Elderly cat moving house

[danda]

I am asking on behalf of my sister for some guidance for when she moves house. No problem for the dog but help needed for cat.

current house is in a small hamlet in the midlands, there are cat flaps out into the garden and beyond the garden there are just fields. The cat hunts quite a bit for rabbits, voles etc. she is never shut in and has never had a litter tray.

she will be moving down to the south coast in a much more urban area and living with one of her children.

any advice as to:
1. preparation before move
2. move itself
3. keeping cat safe for the first few weeks after arrival

my sister is elderly and the cat was a rescue cat, very unsure and nervous at first but is settled in well now.
thanks for all guidance

 

[asmp]

The Cats Protection has some good advice:

https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/home-and-environment/moving-home-with-your-cat

I moved our previous cat quite a few times, including to Germany and back, and it was never a problem. I used to keep him in for a few days and only let him out at first just before a meal time so he would come back. Even though he didn’t usually use a litter tray he would use one when left in for a few days. On the move to Germany I had a very large travelling box and put a small litter tray in it next to his blanket (make sure he has a blanket that smells familiar). Feliway can help.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Keep the cat in the house until she knows her way around, and knows where her feeding bowls are. If you place a litter tray behind the back door, most cats work out what it is. When she comes running to her feed bowl and is eating well it is a sign that she is settling. Maybe aim for a Sunday morning before her breakfast to let her out for the first time - there will be less traffic and she has an incentive to stay nearby. From experience, my cats would wander round the new garden scent marking, come back in for breakfast, then go out and really hit the town. Hope it goes well.

 

[danda]

Thanks for your replies, I will print out and give to my sister and also to her son so he can see it is implemented!