Moving Cats Home
Moving cats home to a new property requires careful planning. Cats are territorial animals, and a sudden change of environment triggers anxiety that can last weeks. Dogs, rabbits, and smaller pets also struggle with the disruption. This guide covers what to do before, during, and after the move to keep your animals safe and calm.
Keep cats in one closed room during the move. Use Feliway spray.
Keep indoor cats confined for 3-5 days, outdoor cats for 2-4 weeks.
Giant Van handles your belongings (from £149, insured).
Pets travel in your car.
Moving with Pets Guide: What We Handle
Moving house cats starts with preparation weeks before the move.
Get your cat used to the carrier by leaving it open in the house with a blanket inside.
Feed treats near the carrier daily so your cat associates it with something positive.
On moving day, confine cats to one room that the removal crew will clear last.
Put a sign on the door that reads 'Cat inside - do not open.'
Line the carrier with a familiar-smelling blanket.
A Feliway spray inside the carrier 15 minutes before travel reduces anxiety.
During the van loading, keep the cat in the closed room with food, water, and a litter tray.
The noise and commotion of movers carrying furniture causes genuine stress.
At the new property, set up one room with the litter tray, food, water, and familiar bedding before letting the cat out of the carrier.
Keep this room closed for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Moving with Pets Guide: Loading Zones and Permits
What to Know Before Your Moving with Pets Guide
Moving with Pets Guide Booking Details
Moving cats home starts with preparation weeks before the move.
Update your cat's microchip details with the new address through the database provider (Petlog, Identibase, or similar).
Book a vet check-up 2 weeks before the move to confirm vaccinations are current and discuss anxiety medication if your cat is particularly nervous.
Buy a Feliway diffuser and plug it in at the new property 24 hours before the cat arrives.
This releases synthetic pheromones that reduce stress.
Stock up on your cat's regular food, litter, and any medication.
Sudden diet changes during a move cause digestive problems.
Prepare a dedicated room at the new property: one quiet room with food, water, litter tray, bedding, and a scratching post.
This becomes your cat's safe zone for the first 3 to 5 days.
Pack a separate bag with your cat's essentials: food, treats, bowls, litter, scoop, familiar blanket, and a toy.
This bag travels in your car, not the removal van.
Cats should never travel in the removal van cargo area.
Moving with Pets Guide: From Quote to Completion
- 01
On moving day, confine your cat to one empty room with the door closed and a sign saying 'CAT INSIDE DO NOT OPEN'.
- 02
Place the litter tray, water bowl, and familiar bedding inside.
- 03
This prevents the cat escaping through open doors while the removal crew loads furniture and boxes.
- 04
Feed your cat a small meal 3 to 4 hours before travel to reduce car sickness.
- 05
When the house is fully loaded, place the cat in a secure carrier and put the carrier in your car on the back seat or footwell, never in the boot.
- 06
Cover the carrier with a light cloth to reduce visual stimulation.
- 07
At the new property, take the carrier directly to the prepared quiet room.
- 08
Open the carrier door but do not force the cat out.
Moving with Pets Guide Across Every Region
Indoor cats adapt faster to a new home because they are already accustomed to life within walls.
Keep indoor cats confined to the safe room for 2 to 3 days, then gradually open access to other rooms one at a time.
Full run of the house usually takes 5 to 7 days.
Outdoor cats need a longer adjustment period.
Keep outdoor cats confined indoors for a minimum of 2 weeks, ideally 3 to 4 weeks.
This allows them to recognise the new property as home territory through scent marking and routine.
When you first let an outdoor cat outside, do it before a meal so the cat has motivation to return.
Stay in the garden with them.
Leave the door open.
First outdoor sessions should last 15 to 30 minutes only.
Moving house cats across long distances requires the same approach but with extra patience.
A cat moved 200 miles cannot find its way back to the old property, but the stress of unfamiliar smells, sounds, and territory takes longer to settle.
Why Pick Giant Van for Moving with Pets Guide
Giant Van crews are briefed on pet safety for every booking that involves animals.
The crew keeps external doors closed between carries and communicates with the pet owner before opening any room where an animal is confined.
All household belongings are covered by goods in transit insurance.
While Giant Van does not transport pets in the removal van (for the animal's safety), the crew coordinates timing so your belongings arrive before or alongside your pet.
£500
Transit Insurance
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Industry Certified
Timing Your Moving with Pets Guide for Savings
Moving Pets Yourself vs Using a Pet Transport Service
One admin task people forget during a pet move is the changing of address online for their microchip database, pet insurance, and vet records.
Do this within the first week of moving.
For the physical move itself, Giant Van handles the household belongings while your pets travel safely in your car or with a specialist pet courier.
All Giant Van bookings include goods in transit insurance.
House removals from £149, man and van from £49.
Message us in the live chat.
Moving cats home takes patience, preparation, and a calm approach.
The 2 to 4-week indoor settling period is not optional for outdoor cats.
Feliway, familiar bedding, and a dedicated safe room make the transition manageable for your cat and for you.
Giant Van handles the physical move so you can focus on your pets.
Every booking is insured, and crews are briefed on pet-safe procedures.
House removals from £149, man and van from £49.
Message us in the live chat.
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Moving Cats Home — FAQs
Can a removal van with man service transport pets?
A removal van with man service should not transport pets in the cargo area. The van is designed for furniture and boxes, not living animals. Most removal companies, including Giant Van, ask that pets travel in your own car or with a specialist pet transport service.
This keeps the animal safe and avoids health and safety issues during loading and unloading.
Should I book a van with man near me or a pet taxi for moving day?
Book both. A van with man near me handles your furniture and boxes. A separate pet taxi or your own car handles the animals. Trying to combine both creates problems: removal crews need doors open for carrying, which is an escape risk for cats. Keep the jobs separate for a safer moving day.
How long should I keep cats indoors after moving cats home?
Keep indoor cats confined to one room for 2 to 3 days, then gradually open up the rest of the house over a week. Keep outdoor cats indoors for a minimum of 2 weeks, ideally 3 to 4 weeks. This allows the cat to recognise the new property as its territory through scent marking.
First outdoor sessions should be supervised, short, and before a meal.
Should I use Feliway when moving house with cats?
Feliway diffusers release synthetic pheromones that reduce cat anxiety. Plug one in at the new property 24 hours before the cat arrives. Place it in the room where the cat will be confined initially. Feliway is recommended by vets and costs around £15 to £25 for a starter kit.
It does not work on all cats, but most owners report calmer behaviour during the settling-in period.
Can a removal van transport my cat on moving day?
No. Cats should never travel in the cargo area of a removal van. The space is dark, noisy, unventilated, and full of shifting furniture. Cats should travel in a secure carrier in your car, on the back seat or footwell. If you cannot drive, book a pet taxi service.
Giant Van handles your household belongings while your cat travels safely and separately.
What should I do if my cat goes missing after moving home?
Contact the microchip database to confirm your new address is registered. Call local vets and animal shelters. Post on local Facebook lost-pet groups with a photo and description. Check outbuildings, garages, and sheds at both the old and new property. Cats sometimes return to their old territory, especially if the move was under 10 miles.
Leave familiar-scented items (used litter, bedding) outside the new property to help them find their way.
Related Locations and Services
- Advice — First Night Box Essentials
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- Advice — Relocation Cost Calculator
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- Advice
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- RSPCA
RSPCA advice on keeping animals safe, calm and settled through a change of home.
- RCVS — find a vet
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' directory for finding a registered vet near your new address.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.