats then it's best to move them at the same time so she doesn't suffer additional stress from being separated. I also recommend using Feliway Classic diffusers in the new house for the first several months (you may need several diffusers to permeate the whole house, depending on the layout) to help decrease the cat's stress. Finally, I would add that if you still have a lot of general moving to do (if your boyfriend is moving in first and so there will be several weeks to months of boxes and "stuff" getting moved around) then I'd wait to move the cats. Changing the layout of the house causes additional stress, so it's best to have the new house as put together as possible before adding the cats. Hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! I would ask your Veterinarian for an oral sedative for you to give 2 hours before travel. I would use the Feliway spray in his carriage. Once you arrive at your new home, he should be kept in a room by himself away from the other animals for a week then use a baby gate at the door for the him to see and greet the other cat and dog. Do that for a week, then remove the gate. be sure he has access to this room to run away if he needs to. This room can be your bedroom. Use the Feliway diffuser in this room. If there is aggression between the cats use the Feliway Multicat I wish you the best! https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37241 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37240 https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37242

You can do this, but bring things that smell like Jax's home with you each week so he has a familiar scent. Since it's temporary for now, keep him in his own room with his own food, water, and litter box. This will make it less stressful for him. Once you move in together full time, start introducing him slowly to the other cats and the rest of the home. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend you move in first and get used to the new place before you get the cat. This will help bring everything inside before getting the cat as cats tend to get very stressed when there is a lot of movement or noise in their in new environments. Perhaps wait 1-2 months before you get a cat. Good luck and have a great day!

Hi there! Let me see if I can give you some advice about Graham. Cats can be very sensitive to new environments, and Graham seems to be no exception. I would really let him settle in for a while, maybe about a month or two, especially if he is going to go outside. Since he is an indoor/outdoor cat, he will probably let you know when he is ready to start going outside again, by going to the windows or doors. I also recommend Rescue Remedy for cats that have anxiety in general. It seems to really help alleviate their stress. You can purchase the Rescue Remedy on line. It is a supplement you can add to the water or to the canned food. I think it works really well. The supplement may help Graham get comfortable in his new home, and if it seems to help, since he is sensitive in general to people and sounds, he may benefit from being on it lifelong. Another supplement you can try too is, Feliway. Feliway comes in a spray form as well as in diffusers you can plug in around the home. This supplement can also be purchased on line. It is important to keep cats from being too stressed, as it can cause health issues for them like urinary bladder inflammation, for example. I would definitely give the supplements a try, and as I mentioned, give Graham a month or two, or as long as he seems to need to get settled into his new environment. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

Personally, I would wait on the new cat until your older cat has gotten used to the house. A move is a very stressful event, and adding a new cat to the mix may be even MORE stressful for Jazzy, which could lead to behavioral or health issues. Once used to the new house, you can then try introducing a new cat. Having some things such as extra litter, food, water, bedding and places to hide as well as pheromone diffusers that diffuse calming pheromones can help ease the transition once you do add a new cat.