Cat moving to the garage...

[AngelofTroy]

We are moving house this weekend and because the downstairs is open plan, the cat will have to go out when we're not home and at night because he'll be all over the kitchen otherwise. He'll be allowed to come in when we're home which is a lot.

We've set up a space for him to shelter in the out building (a brick storage shed half the size of a garage) at the bottom of the garden. It has an old piece carpet down, his igloo style bed, food and water and in the other end of shed a litter tray until he's happy to go outside. The door has a glass panel and we're installing a cat flap so he can go in and out as he pleases.

He has gone in and out of our current house via a small bathroom window but he's never used a cat flap before (he's 4) and he's always come in at night.

I'm worried that he won't adjust well and I can see him being confused by the cat flap!

Has anyone got any advice to make the transition easier for him? Please nobody tell me it's cruel, I feel bad already but it's the only way it can work, and I know a lot of cats who choose to go out at night, ours just hasn't had the choice before as we close windows at night.

Anyone train an older cat to use a cat flap?

Thank you.

 

[VikkiD]

Hi hun last year we renovated the house we moved into and we made it open plan we have 3 cats and the work couldn't be carried out whilst they were staying in the house so we bought a large wooden children's play house with windows and a door we insulated for winter and put a cat flap in. The cats at first wanted to come in but with in a couple of days they used the shed. I put in carpet beds and a huge cat post. I also feed them in there. They love it that much that they have chose not to come back inside and now live it it. During the winter months I have give them heat pads what u put in the microwave
please don't feel bad I did but I know realise that they must be happy else they would come in. As long as it's dry and draught free he will be fine hun

 

[VikkiD]

Also how old is your cat mine had never used a cat flap they are 9, 8 and 5 and 2 are persian cats as well.

 

[AngelofTroy]

Thank you so much! It's really eased my guilt that yours have chosen to stay there! Microwave pads sound like a great idea may I ask where you got them? Our cat is 4, her a crossbreed, his mum is a common tabby, but he looks like this:
https://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/Melon1687/IMG_20130310_203657_zpsd4065f9b.jpg

So I don't know what his dad was but he probably wasn't meant to be out shacking up with the locals!

 

[VikkiD]

Wow beautiful cat he looks a bit like a birman or a bit or Ragdoll in him with those eyes. I have a Mr jinx cat from meet the parents. Are you in the UK? I got my pads from amazon but I know pets at home do them as well. The summer was great for them to be outside I was a bit worried about the cooler temps but even when it snowed last week they wanted be out in it rather than on their heatpads

 

[loeylo]

I know you asked people not to say it was cruel, but I'm just a bit confused as to why you got a cat to only let in when you are in? A pet is supposed to be mutually beneficial and the only one benefitting from this arrangement, not the poor cat :s

We have a cat, she is 21 now an we moved house twice with her. She never used a cat flap but she definitely adapted to the new houses quite quickly. You also are not supposed to let a cat outside in a new house for several weeks as they can try to go back to their old house.
Our cat was often gone for days on end when she was younger, she loves being outside and still won't use a litter tray so the inside period was tough, but it definitely helped her settle in new houses.

 

[tallybee]

^ yes I would be careful about letting him out for a good while after moving. It was a bit of a nightmare after we moved as the cats were all used to going out but didn't want to risk them trying to make their way back to the old house, too dangerous for them. We have 5 and they spend time in and out but they choose when to come in/out. They do get all over the kitchen but it's just a case of wiping down the surfaces with antibacterial before food prep, and putting all food away as anything left out would get pinched

 

[AngelofTroy]

I know you asked people not to say it was cruel, but I'm just a bit confused as to why you got a cat to only let in when you are in? A pet is supposed to be mutually beneficial and the only one benefitting from this arrangement, not the poor cat :s

We have a cat, she is 21 now an we moved house twice with her. She never used a cat flap but she definitely adapted to the new houses quite quickly. You also are not supposed to let a cat outside in a new house for several weeks as they can try to go back to their old house.
Our cat was often gone for days on end when she was younger, she loves being outside and still won't use a litter tray so the inside period was tough, but it definitely helped her settle in new houses.

To be fair our cat doesn't really like people! I think he'll be happier.

 

[VikkiD]

My cats love it outside as well hun we back on to a field with a couple of horses in. Before they lived in there cat shed as I call it they did sleep inside as we had no cat flap and I did keep them inside for around 2 weeks until one of the escaped through the windows but he was fine

 

[Bittersweet]

Your cat will definitely adjust hun. You should try and keep him in for at least 3 weeks when you move as cats need that time to get used to the smell mine can go outdoor but they choose to mostly be inside and j just wipe the kitchen surfaces with anti bac lots x