Is it true cat or animals in general act strange when families are moving?
By Bella75
@nixxi76 (3191)
Canada
November 26, 2008 10:44pm CST
During our move I think my cat felt that something was changing. It's not that he was acting any differently but probably noticed what was happening? Although I did notice he was trying to dash out the door everytime we had it opened but other than that ... nothing much was odd.
I had a friend stay over to help me pack and move the next day.. not that I didn't do much packing before that. I spent two or more weeks preparing the move so it wouldn't be a last minute thing. Just pretty much lots of odds and ends which is my least favorite part of moving.
It was our last night to sleep in the old place and the next day when we all woke up, my cat was nowhere to be found. We spent all day back and fourth from the old house to the new and everytime we came back to the old place to get another load, we would spend quite sometime searching for my cat and still nothing.
Later my friend told me that the last night we spent in the old house she could hear a cat hissing and growling but didn't get up to check. The rest of my family did not hear a thing. She said that she just thought the cat was in my room playing, or maybe found a mouse.
Now what I am thinking is that my cat snuck outside when someone opened the door but my hubby thinks that the cat may have crawled down a heating duct and suffocated because we searched and searched everywhere!
What I"m really upset with is that my friend didn't get up to check the cat or come and get us to tell us that she heard the cat hissing.
As soon as I got my new phone hooked up I called all the animal shelters and hospitals, vets and so on and even placed an ad online and in a paper to return my cat!So is it true? Do animals act strange when families are moving?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@morningstar369 (495)
• United States
27 Nov 08
Yes it is true, cats and dogs are known to do some pretty strange things when the packing starts. They usually know something is up long before we make it obvious. When I move to a new house I put the cats in a room I am sure them can't get out of and put familiar things in the room with them. Cat boxes of course food bowls, sleeping bed or boxes with their favorite blanket. I make it as homey as possible for them to adjust. I keep them inside for a month or more to make sure they know this is home. Cats and dogs have been known to travel thousands of miles to get back to the old home. It's best to take the time to let them know the new place is home, I can't stress this enough.
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
29 Nov 08
Once in awhile I will actually go to our old house just to see if he will be wondering around the yard but I haven't been that lucky to find him. Days like today, on a Saturday when I'm off work for the weekend and have no money to go anywhere, I could really use the company of my cat. I really don't want to replace him with another because it's just his company I want. Mind you replacing him is completely out of the question because I"m still greiving and I know it's going to take more time than I thought. I think the reason for this is there's no closure. I still don't know if he's alive or not even though I hate thinking about that. I can't help it though, I really do feel lost as he was a very important family member.
Thanks again for your comment
@morningstar369 (495)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Please don't beat yourself up over this. We all learn these things and sometimes in the hard way. How many days has it been now? When I first moved in with my friend, one of my cats got out and was gone for 4 days. I am staying with a friend in an old singlewide mobil. My dog was looking out the glass door and her tail started wagging. I opened the back door (on the same side as the front door) and there was Elron running up the ramp. I called his name and he ran down the steps just as I was running down the back steps. We met in the middle (Yes, just like in the movies) and I scooped him up and hugged him and kissed him, I was so glad to see him. Then I put him back in the cage with his brother, Elfkin OMG was he happy to see his brother. Elfkin had cried for 4 days a very mornful cry he missed his brother so much. Have you checked the shelters? Maybre some flyers? You could even offer a small reward. I really hope your cat comes back!!!
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
28 Nov 08
Oh yes they run away adn they do hate to ridein cars! I had to give one of mine away for it wouldnt stay in the car just didnt want to leave so I gavre it to the next door neighor who it knew and liked for she fed it too. I say it for I didnt know if was a boy or girl! never can tell on cats
1 person likes this
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
29 Nov 08
Oh I definitly know what you mean by car rides and cats lol. I had to take my cat to the vet to get him fixed and he did not like being in the truck at all. I guess the way to train a cat to like rides is just to do it and lots when they are a kitten. I've seen drivers have cats in the car with them but more dogs. The cats in cars that are actually use to it look so calm like they are loving it.
I know this but I don't think my cat ever did was that if he was scared it wouldn't be for that long and when he got to our new house I would've helped him feel really safe by just holding him until he got use to it.
Thanks for your comment
@cassandralynn (1084)
• United States
27 Nov 08
Yes they do, well some animals do. Mine did. I also remember some years back that my black cat Sky pretty much freaked out while we were moving and she basiclly did the same thing you're cat did, she sneak out without us knowing then we saw her running around outside while were were moving boxes out, we finally caught her after an hour of chasing her around everywhere.. I think cat's act weird because they are use to everything being the same in the house everyday, like the sofa being in the same spot & etc and whenever somebody move's that sofa or chair they act up, I know when we rearrange our living room our cat has to run and smell everything after we move furniture . He gets hyper and acts super sensitive when we move things.Next time we move I'm going to put my cat's in a cat carrier just in case they try to sneak out while were moving stuff out.
1 person likes this
@crimsonladybug (3112)
• United States
29 Nov 08
My Scotty is three and a half years old and we've moved four times since we got her. So she thinks it's just what humans do. We also have a kitten (16 month old) who we've moved once in her year and not quite a half. Plus we tried to adopt her out so every weekend for nearly two months she went to PetSmart and then came home again at the end of the weekend so moving was no big deal to her.
Her mother on the other hand went a little nuts this last time we moved (in June). First, things started disappearing and boxes started appearing and then furniture started moving and then furniture disappeared. So a few weeks ago, my mom decided she wanted to switch bedrooms so she tore down her bed and the guest bed and the kitty went a little bonkers, thinking we were getting ready to move again. Once the beds got put back together she was happy again.
1 person likes this
@SpikeTheLobster (6399)
•
28 Nov 08
Have you tried checking the old house? Quite often cats will return to the place they know best: worth a look. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@itsmine (104)
• United States
6 Feb 09
Yeah. It was happening in my family also. When we planned to go tour, at that time we leave our pet dog to neighbor house. The dog was not ready to go and stay with our neighbors.
I also eared, when the earthquake was happened pet animals in the home only first found and they moved away from the home with the family persons. One homemaker told this after earthquake.
Pet animals are always friend to us.
1 person likes this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
27 Nov 08
Cats don't like to have their routine changed, at all. And moving sure does change it. Mine actually adjusted really well, when I moved a few months ago. We shut them up in the bathroom while everything else was moved so we didn't lose our kitty. I am sorry you lost yours in the move. Perhaps she will turn up.
1 person likes this
@nixxi76 (3191)
• Canada
27 Nov 08
I really really really hope he does turn up and someone returns him because he was part of our family. I should have done what you did.. put him in the bathroom until we were ready to take him. I'm so upset about it. I've even taken a drive back there a couple times just to look and still nothing. I've left my new phone number with neighbors I didn't get to know while we were staying there as well
Thanks for your comment
