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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

628.0. "Moving cats to a new house" by BISTRO::GEOFF (LEF - Libert�, Egalit�, Fraternit�) Thu Jun 18 1987 08:32

Let me tell you a story.  When we moved down to Valbonne from Geneva 
two years ago we were immediately adopted by two female wild kittens 
which appeared magically from out of the forest opposite our new house. 

We named both cats Reglisse and Caramel and I think they they are a cross
between siamese and ordinary tabby.  They remained somewhat wild, but
frequented the house for food and some affection, but always kept their
distance and didn't like being picked up. 

Last week we moved house to a place which is about 15 kilometers away.
After the removal we moved the cats too, via travelling boxes and took 
great care to let them out in the kitchen in surroundings with which they 
are familiar. 

Upon removal from the boxes the cats panicked and ran around the kitchen
until we placed some food down for them.  Afterwards, we allowed them to
go into the garden.  They were completed confused and elected to return
back into the house (which is most unusual) where they remained until the
evening when we put them out. 

First one disappeared, then the other decided to leave and hasn't been 
seen since.  The first one came back after a couple of days.  I suspect 
that the second may be trying to make her way back to the old house. 

Geoff.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
628.1Cats Are "Survivors"TSG::MCGOVERNSzechuan VanillaThu Jun 18 1987 13:3410
    Cats aren't dumb. 
    
    I have had several cats who, when they roamed for the first time,
    were gone for up to 10 days.  They all came back.
    
    I wouldn't worry for quite a while, but I  would alert the occupants
    of the other house and ask them to keep an eye out for the cat(s).
    
    Not to worry...I'll bet it comes back tired out from the party, but
    otherwise all right.
628.2Moving cats to a new home.EUCLID::FRASERAndy Fraser, PAG.Thu Jun 18 1987 15:1613
        An old  trick  that has worked for me on every move is to set
        the cat(s) down  on  some clothing that you've just taken off
        as soon as you  arrive,  and  thoroughly  butter their paws -
        literally rub some butter on  each  paw,  top and pads, front
        and back, close the door and leave them  alone  to  wash  for
        about 30 minutes or so.  The theory  is that having washed in
        the new place with a  familiar  scent  surrounding  them from
        your clothes, the nervousness and apprehension  is  forgotten
        with the need to get the paws clean, besides which, most cats
        *love* butter anyway and will thank you for the 'treat'!! :^)
        
        FWIW
        Andy
628.3MovingCSC32::JOHNSMy chocolate, all mine!Mon Jul 06 1987 19:369
    I know this is old for this person, but when we move we keep our
    cats indoors for about a week before letting them out.  Someone
    once told me that cats need to get the "smell" of a place first,
    so they don't get lost.  If you find your cats back at the old place,
    you may want to keep them inside a few days before letting them
    out again, and see if that helps.
    
    Keep us updated.
                             Carol
628.4Kitty's returnBISTRO::GEOFFI can resist anything but temptationTue Jul 07 1987 09:447
Both cats are "permanently" back in the fold.  One of them, after being
away for over six days, returned thin and bedraggled and is now appreciative
of her new home.  They seem to be more "at home" in the house now, whereas
before they liked being outside all the time.  The move has definitely
had an effect on them.

Geoff.
628.5Arkansas->MichiganCSC32::JOHNSMy chocolate, all mine!Mon Jul 13 1987 16:0514
    So glad things worked out for you!
    
    There was an article in the paper yesterday about a family who moved
    for the summer to Arkansas (from Michigan), and took their cat with
    them.  They let him outside immediately, and he went back to Michigan!
    The owner said, "Gee, we knew we should keep a cat indoors a few
    days after a move, but he made such a racket".  Luckily, after 7
    months, he found his way back to their Michigan home and their
    neighbors called them.
    
    Does anyone know (really *know*) why cats need that time?  My folks
    taught me that it helped them get the smell of the place.  (?)

                                      Carol