Moving House with a Giant Cat: Minimizing Stress & Anxiety#

Cats hate change. Maine Coons, who are often deeply bonded to their territory and their humans (Shadow Syndrome), hate it even more.

When you pack up your house, you are dismantling their world. The smells change. The furniture disappears. The routine collapses.

I moved with Atticus and Penelope last year. I thought Atticus, being confident, would be fine. I was wrong. He spent three days hiding in a closet, howling.

Through trial and error (and advice from a feline behaviorist), I learned the protocol for moving a giant breed. Here is how to get your Maine Coon from House A to House B without a meltdown.

Phase 1: The “Safe Room” (Pre-Move)#

Two weeks before the move, choose a room in your current house to be the “Safe Room” (usually a bedroom).

1. Move the carriers into this room. Leave them open with treats inside.
2. Start feeding them in this room.
3. On moving day, lock the cats in this room before the movers arrive.

The biggest danger on moving day is a door being left open by a mover and a terrified cat bolting outside. Tape a sign to the door: “DO NOT OPEN - CATS INSIDE.”

Phase 2: The Transport#

Maine Coons need big carriers. A standard plastic carrier is often too cramped for a long trip, causing panic.

• The Carrier: Use a hard-sided carrier sized for a medium dog. They should be able to stand up and turn around. Secure it with a seatbelt.
• Pheromones: Spray the carrier with Feliway 30 minutes before putting the cat in.
• The Car Ride: Keep the car cool and quiet. Do not blast music. Cover the carrier with a light sheet to block visual stimuli (seeing cars whizzing by can cause nausea).

Phase 3: The New “Safe Room” (Post-Move)#

When you arrive at the new house, do not let the cat loose immediately.

Set up a “Safe Room” in the new house (e.g., the master bath or a quiet bedroom).

1. Put their old litter box (unwashed, with their scent) in there.
2. Put their scratching post and bed in there.
3. Open the carrier and let them come out at their own pace.
4. Sit with them. Read a book. Let them realize you are still there.

Keep them in this room for at least 2-3 days. Yes, really. Let them map this small territory first. Once they are eating and using the litter box confidently, you can open the door.

Scent Swapping: Making the New House Smell Like Home#

A new house smells like paint and strangers. To a Maine Coon, this is threatening.

• The Sock Method: Take a clean sock and rub it gently on your cat’s cheeks (where their happy pheromones are). Then, rub that sock on the corners of the walls in the new house at cat-height. You are manually “marking” the territory for them.
• Litter Box: Do not buy new litter boxes for the move. Use the old, scratched ones. They smell like safety.

Conclusion#

Patience is key. Your Maine Coon might hide for a week. They might hiss at you. This is fear, not aggression. Give them a small, safe world, and slowly expand it. Before you know it, they will be claiming the new living room as their kingdom.

Resources & Further Reading#

• American Association of Feline Practitioners. (2022). Transporting Cats.
• International Cat Care. (2021). Moving House with Your Cat.