What to do if a cat runs away while you are moving?

Cats are known for being great escape artists, so just imagine what it’s like when the house is turned upside-down and is no longer the peaceful, routine environment that they prefer. Whether it’s because they are scared or want to avoid the stress, or simply that there are so many more open doors and opportunities for escape, cats are notorious for disappearing during moves.

Precautionary measures

Here's what you can do to prevent your cat from running away on moving day.

Confine your cat to a room

The simplest and safest solution is to put your cat in the bathroom. Since the bathroom is often emptied ahead of time and has no real furniture (any furniture that belongs in the bathroom can be placed there before or after the movers have completed their work), it involves very little activity. It is therefore a quiet space for cats, cut off from boisterous friends and noisy movers.

It is, however, very important to put a sign on the door that says Please do not let the cat out! and to warn anyone who might use the bathroom. The sign on the bathroom door is really important because people quickly forget that there’s a cat in there, even if you’ve warned them.

Your cat should end off in the bathroom of your old home and start off in the bathroom of your new home. Also, keep it in its carrier during the move. In fact, when travelling in car, a cat should remain in its carrier at all time to ensure its safety and peace of mind. It’s better to listen to the cat meow during the entire trip than lose it!

Take your cat to a boarding facility

Bring your cat the day before the move and then back to its new home once the move is over. However, you should consider this option only if the bathroom option is unworkable or too risky for the cat, because it forces the cat to get used to two different places (the facility and the new home) in a very short time. This is a major challenge for a cat, whose environment is incredibly important, and can cause a great deal of stress, depending on the cat’s personality.

Ask someone you trust to cat sit

If possible, ask a friend or family member to cat sit during the move. Try choosing a home without any other animals. If that’s not possible, be sure that your cat avoids contact with other animals. Since your cat will be in that environment for only a few hours or days, it is senseless to make the cat go through the stress of cohabitation in an unknown.

What to do if your cat runs away?

If your cat runs away from your old home, it is more likely to return once the moving truck has left. The situation becomes more complicated, however, if the cat runs away from your new home, since it may be more difficult for the cat to find its way back to a house that it is unfamiliar with.

Find your cat

Don't panic. By taking these simple steps, you'll have a better chance of finding it.

• Post a photo and description of your pet on social media, on your personal profile and in groups dedicated to lost and found pets. You can also post on lost and found pet directories like PawBoost. Don't forget to notify the SPCAs and animal shelters that serve your address.
• Print posters with a color photo and a detailed description of your pet (size, microchip, special physical feature, nickname it answers to, etc.), as well as your phone number. Have them laminated to protect them from the rain. Distribute them in your neighborhood and post them on street corners near the last place your pet was seen. Also leave them at veterinary clinics, pet shops, dog parks, convenience stores and local grocery stores.
• Meet your neighbors and let them know you've lost your cat. They'll be able to keep an eye out for you.
• Actively search your neighborhood at different times of the day, calling in a cheerful tone. A frightened cat will be more likely to respond to your voice when things are calm and quiet, at dawn or in the early evening. Repeat your calls regularly. If it's dark, walk around with a flashlight and check garages, sheds and under balconies. The light will be reflected by its eyes if it's hidden. Pay particular attention to areas where renovations are taking place.
• Leave his litter box outside, out of the rain, and scatter soiled litter around your property, in bushes, etc. The familiar scent will attract it. As an added scent, you can also put unwashed bed sheets on the clothesline. This is especially important as your cat is not yet familiar with the area.

Finally, remember that microchipping and the ID tag (Mondou offers free in-store engraving) are the best ways to find your pet in case it runs away. So it's important to use both methods of identification, and to register your pet with your local municipality.

And above all, don't give up hope: it's not unusual for cats to be found even after they've been missing for weeks!